by-john zurcher|america news world
In a big change to global travel rankings, Singapore has taken the top spot as the world’s strongest passport in the 2025 Henley Passport Index. This news came out on October 15, 2025, and shows how passports are becoming more important for easy travel around the world. The index looks at how many countries people can visit without needing a visa first. A stronger passport means more freedom to travel, which depends on a country’s friendships with others and its power in the world.
The Henley Passport Index is made by Henley & Partners, a company that helps with moving to other countries for work or investment. They use data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which tracks flight rules. The list ranks 199 passports based on access to 227 places. For the first time in 20 years, the United States is not in the top 10. It dropped to 12th place, tied with Malaysia. American passport holders can now go to 180 countries without a visa or with a visa on arrival. This is down from when the US was number one in 2014.
Experts say this fall shows a shift in world power. Christian H. Kaelin, who started the index, said, “The drop in the US passport’s strength over the last 10 years is not just about numbers. It points to big changes in how people move around the globe and how countries show their soft power.” Soft power means influencing others through culture and deals, not just military. The US lets only 46 other countries’ people enter without a visa, which makes other nations less likely to give the same to Americans. Recent rules like higher fees for travel to Europe, such as the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) jumping from $21 to $40 in September 2025, have made things harder too.
Singapore’s passport is now the best, letting citizens visit 193 places without a visa. That’s up from last year. South Korea is second with 190 spots, and Japan is third with 189. Asia is leading the way, showing strong ties in the region. Europe still has many in the top spots, but they share ranks because of similar access.
Here’s the top 10 list from the October 2025 Henley Passport Index:
| Rank | Country | Visa-Free Destinations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore | 193 |
| 2 | South Korea | 190 |
| 3 | Japan | 189 |
| 4 (tied) | Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, Switzerland | 188 each |
| 5 (tied) | Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Netherlands | 187 each |
| 6 (tied) | Greece, Hungary, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Sweden | 186 each |
| 7 (tied) | Australia, Czechia, Malta, Poland | 185 each |
| 8 (tied) | Croatia, Estonia, Slovakia, Slovenia, UAE, United Kingdom | 184 each |
| 9 | Canada | 183 |
| 10 | Latvia | 182 |
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) jumped up to 8th, with access to 184 places. That’s a big rise from 10th last year, thanks to new deals with countries in Europe and South America. The United Kingdom also slipped to 8th, its lowest ever, down two spots from 2024. It was number one in 2015 but has lost ground since Brexit.
On the bright side, some countries are climbing fast. China moved up from 94th in 2015 to 64th in 2025, gaining 37 more visa-free spots. This comes from opening up to places like Russia, Gulf states, and parts of Europe. South Africa entered the top 50 after 10 years, up 10% from 2024.
For India, the news is not great. Its passport fell to 85th place, down five spots from 80th in 2024. Indian travelers can visit 62 countries without a visa. This is better than the low of 90th in 2021 during the pandemic, but far from the high of 71st in 2006. The drop shows challenges in making more travel deals with other nations. Still, India has worked on pacts with UAE and some European countries to help its people travel easier.
Why do these rankings matter? A strong passport makes life simpler for business trips, vacations, and family visits. It also shows a country’s place in the world. As borders get stricter with things like climate change and security worries, having good ties helps. For Americans and Brits, the drop means more paperwork and waits at airports. It might push more people to look for second passports through investment programs. Henley & Partners says US applications for such programs hit a record high in 2025.
The index also looks at the money side. Top passports open doors to 80% of the world’s wealth, while weaker ones get just 20%. This gap is growing, even as overall visa-free travel improves a bit worldwide.
In the end, the 2025 rankings tell us the world is changing fast. Countries like Singapore and South Korea are winning by building bridges, while old leaders like the US face tough times. For travelers everywhere, checking your passport’s power is key before booking that next flight. As global mobility shifts, staying connected matters more than ever.
(Source: Henley Passport Index, October 2025; The Indian Express; The Washington Post; The Guardian)