The 2025 passport index: What are the world’s most powerful passports?

The 2025 Henley Passport Index ranks 199 passports based on their visa-free access to global destinations. Kazinform News Agency correspondent reports on the details.

Singapore leads the top, followed by Japan, while Afghanistan remains at the other end.

Singapore leads the 2025 rankings, followed by Japan in second place. In third place, a group of countries including Finland, France, Germany, Italy, South Korea, and Spain share a score of 192.

Fourth place is held by seven EU nations, including Austria, Denmark, and Sweden, each with visa-free access to 191 destinations. The fifth position includes Belgium, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, with 190 destinations.

The rest of the top 10 reflects a mix of global mobility trends. With 189 destinations, Australia and Greece tie in sixth place. While Canada, Malta, and Poland share seventh with 188. With 187 destinations, Czechia and Hungary rank eighth and United States with Estonia place ninth with 186. Having 185 visa-free locations, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) round out the top 10.

Notably, the UAE has climbed 32 places over the past decade.

The 2025 Henley Passport Index reveals a strong European presence in the top rankings, though non-European nations like Singapore, Japan, and the UAE showcase global shifts in mobility power. The UAE’s steady climb shows its growing influence, as it secured visa-free access to 72 more destinations since 2015.

Kazakhstan ranks 65th in the 2025 index, granting its citizens visa-free access to 77 destinations. This place shows a slight change from its 66th position in 2024 with 78 destinations. Over the past five years, Kazakhstan has fluctuated in the rankings: 70th in 2023 (76 destinations), 68th in 2022 (75 destinations), 75th in 2021 (74 destinations), and 67th in 2020 (75 destinations).

At the other end of the rank, Afghanistan remains the weakest passport, ranked 106th with visa-free access to only 26 destinations. Syria, Iraq, and Yemen also rank low, with access ranging from 31 to 33 destinations.

The nation actively works on expanding its global mobility by introducing initiatives like the Neo Nomad Visa, which lets remote workers balance their employment with the excitement of travel. More information about the strength of Kazakhstan’s passport can be learned here.