The Henley Passport Index 2025 was recently released. Singapore's passport remains the most powerful in the world, followed by Japan's. The American and British passports have declined slightly in strength, while passports from war-torn countries, such as Afghanistan, remain the weakest. How important does it remain in 2025 to have a powerful passport to be able to travel and become an expat?
The Henley Passport Index 2025
The Henley Passport Index is a yearly ranking by Henley & Partners, a British investment migration consultancy that ranks passports according to how many countries they can enter without a visa. This reflects how economically and politically stable the country is and how good its relationship is with the rest of the world. Expats who hold powerful passports can travel freely and regularly, do not have to spend extra time and money on visa applications, and are less likely to be treated with suspicion by immigration officials at airports.
Here are the top 10 countries of the Henley Passport Index 2025:
- Singapore (visa-free travel to 195 destinations)
- Japan 193 destinations)
- France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Finland, and South Korea (192 destinations)
- Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Sweden, and Norway (191 destinations)
- Belgium, New Zealand, Portugal, Switzerland, and the UK (190 destinations)
- Greece and Australia (189 destinations)
- Canada, Poland, and Malta (188 destinations)
- Hungary and Czechia (187 destinations)
- Estonia and the US (186 destinations)
- Lithuania, Latvia, Slovenia, and the UAE (185 destinations)
Singaporeans can buy a last-minute flight to nearly every country in the world without having to worry about a visa. Even when it comes to the 30-odd countries requiring a visa, e-visas are an option for them, so they do not have to queue up at any embassy. For example, they need an e-visa to visit Russia, India, and Cameroon. Algeria stands out as an exception as a country that requires visas from nearly all other nationalities, including Singaporeans and the Japanese.
Most middle-income countries of Asia, Latin America, and East Europe also rank in the middle of the Henley Passport Index. Brazil, for instance, claims the 18th position on this list, with its passport providing visa-free entry into 171 countries. Costa Rica and Mauritius share the 29th position (151 destinations), while Peru, Serbia, Taiwan, and El Salvador rank 32nd to 35th, with their passports opening the doors to hassle-free travel to 136-143 countries.
Despite being two of the top sending countries for tourists, international students, and expats, the Chinese and Indian passports remain relatively weak at the 60th and 85th positions, respectively. These two Asian powerhouses' citizens still need visas to visit North America and most of Europe. This is partly due to geopolitical tensions, such as the US-China trade war. Yet, surprisingly, despite the war in Ukraine, the Ukrainian passport has remained quite strong. It ranks 30th in the Henley Index this year and allows for visa-free movement to 148 countries.
The rise and decline of passports in the Henley Index
Even if they are in the top 10, the US and UK have actually become weaker over the years. Back in 2014, these two were actually the two most powerful passports in the world. Last year, the American passport held the 8th spot, from which it has fallen one spot this year.
The British passport has suffered the same fate, as it has also lost one place in the rankings. Brexit has been the main culprit for the decline in the power of the British passport, while for the US, a mix of factors involving geopolitical tensions and declining reciprocity agreements are to blame. For instance, the travel restrictions on Cuba implemented during Trump's first mandate have made it harder for Americans to travel there—at least with their US passport if they don't have a second passport. As of next year, Americans will also need to apply for a visa and show proof of funds to enter Brazil. It remains to be seen how Trump's second mandate will affect the strength of the American passport.
In comparison, the UAE passport has seen a remarkable rise since 2014. Back then, it was ranked 55th globally, but in 2024 and 2025, it secured the 9th and 10th positions. Its slight drop this year is attributed to the strengthening of other passports rather than any decline in its own value. As summarized by The Gulf Times, stable diplomatic ties, a growing economic influence, tax efficiency, and excellent air connectivity are some of the reasons for the passport's ascent. Unfortunately for expats in the UAE, however, it remains very difficult to get naturalized there to obtain a local passport.
Getting a powerful passport through naturalization: How hard is it?
Expats might wonder how they can obtain a second passport that makes traveling easier. How easy is it to obtain a passport from the top 10 in the Henley Index if you are an expat in one of these countries?
As mentioned, unfortunately, it is extremely difficult to obtain the UAE's citizenship and passport. Expats need to have either lived in the Emirates for 30 years, or they need to be exceptional investors (with investments over half a million US dollars), inventors (with a patent), scientists, doctors, academics, or artists.
In Singapore, it is much more straightforward. Expats need to have been a permanent resident of the city-state for at least 2 years or have been married to a Singaporean citizen for the same amount of time. Becoming a resident through traditional employment can be tricky, as the Singaporean job market is tight, but another option for wealthier expats is to obtain Singaporean residence through investment. They can invest in an existing Singaporean business, create a company there, or add to a fund approved by the Singapore Economic Development Board.
Unfortunately, Japan does not recognize dual citizenship, so to obtain the prized Japanese passport, expats have to be willing to give up their birth nationality. Otherwise, they must have lived in Japan for at least 5 years, have intermediate proficiency in the Japanese language, and be financially stable, which are all reasonably attainable requirements. Renouncing your first passport might still be a risky, no-return, and even expensive decision. For example, Americans wishing to renounce their nationality must pay the US government close to 2,500 USD to do so.
Many of the European countries in the top 10 of the Henley Index have less tricky naturalization processes. Germany, France, and Finland, for instance, accept dual citizenship and have standard naturalization pathways. That standard pathway is to have lived and worked in the country for 5 continuous years, to be financially stable, and to have intermediate B1-B2 proficiency in the German, French, or Finnish languages. In Finland, proficiency in Swedish is also accepted. Expats who serve in the French army's Foreign Legion can apply for citizenship after only three years.
Lengthy visa waits and high rejection rates: the reality of African, Middle Eastern and Asian expats
The global mobility of expats or prospective expats with weak passports is not impossible, but it is difficult. The globalized world's structural economic and political inequalities are reflected in the visa wait times and fees imposed on expats from the Global South. For many of these expats, getting a second passport through naturalization can remove a huge burden off their shoulders, especially when they need to go on a business trip or travel for a conference at short notice.
Only three African passports open the doors to visa-free travel to over 100 destinations: the Seychellois, Mauritian, and South African passports. Botswana and Namibia also have moderately strong passports, but all other African expats need to apply for a visa to travel to many countries. This is also the case for Middle Eastern and South Asian countries that have been affected by war or terrorist incidents in this century, such as Iraq and Pakistan.
Even when expats from these countries need to fork out hundreds of dollars in visa application fees, they often face rejection. University World News reports that up to 57% of F-1 student visas from African countries with weak passports get rejected by the US Department of State. They are required to submit complex documentation for the visa application, and missing one document or failing to answer one visa interview question correctly can get them rejected.
The Henley & Partners' Global Mobility Report 2025 also found that half of the Schengen Visa applications to travel in Europe applied for by African nationals get rejected. The rejection rates are especially high for holders of a passport from the Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, Ghana, Mali, Sudan, and Senegal. To ease the mobility of African passport holders, Rwanda, Seychelles, The Gambia, Benin, and Ghana now give visa-free access to passport holders of all other countries of Africa. Beyond the continent, however, the difficulty of traveling persists.
