Singapore tops global passport rankings, India’s position revealed

Singapore holds the title of the world’s most powerful passport for 2025, offering access to 193 destinations. India, however, falls significantly lower, ranking 80th, alongside Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, and Tajikistan, according to the Henley Passport Index.

Henley & Partners, a global advisory firm, compiles the index based on passport access to countries, utilizing data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Japan and South Korea follow closely, with access to 190 countries. Seven countries, including Denmark, Finland, and Germany, hold third place, granting access to 189 countries. Afghanistan remains at the bottom, with only 25 countries accessible via visa-free travel.

This year, Singapore and Japan moved ahead of the six countries sharing the top spot in 2024, marking a significant shift. Japan’s jump is particularly notable, as it regained visa-free access to China for the first time since the pandemic.

The UAE has made the most impressive rise in the rankings, climbing 32 spots since 2015 to secure 10th place. It now offers access to 185 destinations, becoming the highest-ranked Arab country. On the other hand, the US experienced a decline, now ranking lower than expected.

Experts suggest that the US’s inward-focused political climate and isolationist trends contribute to this drop. Annie Pforzheimer, a senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, warned that policies such as tariffs and deportations could further affect the country’s global mobility.

China has also made notable progress, moving up from 94th place in 2015 to 60th in 2025. Over the past year, China expanded visa-free access to 29 more countries, securing a total of 58 nations.

The Henley report highlights a concerning trend in Schengen visa rejection rates, particularly in African countries. Comoros has the highest rejection rate at 61.3%, followed by Guinea-Bissau and Ghana.

Henley & Partners’ chairman, Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, stressed that global mobility and citizenship should be reconsidered due to rising temperatures, natural disasters, and increasing political instability. These factors are displacing communities and creating a need for a redefined approach to citizenship and residency.