In an age where travel is a gateway to opportunity, the power of a passport can open doors, or slam them shut.
Whether you’re a jet-setter, business traveler, or digital nomad, having the right passport can mean skipping visa lines, breezing through immigration, and exploring the globe with ease.
The Global Passport Index ranks the most travel-friendly passports based on how freely citizens can move across international borders.
From Europe’s Schengen superstars to Asia’s rising travel giants, we’ve rounded up the 25 most powerful passports in 2025, countries whose citizens enjoy the ultimate freedom to roam.
1. Germany
According to the Global Passport Index, Germany has the friendliest passport in the world. German citizens only need to apply for a non-electronic visa in 23 countries.
Thanks in large part to being in the Schengen Area, they benefit from visa-free access to 37 countries without a limit on the number of days they can stay.
2. United States
The United States ranks as the second friendliest passport in the world. While American travelers have visa-free access without limits to only four countries (compared to Germany’s 37), they have visa-free access with a limited number of days in 106 countries.
Americans can apply for on-arrival visas in 38 countries and must apply for a non-electronic visa in advance to visit 24 countries.
3. Sweden
Like Germans, Swedish citizens are able to travel to all but 23 countries without applying for a non-electronic visa in advance.
They also enjoy unlimited visa-free visiting access to 37 countries. Additionally, they can access 81 countries visa-free with a limited stay.
4. Denmark
As another member of the Schengen region, Danish passport holders have nearly the same passport privileges as Germany and Sweden in terms of international accessibility.
Denmark is ranked beneath them because it ranks relatively low, at 26, on the investment index scale.
5. Netherlands
There is a minor difference between Denmark and the Netherlands regarding international accessibility: the Dutch have one less country where they have visa-free access with a limited number of days (80 countries instead of 81).
6. Finland
Finland, a Northern European country, also ranks high for passport friendliness, joining its Schengen peers. To add to its high ranking, Finland ranks number one in the world for quality of living.
7. United Kingdom
Since Brexit officially took place in January 2020, citizens of the UK currently only have visa-free access to seven countries without a time limit.
However, they can still enter a respectable 103 countries visa-free with a set, limited number of days.
8. Canada
Canada is ranked almost as high as the U.S. on the passport-friendliness scale. However, Canadians have four fewer country options for entering visa-free with a limited stay compared to Americans.
9. Norway
Norway citizens can stay for a limited time in 78 countries without applying for a visa. They have free access without a limit to 37 countries and must apply for a visa on arrival to 31 countries.
10. Switzerland
Switzerland rounds out the top ten countries with the friendliest passports. The Swiss have visa-free, unlimited access to 36 countries. They must apply for an electronic visa before visiting 26 countries.
11. Monaco
The small country of Monaco offers notable passport friendliness. Europeans who call Monaco home have visa-free, limited-stay access to 99 countries. However, they only have visa-free limitless access to four countries.
12. Luxembourg
Citizens of Luxembourg must apply for a visa to visit 23 of the world’s countries before arriving. Like their fellow Schengen neighbors, they have visa-free access to 37 countries.
13. Singapore
Based on the sources’ findings, Singapore has the friendliest passport in Asia. Singaporeans must apply for a non-electronic visa in advance to 22 countries.
They have visa-free access to seven countries without limits and free access with a limited number of days in 115 countries.
14. Ireland
The Irish have access to 71 countries without a visa for a set number of days. Taking into account their visa-free, unlimited access to 39 countries, they rank well on this list. People with an Irish passport may receive on-arrival visas in 38 countries.
15. France
French citizens have a decently friendly passport. They only need to apply for a non-electronic visa in advance in 23 countries, and they have visa-free access to 37 countries.
16. Australia
Australians need to apply for a visa on arrival to 41 countries, which some citizens might prefer over applying for a non-electronic visa in the 23 countries that require it.
Australian passport holders can access six countries visa-free without a limit and 99 countries visa-free with a time limit.
17. New Zealand
Compared to Australia, New Zealanders have one less country (five countries) to which they have visa-free access without a limit.
This drops them below Australia in the ranking, even though they can enter four more countries (103 vs 99) than Australia visa-free with a limit on the number of days they stay.
18. Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein is in the Schengen area but is not a European Union member. Liechtensteiners have visa-free access to 37 countries without limits and visa-free access with a limited stay to 75 countries.
19. Austria
Austrian passport holders can arrive in 30 countries and apply for a visa on the spot. They also enjoy 37 countries they can access visa-free without a time stamp.
Like many countries on this list, Austrians must apply for a non-electronic visa in advance to 23 countries.
20. Japan
The Japanese have visa-free access to only two countries without limits. However, they can enter 109 countries without a visa on a limited stay. They are also able to apply for a visa on arrival in 39 countries.
21. Spain
Like citizens from other Schengen countries, Spanish passport holders have visa-free access to 37 countries without limits. The Spanish can access 81 countries without a visa but can only stay for a limited timeframe.
22. Belgium
There is one fewer country Belgians can visit visa-free on a limited stay compared to Spain: 80 countries instead of 81. Belgians can also apply for an on-arrival visa in 30 countries.
23. Czech Republic
Czech Republic passport holders are able to enter 78 countries on a limited stay and without a visa. As with their Schengen neighbors, they have visa-free access to 37 countries without limits.
24. United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the only Middle Eastern country to make this top 25 list. UAE citizens have access to 10 countries visa-free with no stay limit, and 103 countries with a limited stay. They can also apply for a visa in 42 countries upon arrival.
25. South Korea
South Korean passport holders are able to visit 111 countries without a visa as long as they stay for a limited number of days.
They have visa-free, unlimited stays in two countries, and there are 40 countries where they can apply for a visa upon arrival.
Alicia Richards