For the first time, the US falls from the top 10 for passports; The United Kingdom falls to the lowest position in its history, tied with Malaysia
The Pakistani passport has fallen several places in the latest Henley Passport Index, now ranking 103rd globally, tied with Yemen. It now has visa-free access to only 31 countries, a sharp decline from its previous ranking of 96th place, when 32 countries granted visa-free access to Pakistani passport holders.
The Henley Passport Index, which ranks passports by the number of destinations their holders can visit without a prior visa, showed Pakistan’s position has deteriorated amid growing regional competition.
Iraq is ranked 104th with access to 29 destinations, Syria 105th with 26 destinations and Afghanistan 106th with access to 24 destinations, all of which are now below Pakistan in the world ranking.
This drop places Pakistan among the least powerful passports in the world, with fewer countries offering visa-free access. The index highlights a growing disparity between the South Asian nation and more globally connected nations.
Indian passport falls to 85th place
The Indian passport has also fallen several places in the latest Henley Passport Index rankings, falling to 85th place, tied with Mauritania. The passport now has visa-free access to just 57 countries, a sharp drop from 77th place earlier this year, when it had visa-free access to 59 countries.
This decline reflects a shift in global mobility dynamics, with India now lagging behind several countries in terms of travel freedom. The fall of the Indian passport in the ranking highlights the current challenges in ensuring greater international access, despite the country’s growing global influence.
Singapore tops the world ranking
Singapore has maintained its position as the world’s strongest passport, with visa-free access to 193 countries, according to the latest Henley Passport Index rankings. South Korea and Japan follow closely, with visa-free access to 190 and 189 countries respectively.
Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain and Switzerland are in fourth place, with access to 188 destinations. These European countries remain competitive, reflecting strong diplomatic and global relations.
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland and the Netherlands, among the top five, each enjoy visa-free access to 187 destinations. The rankings underline Asia’s growing influence on global mobility, with the Singapore Passport securing the top position for the fourth consecutive year.
The United Kingdom and the United States fall to historic lows
For the first time since the Henley Passport Index was created two decades ago, the United States has dropped out of the ranking of the world’s 10 most powerful passports. The US passport, once ranked No. 1 in 2014, now ranks 12th, tied with Malaysia, with visa-free access to just 180 of 227 countries.
Similarly, the UK passport has fallen to its lowest rank, falling from sixth to eighth place since July. Like the United States, the United Kingdom once ranked first in the index, reaching first place in 2015.
“The decline of the US passport and its most recent drop from 10th to 12th place has been driven by a series of access changes,” Henley & Partners said. “The loss of visa-free access to Brazil in April, due to a lack of reciprocity, and the exclusion of the United States from China’s growing list of visa-free countries, were the key factors behind its downfall.”
The report continues: “Papua New Guinea and Myanmar’s adjustments, as well as Somalia’s new eVisa system and Vietnam’s exclusion of the United States from its latest visa-free list, contributed to the final blow, knocking the United States out of the top 10.”
China rises in the world passport ranking
China has been one of the biggest climbers on the iIndex over the past decade, jumping from 94th in 2015 to 64th in 2025. This rise reflects a significant improvement in the country’s visa-free access, which has increased in 37 destinations during this period.
“Recent developments, including the granting of visa-free access to Russia, underscore Beijing’s ongoing strategy of greater openness,” Henley & Partners said in its report. “China’s measures, along with new agreements with Gulf states, South America and several European countries, are consolidating its role as a global mobility power, reinforcing the Asia-Pacific region’s dominance in freedom of travel.”
This increase underscores China’s growing diplomatic influence and its strategic efforts to improve travel freedom for its citizens. The country’s growing connectivity is strengthening its position in global mobility, particularly within the Asia-Pacific region.
