The Henley Passport Index (HPI) is the definitive and original global ranking of all the world’s passports, measuring travel freedom by the number of destinations passport holders can enter without prior visa requirements. Created by Henley & Partners and updated quarterly, the Index relies on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA)—the largest, most accurate travel information database worldwide. It captures the practical global mobility of passport holders, providing an authoritative and constantly refreshed snapshot of international access in 2025.
What is the Henley Passport Index?
The Henley Passport Index ranks 199 passports against 227 travel destinations, using evaluated visa policies to assign a mobility score that reflects how many countries and territories each passport allows visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to—plus Electronic Travel Authorizations (ETAs) where applicable. The passport with the highest number of visa-exempt destinations ranks first, making the Index a transparent measure of passport power and travel convenience.
Importantly, it consistently updates to reflect changes in diplomatic relations, visa policies, geopolitical events, and bilateral agreements.
History and Purpose
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The Index originated in 2005 as the Henley & Partners Visa Restrictions Index and was renamed the Henley Passport Index in 2018.
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Henley & Partners have 45 years of experience in citizenship and residency planning, focusing on investment migration and global mobility consulting.
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The HPI provides data that governments, policy analysts, business leaders, and travelers use to understand mobility trends, negotiate visa arrangements, and plan international travel or residency.
Data Sources and Methodology
International Air Transport Association (IATA)
The core data powering the HPI is sourced from IATA’s Timatic database, the essential tool used by airlines and global border authorities to verify passenger document requirements. Every updated visa regulation worldwide is captured here with high reliability.
Henley & Partners’ Research Team
While IATA provides the core travel policy data, Henley’s dedicated team supplements and verifies real-time changes, government announcements, and geopolitical developments consistently throughout the year, ensuring the Index reflects the most accurate visa regimes.
How the Ranking Works
Each passport’s score, known as the Visa-Free Score (VFS), counts all destinations allowing entry without the need of:
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A visa before departure (visa-free access)
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A visa on arrival (granted upon arrival at the destination)
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An electronic travel authorization (ETA), which is usually a straightforward online pre-approval
Destinations requiring visas prior to travel (visa-required countries) are not counted toward the passport’s mobility score.
Example: A passport with access to 190 visa-free or visa-on-arrival destinations will rank above one with access to 180 such destinations.
Quarterly Updates Reflect Dynamic Mobility
Unlike some passport ranking systems that update annually, the HPI is updated every quarter, capturing diplomatic developments and shifts in visa policies quickly. This allows:
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Tracking of changes, such as new visa waivers or travel restrictions, within months
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Insight into ongoing global diplomatic strengths or setbacks
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Up-to-date travel planning information for globetrotters, investors, and business travelers alike
The rankings reflect not just travel convenience but broader political and economic realities.
Why the Henley Passport Index Matters
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For Travelers: HPI scores help identify potential visa requirements, saving travelers time and money in visa applications or rebooking.
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For Governments: The Index supports mobility diplomacy, showcasing the benefits of visa liberalization and identifying competitive advantages or weaknesses in foreign policy.
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For Business: Passport strength can impact international business travel, foreign investment, and access to global markets.
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For Citizenship Planning: Investors use the HPI to evaluate second citizenship options that enhance global mobility and opportunity.
Top Passports in 2025
The 2025 update sees continued European dominance, with Singapore topping global mobility:
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Singapore: 193 visa-free destinations (Rank 1)
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Germany, Italy, Spain, Finland, and France: Access to 189–191 destinations (Top 5), reflecting the strength of EU and Schengen agreements.
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United Arab Emirates: Rising rapidly to 8th place by negotiating extensive visa waivers, symbolizing emergent diplomatic soft power.
Limitations and Considerations
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The Index focuses exclusively on visa requirements; it does not assess passport-related qualities like citizenship rights, economic stability, or quality of life.
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Visa-free access can fluctuate during global crises like pandemics or geopolitical conflicts, though the HPI typically reports based on standard travel allowances, excluding temporary restrictions.
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Some territories and dependencies are included or excluded, which can influence the count of visa-free destinations.
How to Use the Henley Passport Index
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Visit the official website to search your country’s passport rank.
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Compare your passport’s mobility score to others to identify gaps or advantages.
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Use the quarterly reports for planning global business, family relocation, or investment migration.
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Monitor policy changes that may affect your travel plans or citizenship goals.
Conclusion: The Henley Passport Index as the Definitive Mobility Benchmark
The Henley Passport Index stands as the most authoritative and widely used global ranking of passport strength, backed by rigorous data and continuous methodological improvements. It transcends simple travel convenience to become an essential tool in understanding international mobility’s geopolitical, economic, and social dimensions in 2025.
For individuals, business professionals, governments, and global investors alike, the HPI provides deep insights into who moves freely, why, and how mobility itself shapes the modern world. Its ongoing updates ensure it remains the indispensable resource for navigating the complex terrain of travel freedom in a rapidly changing global environment.
