Singapore passport dubbed World's most powerful, HK ranks 18th

Singapore and Japan have secured the top two spots in the 2025 Henley Passport Index, which evaluates all 199 passports worldwide based on the number of destinations that can be visited visa-free.

Singapore reclaims its crown as the most powerful passport in the Index organized by international investment migration advisory firm Henley & Partners, with visa-free access to 195 out of 227 destinations worldwide. 

Japan sits at the runner-up spot with 193 visa-free countries and regions.

Finland, France, Germany, Italy, South Korea and Spain shared the 3rd position and now have access to 192 destinations with no prior visa required. 

The passport holders of seven-nation EU cohort -- Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden -- can access 191 destinations visa-free and ranking 4th.

Belgium, New Zealand, Portugal, Switzerland, and the UK — come in 5th with 190 visa-free destinations.

Hong Kong ranks 18th with 171 visa-free destinations, and China's passport (ranked 60th) allows access to 85 countries and regions. China is also the biggest climber in the Index over the past decade, ascending from 94th place in 2015 to 60th this year.

Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the Passport Index with visa-free access to only 26 destinations over the past year.

Only 22 of the World's 199 passports have fallen down the Passport Index ranking over the past decade, according to Henley & Partners.

The United States is the second-biggest faller between 2015 and 2025 after Venezuela, plummeting seven places from 2nd to its current 9th position. 

Vanuatu is the third-biggest faller, losing six places from 48th to 54th position, followed by the British passport, which was top of the Index in 2015 but now sits in 5th place.