Henley Passport Index 2025

11.01.2025

Henley Passport Index 2025

Why in the news?                        

               India's ranking has dropped five places – from 80th to 85th – in the list of the world's most powerful passports, according to the Henley Passport Index 2025.

About Henley Passport Index:

• It is the original, authoritative ranking of all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa.
• It started in 2006 as the Henley & Partners Visa Restrictions Index (HVRI).
• The index is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the largest, most accurate travel information database. It is enhanced by Henley & Partners’ research team.

○Henley & Partners is a London-based advisory firm.

• The index includes 199 different passports and 227 different travel destinations.
• The number of countries that a specific passport can access becomes its visa-free 'score'.

Highlights of Henley Passport Index 2025:

• Singapore has continued to dominate the list of the world's strongest passports, achieving a top rank in 2025 as well. A person with a Singapore passport can travel visa-free to 195 destinations across the world.
• As per its latest standing, an Indian passport holder can travel visa-free to 57 destinations. The country shares its rank with Equatorial Guinea and Niger.
• The EU member states of France, Germany, Italy and Spain all drop two places to share third position. They are joined by Finland and South Korea, with all six passports granting visa-free access in 2025 to 192 destinations.
• Fourth place is equally competitive, with seven EU nations—Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden—each providing visa-free access to 191 destinations.
• Completing the top five are Belgium, Portugal, Switzerland, the UK, and New Zealand—the only non-European country in this group—all offering visa-free travel to 190 destinations.

                                                                  Source: Financial Express

With reference to the ‘Henley Passport Index, 2025’, consider the following statements:

1. It is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association.

2. Indian citizens are allowed visa-free travel to more than 100 countries.

3. Singapore occupies the top position under this list.

How many of the above statements are correct?

A.Only one

B.Only two

C.All three

D.None

Answer B