Henley Passport Index
The Henley Passport Index is a quarterly ranking of 199 national passports according to the number of international destinations—out of 227 possible—that their holders can access without a prior visa, including visa-free entry, visas on arrival, electronic travel authorizations, or visitor's permits.[1][2] Published by Henley & Partners, a private consultancy firm offering residence and citizenship-by-investment advisory services, the index draws on proprietary data from the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) Timatic database, supplemented by the firm's own research to score accessibility.[1][3] Originating in 2006 under the development of Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, the index provides historical data spanning nearly two decades and is positioned as an authoritative measure of global mobility trends, though its methodology excludes pre-departure electronic visas or approvals that require advance application.[1][2] Passports are scored simply by tallying qualifying destinations, with higher scores reflecting greater diplomatic leverage and economic strength of issuing nations, as evidenced by consistent top performers from advanced economies.[2] In recent rankings, Asian passports such as those from Singapore and Japan have dominated, granting access to 195 or more destinations, underscoring shifts in bilateral agreements favoring efficient border policies over geopolitical tensions.[3][4] The index's prominence stems from its empirical focus on verifiable travel data rather than subjective factors, yet it has drawn scrutiny for potential commercial incentives, as Henley & Partners markets programs that enhance personal mobility—aligning with the index's emphasis on visa liberalization—without independent academic validation of its long-term predictive accuracy.[1] Notable milestones include the U.S. passport's unprecedented exit from the top 10 in October 2025, dropping to 11th place with access to 186 destinations amid stagnating visa waivers, highlighting how reciprocal agreements and regional blocs like the Schengen Area influence rankings more than raw passport issuance volume.[3][4]Overview
Definition and Purpose
The Henley Passport Index ranks the ordinary passports of 199 countries and territories worldwide according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. It evaluates "passport power" by quantifying visa-free or simplified entry options—such as visa on arrival, visitor's permits, or electronic travel authorizations—across 227 possible travel destinations. The index assigns a score of 1 for each accessible destination and 0 for those requiring a traditional visa in advance, drawing exclusively on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Timatic database, supplemented by proprietary research from publisher Henley & Partners.[1][2] This ranking serves as a standardized metric for assessing global travel freedom and mobility disparities, enabling comparisons of how diplomatic relations, bilateral agreements, and national policies influence citizens' ability to move internationally without bureaucratic hurdles. Updated monthly to capture shifts in visa regimes, the index has tracked trends since its inception, revealing patterns such as the post-pandemic recovery in visa-free access and the relative decline in power for passports from major economies like the United States.[1][2] Developed by Henley & Partners, a consultancy firm focused on residence and citizenship-by-investment programs, the index's stated purpose extends beyond mere ranking to highlight opportunities for individuals and businesses to optimize mobility through strategic planning, though its methodology prioritizes empirical visa data over subjective factors like economic strength or geopolitical influence.[1][2]Scope and Measurement Criteria
The Henley Passport Index evaluates the ordinary passports issued by 199 countries and territories, assessing the travel freedom afforded to their holders across 227 global destinations, including sovereign states and dependent territories.[1] This scope focuses exclusively on standard civilian passports for adult citizens, excluding diplomatic, official, or service passports, and assumes compliance with basic entry stipulations such as passport validity, proof of sufficient funds, onward travel documentation, and intent for short-term tourism or business purposes.[1] The index quantifies passport strength through a visa-free score, representing the total number of destinations accessible without a pre-departure visa requirement.[1] Access is scored as 1 for destinations permitting visa-free entry, visa on arrival (VOA), or electronic travel authorization (ETA), and 0 for those necessitating a visa obtained prior to travel or an electronic visa (e-Visa).[1][5] VOA and ETA are classified as non-visa equivalents because they do not mandate advance approval processes; VOA allows issuance upon arrival, while ETA involves minimal pre-screening for pre-approved nationalities without substantive visa adjudication.[5] In contrast, e-Visas are treated as visa requirements due to their involvement in formal pre-authorization, documentation review, and potential denial, akin to traditional embassy visas.[1][5] Data for these criteria derive primarily from the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) Timatic database, which compiles over 45,000 bilateral air travel agreements and visa policies, augmented by Henley & Partners' proprietary research, government publications, and continuous monitoring of policy changes.[1] The methodology assumes uniform entry/exit via international airports and does not incorporate variables like geopolitical events, health restrictions, or individual traveler profiles that could alter real-world access.[1] Rankings are updated monthly to reflect evolving visa regimes, ensuring the index captures dynamic international mobility trends.[1]Publisher and Development
