The World’s Most Powerful Passports Have Just Been Revealed – Here’s Where Australia Lands

Vikrant Gungash
4 days ago
2 min read

By Vikrant Singh, November 18, 2025

If you’ve ever sighed at a long immigration queue or wished your passport carried a little more global weight, the latest Henley Passport Index has arrived with answers. The new rankings reveal who currently holds the world’s most powerful passports—and this year brings some surprising shifts. While the top spot remains unchanged, two major players, the United States and the United Kingdom, have taken an unexpected tumble. Meanwhile, Australia continues to hold its ground.

Australia Holds Strong in the Global Rankings

Australia may not have cracked the top five this year, but it remains firmly among the world’s most powerful passports. After placing sixth earlier in the year, Australia now sits in equal seventh, maintaining its position since July.

The Australian passport gives travellers visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 185 destinations, putting us on par with Czechia, Malta, and Poland. With only a handful of countries offering better mobility, Australia ranks comfortably within the top 12.5% of all passports assessed.

The Henley Index, now in its 20th year, compares the visa-free access of 199 passports across 227 destinations, using data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Australia’s consistent placement highlights its ongoing diplomatic strength and global reputation.

Singapore Stays on Top—Again

For another year, Singapore claims the world’s number one passport. Citizens of the city-state enjoy visa-free travel to a remarkable 193 destinations, making the Singaporean passport the strongest on the planet.

Right behind it is South Korea, securing access to 190 destinations, while Japan—long a top contender—lands in third with 189 destinations.

A Big Shake-Up for the US and UK

Perhaps the most striking shift in this year’s rankings is the decline of the United States. For the first time in two decades, the U.S. passport has fallen out of the top ten, now tied for 12th place with Malaysia at 180 visa-free destinations.

This marks a steep drop from seventh place in 2024—and an even bigger fall from its former number one ranking in 2014. The decline is attributed to several factors, including the loss of visa-free access to Brazil, exclusion from China and Vietnam’s visa waiver lists, and new e-visa requirements in Somalia.

The UK has also slipped, hitting its lowest-ever position. After ranking sixth in July, the British passport has dropped to eighth place, a sharp contrast to the years when it held the global top spot (2013–2015).