Latest news with #Henley&Partners
USA Today
6 hours ago
- Business
- USA Today
These Asian nations have the most powerful passports. Here's where the US falls
In an updated ranking of the world's most powerful passports, the U.S. dropped to its lowest position ever. According to the latest Henley Passport Index released on Tuesday, July 22, Singaporeans continue to hold the most powerful passport for visa-free access to 193 out of 227 global destinations – the most of any citizenship. For more than 20 years, investment firm Henley & Partners has ranked passport strength based on how many destinations its holders can enter without a visa, based on data from the International Air Transport Association. This year, filling out the top three most powerful passports are those issued by Japan and South Korea, followed by those in the European Union. However, both the U.K. and U.S. fell several spots, continuing downward trend. This year, the U.S. landed in 10th place. It was first in 2014. Some passports made significant leaps in the index, such as India jumping from 85th to 77th in just six months for visa-free travel to 59 destinations. Over the past decade, more than 80 passports have risen at least 10 spots – showcasing a global shift in mobility and openness, according to Henley & Partners, which specializes in obtaining residency and citizenship through investment. "The consolidation we're seeing at the top underscores that access is earned – and must be maintained – through active and strategic diplomacy," said Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, inventor of the passport-index concept, in a statement. "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." How powerful is the US passport? Tied with Lithuania and Iceland for 10th place, the U.S. passport offers visa-free access to 182 out of 227 destinations. Over the past decade, its strength has declined, making it the second-biggest faller on the index after Venezuela. A quickly changing political landscape, including policies like more restrictive entry, has contributed to the U.S. passport's loss of power, especially as more Americans seek citizenship elsewhere. "Americans are now leading the demand worldwide for alternative residence and citizenship options, with British nationals also among the top five globally," said Dr. Juerg Steffen, CEO at Henley & Partners, in a statement. "As the U.S. and U.K. adopt increasingly inward-looking policies, we're witnessing a marked rise in interest from their citizens seeking greater global access and security." Most powerful passport ranking Here are the most powerful passports in the world, according to the Henley Passport Index:
Time Out
8 hours ago
- 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.
Indian Express
8 hours ago
- Business
- Indian Express
India's passport ranking jumps from 85 to 77: How many countries Indians can visit visa-free?
Global Passport Ranking 2025: India has recorded its biggest-ever rise in the ranking of the world's most powerful passports. In the latest quarterly update of the Henley Passport Index, created by the London-based global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners, India climbed eight spots to rank 77th, up from 85th last year. The number of destinations Indian passport holders can now visit visa-free or with visa-on-arrival has increased marginally to 59 from 57. Indian citizens can now travel to 59 destinations without needing to secure a visa beforehand. Popular Asian tourist hotspots such as Malaysia, Indonesia, the Maldives, and Thailand are among the countries offering visa-free entry, while Macau, and Myanmar, provide visa-on-arrival access. The Philippines and Sri Lanka are the two countries that have been added to the list of visa-free destinations. While the increase of just two additional countries may seem small, the diplomatic significance is larger: India has overtaken several neighbours in terms of travel freedom and now sits ahead of countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh in global mobility rankings. Asian nations dominate the top of the Henley Index: Singapore holds the number one spot, offering visa-free travel to 193 destinations. Japan and South Korea are tied for second, each granting access to 190 countries. Seven European countries — Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain — share the third spot with 189 destinations. Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden share the 4th place, while New Zealand, Greece, and Switzerland are tied for 5th. Australia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Malta and Poland are tied at No. 7, while Canada, Estonia and the United Arab Emirates are at No. 8. Traditionally powerful passports like those of the United States and United Kingdom have seen a gradual decline: The UK has dropped to 6th place with access to 186 destinations, down from 5th in January. The US passport has slipped to 10th, offering entry to 182 destinations, a drop from 9th earlier this year. Both countries have previously topped the index, the UK in 2015 and the US in 2014 but have seen waning influence as other nations increase their bilateral agreements and travel privileges. Saudi Arabia made the largest gain in the latest update, adding four new visa-free destinations since January and now allowing travel to 91 countries. China has climbed a remarkable 34 places since 2015 — from 94th to 60th — though it still lacks visa-free access to the Schengen Area in Europe. At the bottom of the Index, Afghanistan remains in last place at rank 99, offering its citizens visa-free access to only 25 destinations — one fewer than at the beginning of the year. Syria follows at 98th with access to 27 countries, and Iraq ranks 97th, with entry to just 30 destinations. This creates a stark mobility gap of 168 destinations between the world's most powerful and weakest passports, underscoring the vast inequality in global travel freedom. According to Dr Juerg Steffen, CEO of Henley & Partners, a passport today is more than a travel document — it reflects a country's diplomatic influence, global integration, and foreign policy priorities. '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,' Steffen said in a press release. He also noted the growing interest among American and British nationals in acquiring alternative citizenships, citing increased demand for residence-by-investment and second passport programmes. The Henley Passport Index is a globally respected ranking of passports based on the number of destinations their holders can travel to without obtaining a visa in advance. The index is compiled using data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and is updated quarterly.