Henley & Partners Background
Henley & Partners is a global advisory firm focused on residence and citizenship planning for high-net-worth individuals, entrepreneurs, and investors.[6] Formally established in 1997 through the merger of a private client immigration consultancy and a fiduciary company, the firm traces its origins to activities predating that year, with the concept of structured residence and citizenship by investment pioneered by its principals in the 1990s.[6] The company advises clients on investment migration options while also providing government advisory services, through which it has helped raise over USD 15 billion in foreign direct investment for various nations.[6] It maintains a network of more than 70 offices across the world and is regulated by local authorities in its jurisdictions of operation, with affiliations to professional bodies such as the Investment Migration Council.[6] Leadership is provided by Chairman Dr. Christian H. Kälin, who holds a master's degree and PhD in law from the University of Zurich and is credited with advancing the field of investment migration through advisory roles with governments and international organizations, as well as authoring works like the Global Residence and Citizenship Handbook.[7] Under Kälin's influence, Henley & Partners developed the Henley Passport Index, drawing on International Air Transport Association data enhanced by proprietary research to rank passports by visa-free access.[1]Origins and Creator
The Henley Passport Index was created by Dr. Christian H. Kälin, chairman of Henley & Partners and a pioneer in investment migration advisory services. Kälin developed the concept of a global passport ranking to quantify travel freedom by measuring visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to international destinations, drawing on his expertise in citizenship-by-investment programs that enhance individual mobility.[8][1] Initially launched in 2005 as the Henley & Partners Visa Restrictions Index, the ranking was produced using data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to evaluate restrictions faced by passport holders from various countries. This inaugural version established a baseline for comparing national passports' utility in global travel, with subsequent editions refining the methodology to include 199 passports and 227 destinations. The index was rebranded as the Henley Passport Index in January 2018 to emphasize its focus on passport strength rather than restrictions alone.[9][10] Henley & Partners, the firm publishing the index under Kälin's leadership, operates as a consultancy facilitating residence and citizenship solutions for wealthy clients, which informs the index's emphasis on mobility as a marker of economic and geopolitical influence. While the ranking relies on IATA's Timatic database for empirical visa data, its origins reflect a commercial interest in promoting investment migration pathways that can elevate passport rankings over time.[7][1]Historical Evolution
The Henley Passport Index originated from the work of Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners, who developed the concept as a tool to quantify global mobility through passport strength. Initially launched in 2005 under the name Henley & Partners Visa Restrictions Index, it ranked countries based on the number of destinations accessible without a prior visa, drawing on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). This early iteration emphasized visa restrictions as a measure of travel freedom, providing an annual assessment that filled a gap in standardized, data-driven comparisons of passport utility.[3][1] Over the subsequent decade, the index evolved from an annual publication to more frequent updates, incorporating refinements in data aggregation and scoring to reflect real-time changes in bilateral agreements. By the mid-2010s, it had established itself as a benchmark, with historical datasets enabling trend analysis across passports. In January 2018, it was rebranded as the Henley Passport Index to better highlight its focus on access rather than restrictions, aligning with growing interest in investment migration and global citizenship strategies promoted by Henley & Partners. Methodological enhancements included distinguishing electronic travel authorizations (ETAs) from e-visas based on processing requirements, ensuring scores awarded points only for effectively visa-free entries.[1] Since the renaming, the index has expanded to quarterly and eventually monthly releases, covering 199 passports and 227 destinations as of 2025, with cumulative historical data spanning two decades. This progression reflects causal factors such as increasing geopolitical shifts in visa policies and advancements in IATA's Timatic database, which underpins the rankings. The evolution underscores a shift toward greater precision and timeliness, though it remains tied to Henley & Partners' expertise in residence and citizenship programs, potentially influencing emphasis on mobility for high-net-worth individuals.[1][11]Methodology
