Revealed on
Europe dominates the most recent international passport rankings, however not all international locations are rising with the tide.
The Henley Passport Index, which makes use of unique knowledge sourced from the Worldwide Air Transport Affiliation (IATA) to rank the world’s passports by what number of locations they permit visa-free entry to, has simply launched its 2025 replace. European international locations as soon as once more dominate the highest tier.
Singapore claimed the highest spot for the second 12 months in a row, providing visa-free entry to 193 locations. Japan and South Korea observe in joint second with 190 locations. After that, it’s a litany of European international locations.
Seven EU nations – Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Eire, Italy and Spain – now share third place globally, with visa-free entry to 189 locations. Shut behind are Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and Sweden, all ranked fourth with entry to 188 locations.
Greece, Switzerland and New Zealand spherical out the highest 5.
Two European international locations lag behind the leaders
In complete, 28 European international locations seem within the international high 10, buoyed by Schengen Space entry and powerful diplomatic relationships.
However Europe’s power just isn’t uniform. Belarus ranks lowest on the continent at 62nd, simply behind Kosovo at 61st. Providing visa-free entry to 81 and 82 locations, respectively, each fall properly under the worldwide common of 109.
Whereas Kosovo has made restricted diplomatic progress in recent times, each stay largely excluded from wider visa liberalisation efforts, particularly in Western international locations.
The UK and US preserve shedding floor
A few of the greatest shifts within the rankings contain Western international locations that have been former leaders.
The UK, which topped the index in 2015, has dropped one other place to sixth, with visa-free entry to 186 locations. The US, which ranked first in 2014, is now tenth, with entry to 182 locations – its lowest-ever place within the index’s 20-year historical past.
Henley & Companions, the Chicago-based citizenship by funding consultancy behind the rankings, attributes the decline to more and more restrictive entry insurance policies in each international locations. In distinction, international locations such because the United Arab Emirates (now eighth), Saudi Arabia (54th) and China (sixtieth) are rising quick by increasing visa-waiver agreements and easing entry necessities.
“Entry is earned – and should be maintained,” stated Christian Kaelin, the Switzerland-born chairman of Henley & Companions.
“Those who spend money on diplomatic relationships are inclined to rise.”