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Morocco World
22 minutes ago
- Morocco World
Moroccan Passport Achieves Best Ranking in a Decade, Leads North Africa
Marrakech – Morocco's passport has climbed to 67th place globally in the latest Henley Passport Index, marking its best performance in a decade. The new ranking represents a four-position jump from last year's 71st place, allowing Moroccan citizens visa-free access to 73 destinations worldwide. This achievement is Morocco's strongest showing since 2006, when the passport ranked 66th globally. Morocco now ranks 1st among all North African countries in passport mobility. Tunisia follows at 71st place, with Mauritania at 79th, Algeria at 81st, Egypt at 85th, and Libya trailing at 95th position. This regional advantage is attributed to Morocco's more active foreign policy and increased participation in international forums that promote mobility cooperation. In the broader Arab world, the United Arab Emirates maintains its dominant position with the 8th most powerful passport globally, offering access to 184 countries without visas. Qatar (47th), Kuwait (50th), Saudi Arabia (54th), and Bahrain (55th) round out the top five Arab countries. Globally, Singapore retains its crown as the world's most powerful passport with visa-free access to 193 destinations. Japan and South Korea share second place with 190 destinations each. A strong European contingent occupies the next positions, with seven EU countries – Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain – sharing third place with access to 189 destinations. A shifting global mobility landscape At the bottom of the rankings, Afghanistan holds the 99th position, allowing its citizens visa-free entry to only 25 countries. Syria (98th), Iraq (97th), and a three-way tie between Yemen, Somalia, and Pakistan (96th) complete the lowest-ranked passports. The latest index reveals shifting global mobility patterns. Traditional powers like the UK and US continue their decline, dropping to 6th and 10th place respectively. The US stands on the brink of exiting the top 10 for the first time in the index's 20-year history. Meanwhile, countries like the UAE and China have made remarkable progress, each climbing 34 places over the past decade. Christian H. Kaelin, creator of the passport index concept, notes that the latest rankings reveal 'an increasingly competitive landscape in global mobility.' He stressed that access 'is earned—and must be maintained—through active and strategic diplomacy.' The Henley Passport Index ranks the passports of 199 countries based on the number of visa-free destinations a passport holder can enjoy. It relies on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which is updated in real-time. A decade-long analysis shows a global trend toward increased openness and mobility. The average number of destinations travelers can access visa-free has nearly doubled from 58 in 2006 to 109 in 2025, with more than 80 passports climbing at least 10 places during this period. Tags: Moroccan PassportMoroccan passport rankingvisa-free destinations
Independent Singapore
7 hours ago
- Business
- Independent Singapore
Singapore passport remains world's most powerful in July 2025 ranking
Photo: Depositphotos/ [email protected] (for illustration purposes only) SINGAPORE: Singapore has once again topped the global passport rankings. According to the Henley Passport Index for July 2025, the Singapore passport holds on to its title as the most powerful passport in the world, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 193 destinations. The index, published by London-based global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners, is widely recognised as a benchmark for global passport strength. The ranking is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and assesses the number of destinations passport holders can enter without a prior visa. Coming in just behind Singapore are Japan and South Korea, both tied in second place with 190 visa-free destinations. These three Asian powerhouses have consistently ranked near the top of the index in recent years. In third place are seven European countries — Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain — each offering passport holders access to 189 countries without needing a visa in advance. India climbed several spots to reach 77th place, thanks to expanded bilateral travel agreements. At the other end of the spectrum, Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the list, with its citizens able to travel visa-free to only 25 destinations. () => { const trigger = if ('IntersectionObserver' in window && trigger) { const observer = new IntersectionObserver((entries, observer) => { => { if ( { lazyLoader(); // You should define lazyLoader() elsewhere or inline here // Run once } }); }, { rootMargin: '800px', threshold: 0.1 }); } else { // Fallback setTimeout(lazyLoader, 3000); } });
NDTV
8 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.
The Hindu
9 hours ago
- The Hindu
India's ranking in Henley Passport Index jumps from 85 to 77: How many countries can Indians visit visa-free?
India has climbed eight places on Henley Passport Index 2025 to 77th rank from 85 last year though the number of countries allowed visa-free access to Indian passport holders has mariginally been increased to 59. A passport is a government-issued document that allows an individual to travel overseas. What is the Henley Passport Index? The Henley Passport Index is a popular ranking of global passports that measures passport strength by the number of destinations that holders can visit without a prior visa. The index ranks countries based on statistics provided by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). According to the most recent data, Singapore's passport remains the most powerful in the world, granting visa-free access to 193 of 227 locations. Asian countries dominate the top spots, with Japan and South Korea securing second place, allowing travel to 190 destinations without a visa. Seven EU passports share third place — Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain, all with access to 189 destinations. In contrast, traditionally powerful passports like U.S. and U.K. have seen a dip in influence. The U.S. passport has slipped to tenth place from ninth last year, with access 182 destinations, while the U.K. has fallen from fifth to sixth position accessing 186 destinations. India's ranking Despite only adding two destinations to its list of visa-free countries, the Indian passport has jumped up eight spots, from 85th to 77th, after dropping five spots in 2024. There are 59 visa-free countries accessible to India. The Philippines and Sri Lanka are the two countries that have been added to the list of visa-free destinations. Indian passport holders currently have visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 59 locations:
The Independent
10 hours ago
- The Independent
The world's most powerful passports in 2025 as UK drops in rankings
The most powerful passports in the world for 2025 have been revealed – and the UK travel document has again fallen down the rankings. According to this year's Henley Passport Index, Singapore 's red travel document continues to offer the most seamless international travel as the world's most powerful passport. The annual rankings evaluate 199 countries based on the number of destinations their passport holders can visit visa-free. Data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) was used to crown the Asian nation the best on the global mobility spectrum with easy access to 193 destinations. UK passports were the world's most powerful for three consecutive years between 2013 and 2015. Post-Brexit, the blue document has consistently fallen down the rankings. This year, the UK's passport is in sixth place, offering visa-free travel to 186 destinations. Of the 227 destinations that may require a travel visa, an average of 109 countries can be accessed without extra documentation by most passport holders. This has nearly doubled from just 58 in 2006. Japanese and South Korean nationals are in second place, with the option to visit 190 destinations without a visa. Seven EU passports share third place: Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain, all with access to 189 destinations. Saudi Arabia made the biggest rise in rankings, climbing four places to the 54th position. Nationals can visit 91 destinations without a visa. As for the lowest score recorded by the index, Afghanistan remains at the bottom, with just 25 countries accessible visa-free. In the last 10 years, only 16 passports have fallen in power, including Venezuela, down 15 places, and the US, dropping down eight places. The US, with 182 visa-free destinations, has fallen to 10th place. The former passport powerhouse held first place on the index in 2014. Dr. Juerg Steffen, CEO at Henley & Partners, said: '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.' The top global passports 2025 Singapore – 193 visa-free destinations Japan, South Korea – 190 visa-free destinations Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain – 189 visa-free destinations Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden – 188 visa-free destinations Greece, New Zealand, Switzerland – 187 visa-free destinations United Kingdom – 186 visa-free destinations Australia, Czechia, Hungary, Malta, Poland – 185 visa-free destinations Canada, Estonia, UAE – 184 visa-free destinations
