Singapore retains top spot in Henley Passport Index, US and UK fall while India rises.

Singapore retains the top spot in the Henley Passport Index, while the US and UK fall. Japan and South Korea tie for second place, and India's passport jumps 8 places to 77th. The index ranks passports based on visa-free travel to 193 countries, with Singaporeans having the most access. The US and UK passports have been in a long-term downward trend, with the US on the brink of exiting the top 10 for the first time in the index's 20-year history.

Singapore retains its crown as the world's most powerful passport, according to the latest Henley Passport Index for July 2025. The index, powered by exclusive Timatic data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), ranks passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. Singaporeans enjoy visa-free travel to 193 out of 227 globally accessible destinations.

Japan and South Korea tie for second place, each granting their citizens access to 190 visa-free destinations. A strong European contingent occupies the rest of the top five, with seven EU passports sharing third place—Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain—each with access to 189 destinations. Another seven-nation European cohort, including Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden, ties in fourth place with 188 visa-free destinations. New Zealand ties in fifth place with Greece and Switzerland.

The Indian passport has climbed eight places to 77th in the latest ranking, with Indian passport holders able to travel to 59 countries visa-free. This significant improvement is due to the addition of just two more destinations to India's visa-free list [2].

The UK and the US have each dropped a place in the global passport rankings since January. The UK currently has visa-free access to 186 destinations, while the US trails with 182. The US is now on the brink of exiting the Top 10 altogether for the first time in the index's 20-year history [1].

The UAE and China have been notable risers, with the UAE shooting up 34 places over the last 10 years to 8th place and China rising 34 places from 94th to 60th since 2015. China's rise is attributed to its significant move towards greater openness, granting visa-free access to over a dozen new passports since January [1].

The Asia-Pacific region is a leading driver of global travel, with China's increased openness and strong passports of its maritime neighbors and Singapore contributing to this growth. Overall demand for air travel showed strong 5.8% growth over the first five months of 2025, with Asia-Pacific airlines leading the way with 9.5% growth [1].

Legacy powers like the UK and the US are losing ground in the global mobility race, with traditional mobility champions adopting more restrictive entry policies. This trend is reshaping the investment migration landscape, with Americans and British nationals increasingly seeking alternative residence and citizenship options [1].

References:
[1] https://www.henleyglobal.com/newsroom/press-releases/henley-global-mobility-report-july-2025
[2] https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/indian-passport-rises-to-rank-77-in-henley-index-visa-free-59-countries-125072201416_1.html