Latest news with #2025HenleyPassportIndex
Scroll.in
24-07-2025
- Scroll.in
India's passport rank jumps to 77 among 199 countries
India has climbed to the 77th position out of 199 countries from 85 in January in a list of world's most powerful passports, according to the 2025 Henley Passport Index released on Wednesday for the second quarter. The index, published by citizenship and residence consultancy firm Henley and Partners, measures the strength of all the passports around the world based on how many destinations can be accessed by the passport-holders of a specific country without a pre-departure visa. India has recorded the largest jump in the rankings over the past six months, despite adding only two destinations to its visa-free tally. Indians can travel to 59 countries without a visa, as per the latest index. Last year, Indian passport holders could travel to 62 countries without a visa, even though India ranked 80th on the list. According to data available on the firm's website for years between 2006 and 2025, India ranked the lowest at 90 in 2021. Its best ranking was 71 in 2006. In the latest index, India shared the 77th spot with Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire and Senegal. Among India's neighbours, Pakistan stood at 96, which was a climb from its rank of 103 in January, and Bangladesh was at 94. It was 100 in January. Singapore retained its top rank in the passport index. Citizens of the Southeast Asian city-state can travel to 193 nations without a pre-departure visa. Japan and South Korea had the second-most powerful passports in the world, each granting their citizens access to 190 destinations visa-free. The United States slipped to 10th place in the latest ranking, continuing a long-term downward trend. The US has fallen in the ranking every year since 2014, when its passport was ranked as the most powerful. It is now on the verge of falling out of the top 10 for the first time in the index's 20-year history. The weakest passport remained that of Afghanistan, which is ranked 99. Afghan citizens can only visit 25 countries without a visa.
Newsweek
23-07-2025
- Newsweek
US Falls to Record Low in Powerful Passport Ranking
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The American passport, once ranked the most powerful in the world, has now slipped to 10th place for global mobility—its lowest ever position. The 2025 Henley Passport Index has dropped America's rating three spots from last year, after a decade of decline. Newsweek has contacted the Department of Homeland Security, via email, for comment. File photo of a United States of America passport, taken in Brooklyn, N.Y. on July 16, 2021. File photo of a United States of America passport, taken in Brooklyn, N.Y. on July 16, 2021. AP Why It Matters The fall in the ranking highlights shifting global mobility trends and reflects concerns about the U.S.'s approach to international relations and border policies—impacting both American travelers and the nation's global influence. The index, produced by London-based Henley & Partners, draws on exclusive International Air Transport Association data to rank passports by the number of countries granting their holders visa-free or visa-on-arrival access, making it a significant barometer of diplomatic ties and "soft power" worldwide. What To Know For 2025, the United States tied with Iceland and Lithuania for 10th place, marking its lowest position since the creation of the index 20 years ago, and continuing a decade-long slide from the No.1 spot it shared in 2014. Americans can travel visa-free to 182 destinations—four fewer than last year and 11 fewer than holders of the top-ranked passport, Singapore. Singapore retained its lead at the top of the list, with visa-free access to 193 out of 227 possible destinations. Japan and South Korea followed in joint second place, each offering access to 190 destinations. The decline in U.S. passport power seems to be attributable to a lack of reciprocation in visa-free travel, according to how Henley & Partners' calculates its rankings, which also looks at imbalances. America allows 46 nationalities to enter without a visa, the index showed. What Is the Criteria? Each passport earns one point for every country it can enter without needing a visa in advance. This includes destinations where travelers can enter visa-free, get a visa on arrival, or use an electronic travel permit without needing government approval before the trip. If a visa is required before departure, including needing government approval for an e-visa or visa on arrival, the passport gets 0 points. The total score reflects how many countries a passport allows entry to without needing prior visa approval. Top 10 Most Powerful Passports 1. Singapore: 195 visa‑free destinations 2. Japan and South Korea: 190 visa‑free destinations 3. Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain: 189 visa‑free destinations 4. Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden: 188 visa‑free destinations 5. Greece, New Zealand, Switzerland: 187 visa‑free destinations 6. United Kingdom: 186 visa‑free destinations 7. Australia, Czechia, Hungary, Malta, Poland: 185 visa‑free destinations 8. Canada, Estonia, United Arab Emirates: 184 visa‑free destinations 9. Croatia, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia: 183 visa‑free destinations 10. Iceland, Lithuania, United States: 182 visa‑free destinations What People Are Saying Juerg Steffen, CEO of Henley & Partners, said in a statement: "Your passport is no longer just a travel document—it's a reflection of your country's diplomatic influence and international relationships. In an era of growing inequality and mounting geopolitical uncertainty, strategic mobility and citizenship planning are more critical than ever." Christian H. Kaelin, chair of Henley & Partners, said: "The consolidation we're seeing at the top underscores that access is earned—and must be maintained—through active and strategic diplomacy. Nations that proactively negotiate visa waivers and nurture reciprocal agreements continue to rise, while the opposite applies to those that are less engaged in such efforts." What Happens Next The United States' declining passport power could impact American travelers' global mobility, business opportunities and perceptions abroad. Experts say future rankings will likely hinge on either renewed diplomatic efforts to increase reciprocal visa agreements or the continuation of recent trends toward tighter border controls.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
08-07-2025
- Politics
- First Post
World's fourth worst passport a matter of 'pride'? For Pakistan, it apparently is
The 2025 Henley Passport Index has ranked Pakistan's passport the fourth worst in the world for the fourth year straight. The country's travel document is only than those of Iraq (101), Syria (102) and Afghanistan (103) read more Pakistan's passport ranked the fourth worst in the world last month, but that does not seem to be an embarrassment for the country's leadership. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has said that Pakistan's green passport is a matter of 'pride', despite it being one of the worst in the world. 'We are proud of our green passport, and in the future, it will be a source of even greater pride,' Naqvi said, adding that the government is taking steps to improve its global rankings. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He made the comments while talking to representatives of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), where he said that Pakistan will express concerns over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) rejecting thousands of visa applications by Pakistani nationals. Pak passport 4th worst in world The 2025 Henley Passport Index has ranked Pakistan's passport the fourth worst in the world for the fourth year straight. The country's travel document is only than those of Iraq (101), Syria (102) and Afghanistan (103). Pakistan and Yemen's passports allow visa-free access to 33 countries, Iraq's to 31, Syria's to 28, and Afghanistan's passport provides access to just 26 destinations. The ranking is based on data from the International Air Transport Association, which holds the world's largest travel database, and is further supported by ongoing research from the Henley & Partners Research Department.
