Latest news with #Henley
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Canadian passport continues to plummet in power according to new global ranking. How does it compare to other countries?
Over the last two decades, the Canadian passport has been one of the world's strongest but a recent report suggests it is plummeting. Canada's passport ties with Estonia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at 8th place out of 199 in the world with visa-free access to 184 countries, according to the latest data from Henley Passport Index . The recent ranking shows the Canadian passport is down from seventh place since the last index update in January, losing visa-free access to four nations while seeing a much larger drop from Canada's 2014 peak when it ranked second. Although the Canadian passport has consistently ranked within the top 10 globally, in recent years, other countries are gaining visa-free access to destinations quicker than Canada, which is among five countries to have seen the largest plunge in rankings over the past decade. Here's how Canada's passport ranks compared to other countries including the U.S. Singapore's passport has once again topped the list allowing citizens to enter 193 destinations out of a possible 227 without a prior visa. On the other end of the spectrum, Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the list, with its passport gaining visa-free access to just 25 countries— a massive mobility gap of 168 countries compared to Singapore. Other Asian countries are also topping the list, with Japan and South Korea tied for second place, giving holders visa-free access to 190 countries. Seven European nations take the third spot with visa-free access to 189 countries, including Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy and Spain. The fourth and fifth places are also largely dominated by other European countries, but New Zealand is the one outlier who shares fifth place with Europe's Greece and Switzerland. Since six months ago, India has seen the largest jump in ranking, shooting up from 85th place to 77th with citizens granted access to 59 visa-free destinations, but only gaining entrance to two additional countries. In the latest data, Saudi Arabian citizens can now travel to 91 countries after adding four destinations, making this the largest gain in visa-free access from all passports since the start of the year. The UAE has jumped 34 places over the last decade from 42nd on the list to 8th, making history as the first Arab state to break into the upper tier, having secured access to 72 additional destinations since 2015. The American passport has reached its weakest point since the Henley Passport Index was first recorded in 2005. The U.S. passport allows citizens entrance to 182 nations and ranked in 10th place, dropping one ranking since January and three places since last year. Canada's passport surpassed the U.S. passport for the first time in 2024 since data was first recorded by Henley, and that trend continues as the U.S. drops another rank from its previous 9th place earlier this year. The drop in ranking comes as the Trump administration ramps up border controls and crackdowns on immigration. Of the 199 global passports recorded on the index, only 16 have fallen in the last decade. Behind Venezuela at the top of the list (15 places from 30th to 45th), the U.S. (decline by eight ranks), Vanuatu (decline in six ranks) and the U.K. down by five places— Canada is among the biggest fallers (decline in four ranks). The downward trend in rankings for nation passports that typically remained among the most powerful in the world, may be linked to an 'increasingly multi-polar world,' according to the index, adding that as more countries develop their economies and rules around visas, 'legacy powers like the U.K. and the U.S. appear to be retreating behind more restrictive entry policies.' '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,' said Christian H. Kaelin, the inventor of the passport index concept. While Canada has dropped in ranking, this doesn't mean the country is losing access to countries but rather it is not gaining visa-free access as quickly as other nations are. With files from Estella Ren Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Axios
24-07-2025
- Axios
U.S. dips in passport power rankings
The U.S. passport isn't as powerful as it used to be, according to a new study on global travel freedom. State of travel: The U.S. ranks No. 10 on the latest Henley Passport Index, the lowest placement in the 20-year history of the index, per CNN. How it works: Henley ranks countries based on the number of destinations passport holders can visit without needing a prior visa, per data provided by the International Air Transport Association. By the numbers: U.S. passport holders have access to 182 of 227 different destinations worldwide. The index lists multiple countries with the same number of destinations as a single spot in its standings. So, while the U.S. ranks tied for No. 10, a total of 33 countries actually have access to more destinations. Singapore ranked No. 1 overall with access to 193 destinations. Zoom in: 37% of Ohio citizens had a valid U.S. passport as of 2024, the 10th lowest percentage among all states, according to the Center for American Progress.
Washington Post
24-07-2025
- Washington Post
U.S. drops to lowest ranking yet on index of most powerful passports
Americans once held the world's most powerful key to international travel, but in the latest edition of the Henley Passport Index released this week, U.S. passports dropped to their lowest position yet, outranked by affluent Asian countries that dominated the top of the list, European mainstays and others. According to the Henley ranking, which is based on the number of destinations a traveler can visit without needing a visa, the United States has fallen from seventh place last year to 10th place, continuing a downward trend. Now tied with Iceland and Lithuania, the U.S. last topped the list in 2014.