Data Sources
The Henley Passport Index derives its core data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA)'s Timatic database, recognized as the world's largest and most comprehensive repository of real-time travel documentation requirements, encompassing visa policies, entry restrictions, and health protocols for global air travel.[1][3] This exclusive access to IATA Timatic enables the index to track visa-free or visa-on-arrival access for holders of 199 passports across 227 destinations worldwide.[1][12] Henley & Partners supplements IATA data with proprietary research conducted by its internal team, which cross-verifies information against open-source materials such as official government websites, diplomatic announcements, and major international news outlets to account for policy changes not yet reflected in Timatic.[1] This augmentation ensures monthly updates to the index, with rankings refreshed to reflect evolving bilateral agreements and geopolitical shifts affecting mobility.[1] For instance, destinations granting electronic travel authorizations (ETAs) without mandatory pre-approval are scored as visa-free, whereas e-Visas requiring advance application and documentation are classified as visa-required, distinguishing the index's criteria from broader interpretations of "visa-free" access.[1] IATA's Timatic, maintained through contributions from over 200 governments and airlines, provides high-fidelity data grounded in operational aviation needs, lending empirical reliability to the baseline metrics; however, Henley & Partners' enhancements introduce interpretive layers that may reflect the firm's expertise in investment migration consulting, potentially prioritizing mobility for high-net-worth individuals.[12][1] No other public passport rankings claim equivalent direct IATA integration, underscoring the index's methodological edge despite its commercial origins.[13]Scoring and Ranking Process
The Henley Passport Index assigns a numerical score to each of the 199 passports evaluated, corresponding to the total number of destinations—out of 227 worldwide—to which holders can travel without obtaining a prior visa.[2] This score aggregates access via visa-free entry, visa on arrival (VOA), issuance of a visitor's permit upon arrival, or approval of an electronic travel authority (ETA), each contributing a value of 1 to the total.[2] Conversely, destinations requiring a traditional visa in advance or any form of pre-departure government approval (such as for certain e-Visas or conditional VOAs) receive a score of 0, excluding them from the count.[2] Data underpinning these scores derives primarily from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Timatic database, which tracks global visa policies and entry requirements, supplemented by proprietary research conducted by Henley & Partners' internal team to verify and update entries.[2] The methodology emphasizes bilateral travel agreements and unilateral destination policies, focusing exclusively on ordinary passports issued to citizens rather than diplomatic, service, or special variants.[2] Scores are recalculated quarterly to reflect policy changes, such as new visa waivers or restrictions, ensuring rankings capture evolving global mobility dynamics.[13] Rankings position passports in descending order of their scores, with ties resolved by alphabetical order of country names where scores are identical.[13] The highest-scoring passports, such as those from Singapore or Japan, typically access over 190 destinations, while lower-ranked ones may permit fewer than 30.[13] This quantitative approach prioritizes raw access volume over qualitative factors like destination economic significance or travel ease, though Henley & Partners has introduced supplementary metrics, such as the Henley Passport Power Index, which weights scores by destinations' shares of global GDP—a distinct calculation not used in the primary ranking.[14]Assumptions and Limitations
The Henley Passport Index assumes that the mobility conferred by a passport correlates directly with the sheer number of destinations reachable without pre-departure visa approval, treating visa-free access, visas on arrival, and electronic travel authorizations (ETAs) as equivalently empowering despite procedural disparities such as on-arrival fees or border scrutiny.[1] It further presumes that passport holders satisfy baseline entry stipulations, including use of a standard ordinary passport by adult citizens traveling solo for tourism or business, alongside rudimentary proofs like hotel bookings and financial solvency, while disregarding ancillary conditions such as health mandates or transit restrictions.[1] Key limitations arise from this quantitative focus, which overlooks qualitative hurdles: visas on arrival, for example, can impose wait times, payments, or arbitrary refusals absent in true visa-free regimes, yet receive identical scoring.[1] All 227 tracked destinations—spanning UN member states and select territories—are weighted uniformly, equating minor outposts with high-impact economies and ignoring factors like destination GDP share or traveler demand, which could better reflect real-world utility.[13] The deliberate exclusion of electronic visas (eVisas), deemed to require prior approval, understates access for passports leveraging these increasingly common, low-friction options.[1] Dependence on the International Air Transport Association's Timatic database ensures broad but not instantaneous accuracy, with monthly revisions vulnerable to interim policy shifts or enforcement variances across borders. The index applies narrowly to idealized citizen scenarios, neglecting individual barriers (e.g., criminal records) or diplomatic frictions, and thus functions as a directional metric rather than a predictor of personal travel outcomes; official consular verification remains essential.[1]Rankings
