By Deborah Nnamdi
Canada has once again secured its place among the world’s top 10 most powerful passports, according to the latest Henley Passport Index released on July 22.
The index, published quarterly by global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners, ranked Canada eighth globally, tied with the United Arab Emirates and Estonia. Canadian passport holders now enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 184 destinations — a slight dip from January 2025, when the Canadian passport offered access to 188 destinations and held the seventh spot.
The ranking is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), measuring how many destinations a passport holder can access without needing a visa in advance.
Despite the minor decline, Canada continues to outperform neighboring United States, which dropped to 10th place — the lowest ranking it has held since the index’s inception in 2006. The U.S., once ranked first in 2014, has gradually slipped down the list over the past decade.
At the top of the 2025 rankings is Singapore, whose passport grants visa-free access to 193 countries. Japan and South Korea share second place with access to 190 destinations. Seven European nations — Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain — are tied for third, each offering access to 189 destinations.
Henley & Partners also highlighted significant movers in the index. India recorded the largest improvement, climbing eight spots to 77th, thanks to two new visa-free agreements. Saudi Arabia made the biggest gain in terms of access, adding four new destinations since January.
However, several traditionally strong passports have trended downward. Over the past decade, Venezuela has dropped 15 positions — the steepest fall of any country — followed by the U.S. (down eight spots), Vanuatu (six), the UK (five), and Canada (four).
Meanwhile, Nigeria has made modest progress in global mobility. The Nigerian passport now ranks 88th, up from 91st earlier this year and 97th in late 2023. Nigerians can currently travel visa-free or obtain a visa on arrival in 45 countries — a figure unchanged from 2024. Nigeria shares its current position with Ethiopia and Myanmar.
Despite the improvement, Nigeria remains in the lower tier globally and across Africa, ahead of only six other countries on the continent: the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Sudan, Eritrea, Libya, and Somalia.
Seychelles retained its title as Africa’s most powerful passport, with access to 156 destinations. However, it slipped from 22nd to 24th in the global ranking.
At the bottom of the 2025 index remains Afghanistan, whose citizens can access just 25 countries without a visa in advance.
The Henley Passport Index covers 199 passports and 227 travel destinations. It is updated quarterly and considered a leading measure of passport strength and global mobility.