NDTV
11 hours ago
- NDTV
3 Asian Countries Take Top 2 Ranks In Henley Passport Index 2025, They Are...
Like every quarter, Henley & Partners have once again released their Passport Index, rating countries across the globe for the 'strength' of their passports. It is called the Henley Passport Index. What Is The Henley Passport Index The Henley Passport Index is a globally recognised, authoritative ranking of all the world's passports, based on the number of destinations their holders can access without needing a prior visa. It is compiled using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and further researched by Henley & Partners. The ranking is updated regularly to reflect changes in global mobility and visa requirements. Asia's Global Domination This year, as the data is released, it seems that Asia dominates. India jumped 8 spots from 85th to 77th, and the first two spots are secured by three Asian countries - Singapore (1st), and Japan and South Korea sharing second. These top three countries from Asia have pushed European countries like France, Germany, and Italy down the list. Last year, these three European nations were tied with Singapore for the strongest passport in the world, i.e. top rank. Talking about Singapore, it's not new to the top position. Last year too, Singapore held the top spot. The first time it scored the number one position was in 2019, and since then, it has consistently stayed in the top two. By 2025, a Singapore passport allows access to 193 countries, visa-free or visa on arrival. Japan, on the other hand, has slipped to second place after staying at the top for the past seven years, including the post-Covid era. A Japanese passport now gives you access to 190 countries : both visa-free and visa on arrival. South Korea has also managed to remain in the top two positions since 2020. Today, a South Korean passport allows access to 190 visa-free or visa-on-arrival destinations - the same as Japan. How Does Henley Rank Passports Actually? The Henley Passport Index evaluates 199 different passports by measuring how many of the 227 global destinations they can access without needing a visa. Each destination that allows entry without a visa, or where travellers can get a visa on arrival, an ETA, or a visitor's permit, earns the passport a score of 1. If a destination requires a visa in advance, or an e-Visa or other authorisation before arrival, the passport gets a score of 0. To put it simply, the total score indicates how many countries a passport holder can visit without going through a formal visa process. This information comes directly from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). So, when Singapore is declared to have the world's strongest passport, it means its citizens enjoy the most hassle-free global travel access.
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Singapore, Japan, South Korea lead 2025 passport rankings; US hits lowest rank in 20 years, visa access now down to 182 nations
The 2025 Henley Passport Index, which ranks passports based on visa-free access to destinations across the world, has pushed the United States to its lowest position in 20 years. The US now shares the 10th rank with Iceland and Lithuania, offering visa-free access to 182 countries. Singapore has maintained its lead at the top with access to 193 destinations, followed closely by Japan and South Korea. A steady decline for the US passport In 2006 and again in 2014, the United States held the number one position on the Henley Passport Index. But over the past two decades, it has consistently dropped in rankings. Between 2019 and 2024, the US passport hovered between the 6th and 7th spots. In 2025, it has dropped to 10th place — its lowest ever in the history of the index. According to the index's data methodology, which counts multiple countries with the same score as occupying a single rank, there are now 33 countries that effectively outrank the United States. This slide coincides with domestic policy changes, including the Trump administration's earlier travel bans and current immigration crackdowns. Global mobility led by Asian and European nations Singapore holds the top rank for 2025, granting its citizens visa-free access to 193 destinations. Japan and South Korea follow at number two with access to 190 countries. European countries continue to dominate the top tiers: Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, and Finland are in third place, offering visa-free travel to 189 destinations. Countries like Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden take the fourth position with access to 188 countries. Greece, Switzerland, and New Zealand are tied at fifth with 187 destinations. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom has slipped to sixth place with visa-free access to 186 destinations. Australia, Czechia, Hungary, Malta, and Poland rank seventh, and Canada, Estonia, and the UAE occupy the eighth position. The UAE in particular has made significant progress, jumping 34 ranks in the past decade — from 42nd to 8th. What's behind the US drop? The US passport now offers visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 182 out of 227 destinations worldwide. This drop is not just symbolic — it reflects a decline in international mobility for US citizens. In addition to policy-related shifts, the US recently introduced a new "visa integrity fee" for incoming international visitors. The fee, which will be at least $250 and is applicable to all visitors requiring non-immigrant visas, has drawn criticism from groups like the US Travel Association. They argue that such policies could discourage inbound travel and further isolate the country. Christian H. Kaelin, chair of Henley & Partners, said the consolidation seen at the top of the rankings highlights the importance of sustained diplomatic efforts. '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,' he said. Where does your passport rank? The 2025 Henley Passport Index ranks the world's passports according to the number of destinations they can access visa-free. The rankings are based on exclusive data from the @HenleyPartners rankings 👉 The mobility gap is widening While some countries move up, others are left far behind. At the bottom of the Henley Index are Afghanistan (25 destinations), Syria (27), and Iraq (30). This creates a gap of 168 destinations between the most and least powerful passports in the world — underlining the growing global inequality in freedom of movement. Passport power: Full top 10 rankings 1. Singapore – 193 destinations2. Japan, South Korea – 190 destinations3. Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain – 189 destinations4. Austria, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Sweden – 188 destinations5. Greece, New Zealand, Switzerland – 187 destinations6. United Kingdom – 186 destinations7. Australia, Czechia, Hungary, Malta, Poland – 185 destinations8. Canada, Estonia, United Arab Emirates – 184 destinations9. Croatia, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia – 183 destinations10. Iceland, Lithuania, United States – 182 destinations
