Singapore has reclaimed its title as the world's most powerful passport for 2025. But what does that really mean – and how does yours stack up? On Wednesday 8 January 2025, the 2025 Henley Passport Index was released, ranking the world's 199 passports . The Henley Passport Index, compiled by consultancy firm Henley & Partners, is the most frequently cited passport ranking and is based on exclusive and official data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
For this list, the primary deciding factor in determining how “powerful” a passport is is how many countries are accessible and visa-free for a nation’s citizens. Singapore passport holders can currently travel visa-free to a total of 195 out of 227 destinations around the globe, giving its citizens more unrestricted travel access than anywhere else in the world. Close behind, runner-up Japan climbed from third to second place in the 2025 ranking.
The Japanese passport unlocks visa-free access to 193 nations, a total that now includes China for the first time since Covid-19. Six countries – Finland, France , Germany, Italy , South Korea, and Spain – are tied for third place with visa-free access to 192 destinations globally. In fourth place, Austria, Denmark, Ireland , Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden are also tied, with their citizens enjoying travel to 191 destinations without needing a visa.
The United Arab Emirates, in tenth place, remains the only Arab nation to have secured a spot.
