Passport index and
visa information

Visa-free countries are destinations that passport holders can enter without obtaining a visa beforehand. However, all travelers to visa-free countries must carry a valid passport or identity card to prove their nationality and identity throughout their journey.

The rank of a passport (passport ranking) refers to the position that the passport occupies in the overall passport ranking index. Compared to the passports of other countries around the world, the strength of a passport depends on the total mobility score that the passport provides to its holders. This is measured by the total number of countries to which its passport holder can travel to, either without a visa (visa-free access), with a visa on arrival, or with an electronic travel authorization. The greater the number of these destinations, the higher the total points for freedom of movement, and therefore the stronger the passport.

There are many types of passports, including ordinary passports, official passports, diplomatic passports, service passports, and emergency passports.

You need a passport if you want to travel to another country. However, there are rare cases in which some countries allow citizens of other specific countries to enter their territory using only a national identification card (ID) instead of a passport.

A visa is required if the country you are planning to visit demands that you obtain one prior to entry.

A biometric passport or electronic passport is similar to an ordinary passport. The difference is that it contains a smart chip in its cover or on one of its pages, which includes the passport holder’s data. Biometric passports were created as a way to respond to the growing threat of identity theft and threats to national security.

Countries are ranked based on their visa-free access to destinations around the world. The strongest passport in the world in 2025 is the Singaporean passport, with visa-free access to 192 countries around the world.

The top 10 most powerful passports in the world change regularly due to updates in visa-free agreements and international relations. Countries such as Singapore, Japan, Germany, and Spain have consistently ranked among the strongest in recent years.

To see the latest official top 10 passports and current global ranking, you can check our updated Passport Ranking tool above, refreshed regularly with the most recent data.

The U.S. passport remains one of the most powerful in the world, but its exact ranking changes from year to year as visa-free access rules evolve. However, this year's rank represents a drop from previous years. In October 2024, the United States had the 7th most powerful passport in the world and had visa-free access to 188 travel destinations, and in October 2023, the U.S. passport was ranked 6th. Although still one of the best passports in the world, the United States has experienced a slow decline and is no longer considered the strongest passport in the world.

You can view its current rank on our live passport rankings table.

Unlike passports, visas are not typically ranked based on which is the strongest visa in the world. This is because the type of visa required is completely individualized, based on multiple factors, such as the purpose of the visa (e.g., work, tourism, study, business, residency), the length of the required stay, the passport-issuing country, and the country issuing the visa.

Passport rankings matter because they indicate a country’s global standing and its passport holders’ freedom of movement. They are how we determine what is the most powerful passport in the world. A higher-ranked passport typically:

• Cuts costs by eliminating or reducing visa fees
• Saves time by avoiding lengthy visa applications
• Provides easier access to more global opportunities
• Speeds up travel with quicker, smoother border crossings

The strength of a country’s passport is primarily determined by the ease of access to countries around the world and how many countries the passport holder has visa-free access to. Although a country may welcome travelers from all over the world, it may only offer visa-free entry to citizens of select countries and may require other travelers to complete extensive visa checks before gaining permission to enter. The more countries a passport holder can travel to without a visa, the stronger the passport is and the higher the passport will rank.

However, visa-free travel is not the only factor that determines a passport’s strength. Being able to apply for a visa-on-arrival or being eligible for an electronic travel authorization (ETA) or an e-Visa also contributes, and the sum of visa-free access, visa-on-arrival access, e-Visas, and ETAs all contribute to the passport ranking. The highest-ranked (and, therefore, strongest) passports are those that have the most international accessibility.

The top 10 strongest passports in the world ranking changed from 2024 to 2025. Although some countries remained the same in the ranking, there were some important changes in the passport ranking from 2024 to 2025. If asking what is the best passport in the world in both 2024 and 2025, Singapore comes out on top. However, Spain experienced a slight drop, going from the second strongest passport in the world, with 193 visa-free destinations in October 2024, to the third strongest in 2025. Australia also dropped, from Rank 6 in 2024 to Rank 9 in 2025.

The UAE passport is consistently among the most powerful in the Middle East and the world. Its exact ranking varies slightly each year depending on new visa agreements. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has a global ranking of 11th in 2025, making it one of the strongest passports in the world and one of the best passports to have for international travel.

For the current UAE passport rank and visa-free destinations, check our live ranking tool.

Visa-free travel makes global tourism much easier and more accessible and has contributed to the growth of worldwide travel. Visas can be expensive, and the application process can be time-consuming. The risk of visa-processing delays, rejected applications, or the logistics of attending visa appointments can put some travelers off international travel. Strict visa requirements typically result in decreased international tourism.

Higher income and a higher GDP (Gross Domestic Product) typically lead to increased visa-free travel. Passport holders from countries with a stronger economy, stronger economic influence, and stronger economic ties are more likely to be granted visa-free access to countries around the world.

International relations play a significant role in determining the most powerful passports in the world. If a country has strong diplomatic ties with other countries around the world, passport holders from that country are more likely to have visa-free access to other countries around the world. Additionally, countries with strong diplomatic and economic ties may have bilateral agreements with other countries, increasing their passport holders’ visa-free travel options.