The world's most powerful passports in 2025, ranked

Singapore has the world's most powerful passport. The US passport is in 9th place, behind countries like Japan, Spain, and Australia.

The world's most powerful passports in 2025, ranked
The Merlion statue at Merlion Park in Marina Bay in Singapore. Skyscrapers are in the background.
Singapore passport holders have the most flexibility for travel worldwide.
  • The Henley Passport Index ranks the most powerful passports in the world for visa-free travel.
  • Singapore is in the top spot with its passport, which allows holders to travel to 193 countries.
  • The US passport can access 183 countries — it's tied for ninth place with four other countries.

Thinking of visiting China, India, or Venezuela with a US passport for your spring break? Not so fast ... or at least not before securing a visa.

Some of the best wonders of the world require US citizens to obtain a visa before takeoff, an inconvenience in planning that long-awaited international getaway.

US passport holders can access 183 countries globally without a visa, putting it in ninth place among world passports on the global mobility spectrum, according to the 2025 Henley Passport Index. Passports from 29 other countries provide more global mobility than a US passport and four other countries are tied with the US for mobility.

The index is a ranking of passports based on how many countries their holders can access without a visa and is based on data from the International Air Transport Authority.

Singapore is in the top spot with its passport, which allows holders to travel to 193 countries without first securing a visa. Japan had previously held the No. 1 position but has since fallen to No. 2, joining South Korea with access to 190 countries.

Below are the countries with the most powerful passports, ranked by ascending number of visa-free travel options, based on the Henley Passport Index. This ranking is accurate as of March 2025.

10. Lithuania and Iceland
A wide shot of Reykjavík, Iceland, in the winter.
Reykjavík, Iceland.

Passport holders from these countries can visit 182 countries without visas in 2025.

9. Croatia, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and the United States
Riga, Latvia.
Riga, Latvia.

Holders of these passports can visit 183 countries without a visa in 2025.

8. Estonia and the United Arab Emirates
The Dubai skyline after sunset in December 2024.
Dubai.

Travelers can visit 184 countries without a visa in 2025 if they have a passport from Estonia or the United Arab Emirates.

7. Canada, Czechia, Hungary, Malta, and Poland
The skyline of Toronto at dusk.
Toronto.

Travelers can visit 185 countries without visas in 2025 with a passport from Canada, Czechia, Hungary, Malta, or Poland.

6. Australia and the United Kingdom
The skyline of Sydney, complete with the Sydney Opera House.
Sydney.

Holders of UK and Australian passports can visit 186 countries without a visa.

5. Greece, New Zealand, and Switzerland
Buildings in Basel, Switzerland, along the Rhine River. The trees are different shades of autumnal colors.
Basel, Switzerland.

Travelers can visit 187 countries without a visa in 2025 if they have a passport from these countries.

4. Austria, Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, Norway, Luxembourg, and Belgium
Lisbon, Portugal.
Lisbon, Portugal.

These passport holders can visit 188 countries without visas.

3. Ireland, Finland, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain
A view of Barcelona from Park Güell.
Barcelona.

These passports give access to 189 countries without a visa.

2. Japan and South Korea
Shibuya Shopping District, Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo.

Holders of passports from Japan and South Korea can visit 190 countries without a visa.

1. Singapore
singapore
Singapore.

Travelers can visit 193 countries without a visa in 2025 if they have a passport from Singapore.

Zoe Rosenberg contributed to an earlier version of this report. This story was first published in January 2023 and updates were made in January 2024, June 2024, October 2024, and March 2025.

Read the original article on Business Insider