Europe leads the latest global passport rankings, but not every nation is experiencing upward movement.
The Henley Passport Index, which relies on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to evaluate global passports based on the number of destinations they grant visa-free entry to, has recently published its 2025 edition. European nations continue to lead in the highest category.
Singapore retained the number one position for the second consecutive year, providing visa-free entry to 193 countries.Japanand South Korea come in tied for second with 190 destinations. Following that, it’s a list ofEuropean countries.
Seven European Union countries — Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain — currently hold third position worldwide, offering visa-free access to 189 locations. Just behind are Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden, all placed fourth with access to 188 destinations.
Greece, Switzerland and New Zealandfinish the top five
Two European nations are trailing the top performers
A total of 28 European nations are included in the top 10 globally, supported by Schengen Area membership and robust diplomatic ties.
However, Europe’s power is not consistent. Belarus is at the bottom of the continent, ranked 62nd, just belowKosovoAt the 61st position. Providing visa-free access to 81 and 82 countries, respectively, both are significantly lower than the global average of 109.
Although Kosovo has achieved some diplomatic advancements in recent years, both entities are still mostly left out of broader visa relaxation initiatives, particularly in Western nations.
The United Kingdom and United States are gradually losing their competitive edge.
Several significant changes in the rankings include Western nations that were once top performers.
The UK, which was number one in 2015, has moved down one spot to sixth place, offering visa-free access to 186 countries. The US, which was top in 2014, is now in 10th position, with access to 182 destinations – its worst ranking in the index’s 20-year history.
Henley & Partners, the Chicago-basedcitizenship by investmentthe consulting firm behind the rankings attributes the drop to more stringent entry policies in both nations. In contrast, countries like theUnited Arab Emirates(now 8th), Saudi Arabia (54th), and China (60th) are progressing quickly by increasing visa exemption agreements andeasing entry requirements.
“Access is gained – and needs to be kept,” stated Christian Kaelin, the Swiss-born head of Henley & Partners.
Individuals who focus on building diplomatic connections often achieve success.