2025 Ranking
The 2025 Henley Passport Index ranks passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa, drawing from International Air Transport Association (IATA) data covering 227 travel destinations worldwide. Singapore tops the ranking for the year, providing visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 193 destinations, maintaining its position as the world's most powerful passport.[13] This score reflects ongoing diplomatic efforts and strong bilateral agreements that enhance Singaporean travelers' global mobility.[11] South Korea secures second place with access to 190 destinations, an increase attributed to recent visa waivers with key economic partners, while Japan holds third with 189 destinations.[13] A tie for fourth place is shared by five European nations—Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, and Switzerland—each offering 188 destinations, underscoring the continued strength of EU passports despite varying national policies.[13] The United States passport, previously in the top 10, dropped to 12th place tied with Malaysia, marking the first time it has fallen outside the top 10 in the index's history, with access to approximately 182 destinations amid shifting international relations.[15][16] The following table summarizes the top positions in the 2025 ranking, accounting for ties:| Rank | Country/Countries | Visa-Free Destinations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore | 193 |
| 2 | South Korea | 190 |
| 3 | Japan | 189 |
| 4 | Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, Switzerland | 188 |
| 5 | Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Netherlands | 187 |
2024 and 2023 Rankings
In January 2024, the Henley Passport Index reported an unprecedented tie for first place among six countries—France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain—with passport holders granted visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 194 destinations out of 227 tracked worldwide.[18] This score reflected incremental diplomatic gains, including new agreements facilitating travel to additional territories. South Korea, Finland, and Sweden ranked second with access to 193 destinations, while Austria, Denmark, Ireland, and the Netherlands placed third at 192. The United Kingdom held fourth at 191, followed by Australia and New Zealand tied at sixth with 189, and the United States at seventh with 188.[18]| Rank | Countries | Visa-Free/Visa-on-Arrival Destinations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (tied) | France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Spain | 194 |
| 2 (tied) | Finland, South Korea, Sweden | 193 |
| 3 (tied) | Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Netherlands | 192 |
| 4 | United Kingdom | 191 |
| 6 (tied) | Australia, New Zealand | 189 |
| 7 | United States | 188 |
| Rank | Countries | Visa-Free/Visa-on-Arrival Destinations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore | 192 |
| 2 (tied) | Germany, Italy, Spain | 190 |
| 3 (tied) | Austria, Finland, France, Japan, Luxembourg, South Korea, Sweden | 189 |
| 4 | United Kingdom | ~188 (estimated from sequence) |
| 8 | United States | 184 |
Historical Rankings (2006–2022)
The Henley Passport Index was launched in 2006, with the United States passport ranked first, tied with passports from Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Singapore, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, each providing visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 127 destinations out of approximately 190 tracked at the time.[20] European and North American passports largely dominated the top positions through the late 2000s and early 2010s, as bilateral and multilateral visa waiver agreements expanded, boosting scores incrementally; for instance, by 2010, top passports accessed around 167 destinations.[17] A shift emerged in the mid-2010s, with the United States holding the top spot as late as 2014 before declining amid geopolitical tensions and slower diplomatic gains.[17] Asian passports, particularly from Japan and Singapore, ascended rapidly due to aggressive diplomatic efforts securing new visa waivers; Japan claimed first place starting in 2018 and retained it through 2022, reaching 191 destinations in 2021 and tying with Singapore at 192 in 2022.[21][22][23]| Year | Top Passport(s) | Visa-Free Destinations |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | United States (tied with 8 others) | 127 |
| 2014 | United States | ~174 (approximate, based on trends) |
| 2020 | Japan | 191 |
| 2021 | Japan | 191 |
| 2022 | Japan, Singapore (tied) | 192 |