Time Out
23-07-2025
- Time Out
The UK passport just dropped down the global power rankings
Ever stopped to think about your 'passport privilege'? If you own a British and Northern Irish passport, there's a chance that you've taken for granted just how many countries it allows you into. With that powerful little blue book (or burgundy, if you've still got an old one), we can freely enter more nations than most other people on the planet. Four times each year, the Henley Passport Index from Henley & Partners ranks 199 passports based on how easily their holders can travel the world. UK passports have always placed reasonably high on the ranking, but in Henley's most recent report it has suffered a slight fall. There are actually 36 countries in Henley's top 10, with a lot of nations sharing a rank. But in at number six, all on its own, is the UK. That's two places down since last year's index (after falling to number five at the start of the 2025). Right now, British passport owners have visa-free access to 186 places around the world. In mid-2024 that number was at 191. Our passport enjoyed the number one spot for three consecutive years from 2013 to 2015 but since then has largely been on a downward trajectory. The lowest it has ever been was in 2020 and 2021 when it was booted down to seventh place. Still, we can't really complain — the UK passport remains one of the strongest in the world. We're not alone in tumbling down the index — the US passport was bumped down from ninth to 10th place, which is its worst position since the index started in 2006. Dr Juerg Steffen, the chief executive officer at Henley & Partners, said: 'Americans are now leading the demand worldwide for alternative residence and citizenship options, with British nationals also among the top five globally. 'As the US and UK adopt increasingly inward-looking policies, we're witnessing a marked rise in interest from their citizens seeking greater global access and security.' While the top 10 is dominated by European nations, three Asian states sit on the podium. Singapore's passport topped the chart for the second year in the row with access to 193 destinations, followed by Japanese and South Korean passports, which both allow holders into 190 countries visa-free. Afghanistan remains at the bottom of index. Its citizens can only access 26 other countries visa-free. The Henley Passport Index top 20 strongest passports in the world Singapore Japan; South Korea Denmark; Finland; France; Germany; Ireland; Italy; Spain Austria; Belgium; Luxembourg; Netherlands; Norway; Portugal; Sweden Greece; New Zealand; Switzerland United Kingdom Australia; Czechia; Hungary; Malta; Poland Canada; Estonia; United Arab Emirates Croatia; Latvia; Slovakia; Slovenia Iceland; Lithuania; United States Liechtenstein; Malaysia Cyprus Bulgaria; Monaco; Romania Chile Andorra Argentina; Brazil; San Marino Hong Kong (SAR China) Israel Brunei Barbados The new Brits 'visa' for Europe has tripled in price – here's when it will come into effect.
Business Insider
23-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
10 least open African countries for visa-free entry by mid-2025
As of mid-2025, visa-free entry remains a major hurdle in parts of Africa, with several countries maintaining restrictive policies that limit access for foreign nationals. The Henley Openness Index, which ranks 199 countries and territories based on the number of nationalities they allow entry without a prior visa, shows that many African nations still lag in facilitating seamless cross-border travel. This limited openness stands in contrast to the ambitions of regional frameworks like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which aim to boost intra-African trade, economic collaboration, and mobility. Restrictive visa regimes undermine these goals by creating barriers to business, tourism, and the free movement of skilled labor which are key components of economic development. In addition to slowing commerce, such policies also restrict cultural exchange and youth mobility across the continent. Given that Africa's youth make up the majority of its population and are vital to driving innovation and growth, easing travel restrictions is not just a diplomatic imperative but an economic one. Least open African countries as of July 2025 The latest data from Henley's Openness Index reveals the top 10 African countries with the least number of nationalities granted visa-free or visa-on-arrival access. These nations maintain some of the most restrictive entry policies on the continent, limiting mobility for travelers, investors, and professionals alike. Rank Country Rank Score 1 Equatorial Guinea 101st 3 2 Eritrea 100th 4 3 Libya 99th 5 4 South Sudan 98th 6 5 Algeria 98th 6 6 Congo (Dem. Rep.) 97th 7 7 Sudan 96th 8 8 Cameroon 96th 8 9 Mauritania 95th 11 10 Gabon 94th 12 As of mid-2025, several African nations remain among the world's least open in terms of visa-free access, limiting regional mobility and economic integration. Equatorial Guinea ranks the lowest on the continent, allowing visa-free entry to just 3 countries, with an openness score of 1.52%. Eritrea follows with access to 4 nationalities (2.02%), while Libya permits 5 (2.53%). Algeria allows entry from only 6 countries (3.03%), and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) grants visa-free access to 7 (3.54%). As Africa pushes toward greater unity and economic convergence, the need for liberalized travel regimes is becoming increasingly urgent.
