Desk Report,
Which 10 countries have the most powerful passports in the world?
The most powerful passport in 2025 belongs to the Asian island nation of Singapore, according to the Henley & Partners index. Last year, Singapore topped the index. And in 2023, it was in second place. Singaporean passport holders can travel to 193 countries and territories around the world, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada, without a visa in advance.
Which 10 countries have the most powerful passports in the world?
Singaporean passport holders need to obtain a visa in advance to travel to several countries and territories, including Afghanistan, Algeria, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Bhutan, Eritrea, the Falkland Islands, Iraq, Libya, Mali, Nauru, Niger, Sudan, South Sudan, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, Yemen, and North Korea.
Japan is in second place in the list of countries with the most powerful passports in 2025. Previously, the country was in the top position on this list from 2018 to 2024. Japanese passport holders can travel to 190 countries and territories without a visa in advance.
However, Japanese passport holders are required to obtain a visa in advance to travel to Afghanistan, Algeria, Chad, Ivory Coast, Sudan, Bhutan, South Sudan, Eritrea, Libya, Ghana, Mali, Yemen, North Korea, and several other countries and regions. South Korea is tied for second place with Japan in Henley & Partners’ 2025 Most Powerful Passport Index. The country has held the second position in the index since 2021. It was previously ranked third in the index in 2020.
Like Japan, South Korean passport holders can travel to 190 countries and regions without a visa in advance. South Korean passport holders are required to obtain a visa in advance to travel to Afghanistan, Algeria, Chad, Ivory Coast, Bhutan, Eritrea, Ghana, Libya, Mali, and North Korea. Denmark is ranked third in the index of the world’s most powerful passports this year. The country was also in third place in last year’s index. Denmark was in fifth place in 2023 and fourth place in 2022. The country’s passport holders can travel to 189 countries and territories without a prior visa.
Danish passport holders do not receive visa-free travel to several countries and territories, including Afghanistan, Algeria, Chad, Ivory Coast, Bhutan, Eritrea, Ghana, Libya, Mali, and North Korea. Finland is also in third place in this year’s index of the world’s most powerful passports. However, the country was in second place last year. Finland was in fourth place in 2023. Finnish passport holders can travel to 189 countries and territories without a prior visa.
Finnish passport holders do not have visa-free travel to several countries and regions, including Afghanistan, Algeria, Chad, Ivory Coast, Bhutan, Eritrea, Ghana, Libya, Mali, Nauru, Niger, and North Korea. Another country ranked third in the Henley & Partners index for the most powerful passports in 2025 is France. However, the country was at the top of the index last year. And in 2023, it was at sixth place. French passport holders have the opportunity to travel to 189 countries and regions of the world without a visa in advance.
French passport holders are required to obtain a visa in advance to travel to several countries and regions, including Afghanistan, Algeria, Ivory Coast, Chad, Bhutan, Eritrea, Ghana, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Niger, Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, and North Korea. German passport holders can now travel to 189 countries and regions around the world without a visa in advance. Germany also ranks third in this year’s Henley & Partners index. However, the country topped the index last year. In 2023 and 2022, Germany ranked third and second, respectively.
German passport holders are required to obtain a visa in advance to travel to several countries and territories, including Afghanistan, Algeria, Ivory Coast, Chad, Bhutan, Eritrea, Ghana, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Niger, Nauru, Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, and North Korea. Irish passport holders can now travel to 189 countries and territories around the world without a visa in advance. The country is ranked third in this year’s Henley & Partners’ Passport Power Index. It was also ranked third in the index last year. Ireland was ranked sixth and fifth in the index in 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Irish passport holders are required to obtain a visa in advance to travel to several countries and regions, including Afghanistan, Algeria, Chad, Bhutan, Eritrea, Ghana, Libya, Mali, Nauru, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Sudan, Yemen, South Sudan, and North Korea.
