The world’s most powerful passports in 2025, ranked

Thinking of visiting Brazil, Australia, or India with a US passport this summer? Not so fast … or at least not before securing a visa.

Some of the best wonders of the world require US citizens to obtain a visa before takeoff, an inconvenience in planning that long-awaited international getaway.

US passport holders can access 182 countries globally without a visa, putting it in 10th place among world passports on the global mobility spectrum, according to the 2025 Henley Passport Index. Passports from 33 other countries provide more global mobility than a US passport and two other countries are tied with the US for mobility.

The index is a ranking of passports based on how many countries their holders can access without a visa and is based on data from the International Air Transport Authority.

Singapore is in the top spot with its passport, which allows holders to travel to 193 countries without first securing a visa. Japan had previously held the No. 1 position but has since fallen to No. 2, joining South Korea with access to 190 countries.

Below are the countries with the most powerful passports, ranked by ascending number of visa-free travel options, based on the Henley Passport Index. This ranking is accurate as of May 2025.

10. Lithuania, Iceland, and the United States

Passport holders from these countries can visit 182 countries without visas in 2025.

Until April, US citizens were able to visit 183 countries visa-free. However, Brazil now requires US citizens to secure a visa before entering the country, dropping US passport holders one spot on the Henley Passport Index.

9. Croatia, Latvia, Slovakia, and Slovenia

Holders of these passports can visit 183 countries without a visa in 2025.

8. Estonia, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates

Travelers can visit 184 countries without a visa in 2025 if they have a passport from Estonia, Canada, or the United Arab Emirates.

7. Australia, Czechia, Hungary, Malta, and Poland

Travelers can visit 185 countries without visas in 2025 with a passport from Australia, Czechia, Hungary, Malta, or Poland.

6. United Kingdom

Holders of UK passports can visit 186 countries without a visa.

5. Greece, New Zealand, and Switzerland

Travelers can visit 187 countries without a visa in 2025 if they have a passport from these countries.

4. Austria, Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, Norway, Luxembourg, and Belgium

These passport holders can visit 188 countries without visas.

3. Ireland, Finland, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain

These passports give access to 189 countries without a visa.

2. Japan and South Korea

Holders of passports from Japan and South Korea can visit 190 countries without a visa.

1. Singapore

Travelers can visit 193 countries without a visa in 2025 if they have a passport from Singapore.

Zoe Rosenberg contributed to an earlier version of this report. This story was first published in January 2023 and updates were made in January 2024, June 2024, October 2024, March 2025, and May 2025.

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