Australia has once again secured a spot among the world’s most powerful passports, ranking seventh globally in the latest Henley Passport Index, while Greece continues to climb reaching the fifth spot.
The 2025 report marks a major shift in global travel freedom: for the first time in two decades, the United States has dropped out of the top 10, slipping to 12th place.
Meanwhile, Greece has consolidated its position among Europe’s most powerful passports, ranking 5th globally with access to 190 destinations.
This places Greek citizens ahead of passport holders from the UK, US, and Canada, and marks a steady rise for Greece, whose passport has become one of the most sought-after in Europe for dual citizens and members of the diaspora.
Greece’s improved standing reflects its growing international reputation, boosted by tourism diplomacy, EU membership benefits, and new bilateral agreements that enhance mobility across Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America.
Australian passport holders now enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 185 destinations, a figure that places Australia alongside Czechia, Malta, and Poland.
Although it ranked fifth in 2024, Australia’s passport remains among the world’s strongest, reflecting the country’s continued diplomatic reach and participation in global travel agreements.
At the top of the 2025 rankings, Singapore maintains its lead, offering access to 193 destinations, followed closely by South Korea and Japan. Citizens from these nations enjoy the world’s greatest travel freedom.
At the other end of the spectrum, Afghanistan, Syria, and Iraq remain at the bottom, with visa-free access to fewer than 30 destinations.
Meanwhile, the US passport, once the global gold standard, now ranks 12th, tied with Malaysia, granting access to 180 countries. Experts attribute the decline to a loss of visa reciprocity — including Brazil’s reinstated visa requirements and a lack of new access agreements with key nations such as China and Vietnam.
Henley Passport Index creator Christian Kaelin described the shift as a sign of changing “soft power dynamics,” noting that “nations embracing openness and cooperation are surging ahead, while those resting on past privilege are being left behind.”
https://www.henleyglobal.com/
The Henley Passport Index, compiled by British consultancy Henley & Partners using data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), evaluates 199 passports based on access to 227 destinations including visa-free, visa-on-arrival, and electronic travel authority (ETA) arrangements.
