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Morocco World
3 hours 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
USA Today
7 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:
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 Out
12 hours ago
- Time Out
This country officially has the world's most powerful passport in 2025
Your passport is a whole lot more than that essential packing-list item for when you're heading abroad – depending on where you're a citizen, it has a huge impact on how many countries you have visa-free access to. Every quarter, the Henley Passport Index unveils an updated ranking of passports based on which will grant holders access to the most countries visa-free (which uses data sourced from the International Air Transport Association), and Singapore has claimed first place – again. All holders of a passport for the city-state in southeast Asia have visa-free access to a whopping 193 countries, and while that's two fewer than this time last year, it's still comfortably ahead of second-place rankers, Japan and South Ko rea, which have visa-access to 190. Third place on the list is occupied exclusively by seven European countries which all have visa-free access to 189 countries respectively, and that's followed by seven more European countries with access to 188. In position number 10 are Iceland, Lithuania and notably the US. Though the States held the first-place position as the most powerful passport on the planet in 2014, it's now on the brink of dropping out of the top 10 altogether, for the first time in the index's history. These are the world's most powerful passports in 2025 Singapore Japan, South Korea Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden Greece, New Zealand, Switzerland UK Australia, Czechia, Hungary, Malta, Poland Canada, Estonia, United Arab Emirates Croatia, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia Iceland, Lithuania, USA
The Hindu
12 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:
