Every traveller knows their passport is their ticket to the world, unlocking doors to far-off destinations and seamless adventures.
The Henley Passport Index, based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Authority (IATA), has just released its 2025 edition, revealing significant shifts in global passport power.
The Henley Passport Index, which has been tracking passport strength for 20 years, ranks passports based on the number of countries their holders can visit without a visa. The index includes 199 different passports and 227 travel destinations, making it the most comprehensive and authoritative ranking available.
See the full 2025 Henley Passport Index: https://t.co/P7iCgRQHdk
— IATA (@IATA) January 8, 2025
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According to the findings, the Canadian passport was among 22 passports that dropped in ranking over the past decade, falling three spots from fourth place in 2015, as noted in the index. However, it still ranked higher than the U.S. passport.
Canada placed 7th overall, tying with Malta and Poland. The Canadian passport grants holders access to 188 out of 227 destinations worldwide without needing a visa, an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), or a visa on arrival. Some countries where Canadians still require visas include Bhutan, China, India, and Vietnam.
The index also highlighted that the U.S. passport experienced the second-largest decline between 2015 and 2025, surpassed only by Venezuela. The U.S. fell seven spots from second place to its current ninth position. It is now tied with Estonia for access to 186 destinations worldwide without a visa.
Claiming the top spot in 2025 is Singapore, with its passport holders able to access 195 visa-free destinations worldwide, with Japan coming in second place, with a score of 193. However, Japan is still ahead of the rest after it regained visa-free access to neighbouring China for the first time since the COVID lockdowns.
Several EU member states — France, Germany, Italy, and Spain — dropped two places in the ranking to 3rd position, and are joined by Finland and South Korea, which each lost a place over the past 12 months and now have access to 192 destinations with no prior visa required.
A group of seven EU nations—Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden—share 4th place on the index, each offering visa-free access to 191 destinations. Meanwhile, five countries—Belgium, New Zealand, Portugal, Switzerland, and the UK—rank 5th, granting their passport holders visa-free entry to 190 destinations worldwide.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, Afghanistan remains firmly at the bottom of the Henley Passport Index. Over the past year, it has lost visa-free access to two more destinations, widening the mobility gap to its largest extent in the index's 19-year history.
As a result, Singaporean passport holders now enjoy visa-free access to 169 more destinations than their Afghan counterparts.
