Latest news with #Timatic
Time Out
20 hours ago
- Business
- Time Out
Henley Passport Index 2025: 3 Asian countries top the list
The latest Henley Passport Index is out, and Asia dominates. This year, Singapore's passport holds on to its crown as the sole most powerful in the world, after sharing top honours with five other countries last year. Hot on its heels: Japan and South Korea in joint second position. For the uninitiated, the Henley Passport Index is likely the world's most authoritative ranking of passports based on the number of destinations their holders can enter without a prior visa. Backed by Henley & Partners, it uses exclusive Timatic data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). In 2025, Singapore passport holders can enter a whopping 193 destinations without the hassle of applying for a visa, while Japan and South Korean passport holders can enter 190 destinations. Clearly, life's a breeze for travellers from these countries. The rest of the top ten is dominated by European countries, with their streak broken by Malaysia at No. 13, with visa-free access to 181 destinations. It's followed by Hong Kong at No. 17 with visa-free access to 169 destinations, and Brunei at No. 19 with visa-free access to 164 destinations – rounding out Asia's top five. Although India did not break into Asia's top 10 list of most powerful passports, the report recognises it for recording the largest jump in ranking over the past eight months. It leapt eight places from No. 85 to No. 77 with the addition of two destinations to its visa-free list. Of course, visa-free access goes both ways, and it's China's increasing openness that has been a significant driver of the passport power shifts we're seeing. The country has "granted visa-free access to over a dozen new passports since January", allowing 75 nationalities to cross over without a visa today (as compared to fewer than 20 nationalities just five years ago). With China's increasing openness and the powerful passports in the region – all that means is that Asia-Pacific travel is really going strong. As IATA notes, "Asia-Pacific airlines led the way (in overall demand for air travel) with 9.5% growth". 2025 Henley Passport Index: Asia's top 10 1. Singapore, 193 destinations 2. Japan, 190 destinations = South Korea, 190 destinations 3. Malaysia, 181 destinations 4. Hong Kong, 169 destinations 5. Brunei, 164 destinations 6. Macao, 144 destinations 7. Taiwan, 139 destinations 8. Timor-Leste, 96 destinations 9. China, 83 destinations 10. Thailand, 81 destinations
Business Insider
2 days ago
- Business Insider
Top 10 most powerful passports in Africa, according to latest ranking
Seychelles has the most powerful passport in Africa, climbing one spot to 24th globally with access to 156 destinations. Mauritius follows closely, ranked 27th worldwide with visa-free access to 149 countries. Business Insider Africa presents the top 10 most powerful passports in Africa. The list is courtesy of Henley & Partners. In Africa, Seychelles remains the leader, climbing one spot to 24th globally with access to 156 destinations, an improvement from its previous 25th place. If you're planning your next international trip, your passport might determine how far and how freely you can go. According to the latest Henley Passport Index, Singapore has once again claimed the top spot as the world's most powerful passport, granting its holders visa-free access to 193 out of 227 global destinations. The index, compiled using exclusive Timatic data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), ranks passports by the number of countries one can visit without needing a visa in advance. Africa's top performers In Africa, Seychelles remains the leader, climbing one spot to 24th globally with access to 156 destinations, an improvement from its previous 25th place. Mauritius follows closely, ranked 27th worldwide with visa-free access to 149 countries. South Africa sits in third place in Africa, ranking 48th globally with access to 103 destinations. Notably, Morocco has overtaken Kenya and now ties with Malawi at 67th globally, offering access to 73 countries. Kenya dropped to 69th with visa-free access to 71 countries. Below are top 10 most powerful passports in Africa: Rank Passport Access (countries) Global rank 1 Seychelles 156 24th 2 Mauritius 149 27th 3 South Africa 103 48th 4 Botswana 85 59th 5 Namibia 79 63rd 6 Lesotho 76 65th 7 eSwatini 74 66th 8 Malawi 73 67th 9 Morocco 73 67th 10 Kenya 71 69th Biggest risers and fallers Globally, the United Kingdom and the United States have each slipped by one position since the January ranking. Formerly the world's top passports (UK in 2015, US in 2014), they now rank 6th and 10th respectively.
Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Korea Herald
Asian Nations Dominate Passport Power Ranking as US and UK Continue to Decline
LONDON, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Singapore holds the crown as the world's most powerful passport, with visa-free access to 193 destinations out of 227 globally, according to the latest Henley Passport Index . The index is powered by exclusive Timatic data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and ranks all the world's passports based on the number of destinations their holders can enter without a prior visa. Asian nations continue to lead the global mobility race, with Japan and South Korea sharing 2 nd place, each granting their citizens access to 190 destinations visa-free. A strong European contingent occupies the rest of the Top 5. Seven EU passports share 3 rd place — Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain, all with access to 189 destinations. Another seven-nation European cohort, with visa-free entry to 188 destinations, are joint 4 th — Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden — while New Zealand, the only nation to challenge the regional dominance, ties in 5 th place with Greece and Switzerland. At the other end of the global mobility spectrum, Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the ranking, with its citizens able to access just 25 destinations without a prior visa — a staggering mobility gap of 168 destinations between the top- and bottom-ranked passports. Biggest risers and fallers The UK and US have each dropped a place in the global passport rankings since January, continuing a long-term downward trend. Once the most powerful passports in the world — the UK in 2015 and the US in 2014 — they now rank 6 th and 10 th, respectively. The UK currently has visa-free access to 186 destinations, while the US trails with 182. Notably, the US is now on the brink of exiting the Top 10 altogether for the first time in the index's 20-year history. Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, the inventor of the passport index concept, says "traditional mobility champions are losing ground in an increasingly multi-polar world. As emerging economies liberalize their visa regimes and invest in diplomatic capital, legacy powers like the UK and the US appear to be retreating behind more restrictive entry policies." The UAE continues to be a standout among the top risers, shooting up 34 places over the last 10 years from 42 nd to 8 th place. Another notable winner is China, also rising 34 places from 94 th to 60 th since 2015 — particularly impressive considering that, unlike other top risers, China has not yet gained visa-free access to Europe's Schengen Area. The Asia-Pacific region is also a leading driver of global travel. IATA's Director General, Willie Walsh, says overall demand for air travel showed strong 5.8% growth over the first five months of 2025, with some regional variations. "Asia-Pacific airlines led the way with 9.5% growth. In North America, international traffic grew by 1.8%, but this was offset by a 1% contraction in the domestic market, leaving demand effectively flat over the period."
Scoop
2 days ago
- Scoop
Asian Nations Dominate Passport Power Ranking As US And UK Continue To Decline
Singapore holds the crown as the world's most powerful passport, with visa-free access to 193 destinations out of 227 globally, according to the latest Henley Passport Index. The index is powered by exclusive Timatic data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and ranks all the world's passports based on the number of destinations their holders can enter without a prior visa. Asian nations continue to lead the global mobility race, with Japan and South Korea sharing 2nd place, each granting their citizens access to 190 destinations visa-free. A strong European contingent occupies the rest of the Top 5. Seven EU passports share 3rd place — Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain, all with access to 189 destinations. Another seven-nation European cohort, with visa-free entry to 188 destinations, are joint 4th — Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden — while New Zealand, the only nation to challenge the regional dominance, ties in 5th place with Greece and Switzerland. At the other end of the global mobility spectrum, Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the ranking, with its citizens able to access just 25 destinations without a prior visa — a staggering mobility gap of 168 destinations between the top- and bottom-ranked passports. Biggest risers and fallers The UK and US have each dropped a place in the global passport rankings since January, continuing a long-term downward trend. Once the most powerful passports in the world — the UK in 2015 and the US in 2014 — they now rank 6th and 10th, respectively. The UK currently has visa-free access to 186 destinations, while the US trails with 182. Notably, the US is now on the brink of exiting the Top 10 altogether for the first time in the index's 20-year history. India has recorded the largest jump in ranking over the past six months, climbing eight places from 85th to 77th, despite only adding two destinations to its visa-free tally, now at 59. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has made the biggest gain in visa-free access, adding four destinations since January. Its total now stands at 91, lifting the kingdom four places to 54th. Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, the inventor of the passport index concept, says the latest Henley Passport Index reveals an increasingly competitive landscape in global mobility. '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.' UAE and China lead passport power shift A long-term retrospective view of the index reveals a general global shift towards increased openness, greater mobility, and rising passport strength. Over the past decade, more than 80 passports have climbed at least 10 places, and the global average number of destinations travelers are able to access visa-free has nearly doubled from 58 in 2006 to 109 in 2025. The UAE continues to be a standout among the top risers, shooting up 34 places over the last 10 years from 42nd to 8th place, making it the only big riser to break into the Top 10 in the ranking. Another notable winner is China, also rising 34 places from 94th to 60th since 2015 — particularly impressive considering that, unlike other top risers, China has not yet gained visa-free access to Europe's Schengen Area. China's rise has, however, been assisted by its significant move towards greater openness. According to the Henley Openness Index, which ranks all 199 countries worldwide according to the number of nationalities they permit entry to without a prior visa, China has granted visa-free access to over a dozen new passports since January, bringing its total openness score to 75 nations, a remarkable shift considering it allowed visa-free entry to fewer than 20 countries just five years ago. Notable additions to China's visa-free list in 2025 include Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Saudi Arabia — which means that citizens of all Gulf Cooperation Council countries can travel to China with no prior visa — as well as several South American nations including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay. China's granting of visa-free access to several European states over the past two years has also contributed to the dominance of European passports at the top of the Henley Passport Power Index, which measures the percentage of global GDP each passport provides to its holders visa-free. Asia-Pacific fuels growth in air travel demand China's increased openness has been part of an ongoing strategy to attract more visitors, and combined with the strong passports of its maritime neighbors and Singapore, the Asia-Pacific region is a leading driver of global travel. IATA's Director General, Willie Walsh, says overall demand for air travel showed strong 5.8% growth over the first five months of 2025, with some regional variations. 'Asia-Pacific airlines led the way with 9.5% growth. In North America, international traffic grew by 1.8%, but this was offset by a 1% contraction in the domestic market, leaving demand effectively flat over the period. Importantly, despite economic and geopolitical uncertainties, consumer confidence appears to be strong, with robust forward bookings for the peak Northern summer travel season giving good reason for optimism.' Legacy powers lose ground in global mobility race Looking at the past decade, with so many passports gaining power and rising on the Henley Passport Index, only 16 have fallen in rank. The biggest faller is Venezuela, which plunged 15 places from 30th to 45th, followed the US (down 8 places), Vanuatu (-6 places), the UK (-5 places), and Canada (-4 places). This downward shift in rankings underscores a broader trend: traditional mobility champions are losing ground in an increasingly multi-polar world. As emerging economies liberalize their visa regimes and invest in diplomatic capital, legacy powers like the UK and the US appear to be retreating behind more restrictive entry policies. Dr. Juerg Steffen, Chief Executive Officer at Henley & Partners, says this trend is reshaping the investment migration landscape. '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. 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.'
Cision Canada
2 days ago
- Cision Canada
Asian Nations Dominate Passport Power Ranking as US and UK Continue to Decline
LONDON, July 22, 2025 /CNW/ -- Singapore holds the crown as the world's most powerful passport, with visa-free access to 193 destinations out of 227 globally, according to the latest Henley Passport Index . The index is powered by exclusive Timatic data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and ranks all the world's passports based on the number of destinations their holders can enter without a prior visa. Asian nations continue to lead the global mobility race, with Japan and South Korea sharing 2 nd place, each granting their citizens access to 190 destinations visa-free. A strong European contingent occupies the rest of the Top 5. Seven EU passports share 3 rd place — Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain, all with access to 189 destinations. Another seven-nation European cohort, with visa-free entry to 188 destinations, are joint 4 th — Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden — while New Zealand, the only nation to challenge the regional dominance, ties in 5 th place with Greece and Switzerland. At the other end of the global mobility spectrum, Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the ranking, with its citizens able to access just 25 destinations without a prior visa — a staggering mobility gap of 168 destinations between the top- and bottom-ranked passports. Biggest risers and fallers The UK and US have each dropped a place in the global passport rankings since January, continuing a long-term downward trend. Once the most powerful passports in the world — the UK in 2015 and the US in 2014 — they now rank 6 th and 10 th, respectively. The UK currently has visa-free access to 186 destinations, while the US trails with 182. Notably, the US is now on the brink of exiting the Top 10 altogether for the first time in the index's 20-year history. Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, the inventor of the passport index concept, says "traditional mobility champions are losing ground in an increasingly multi-polar world. As emerging economies liberalize their visa regimes and invest in diplomatic capital, legacy powers like the UK and the US appear to be retreating behind more restrictive entry policies." The UAE continues to be a standout among the top risers, shooting up 34 places over the last 10 years from 42 nd to 8 th place. Another notable winner is China, also rising 34 places from 94 th to 60 th since 2015 — particularly impressive considering that, unlike other top risers, China has not yet gained visa-free access to Europe's Schengen Area. The Asia-Pacific region is also a leading driver of global travel. IATA's Director General, Willie Walsh, says overall demand for air travel showed strong 5.8% growth over the first five months of 2025, with some regional variations. "Asia-Pacific airlines led the way with 9.5% growth. In North America, international traffic grew by 1.8%, but this was offset by a 1% contraction in the domestic market, leaving demand effectively flat over the period."
