How powerful is the French passport? In other words, how many countries does it give access to without the need for a visa? With its index for the year 2025, Henley & Partners lifts the veil on the question and places the French official paper as one of the most powerful in the world in third place, on a par with Germany, Italy, South Korea, Spain and Finland.
Ranking of the most powerful passports revealed, with France in a strong position
Every year, the Henley Passport Ranking, based on the principle of citizens’ freedom of movement, ranks countries according to the strength of their passports. In collaboration with the International Air Transport Association, the firm analyzes the data provided by the latter and establishes a score for each country, giving rise to a ranking.
And while the 2024 vintage didn’t produce an official winner (5 countries shared the title), 2025 was a time of renewal, with just one country making it to the top this year. Singaporeans have much to celebrate, as they officially have the world’s most powerful passport, giving them access to no fewer than 195 countries without the need for a visa. On the other hand, the passports that open the fewest doors are those of Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan.
The top 10 in detail
- Singapore (195 countries)
- Japan (193)
- Finland, France, Germany, Italy, South Korea, Spain(192)
- Austria, Ireland, Denmark, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden (191)
- United Kingdom, Belgium, New Zealand, Portugal, Switzerland (190)
- Australia, Greece (189)
- Canada, Malta, Poland (188)
- Hungary, Czech Republic (187)
- Estonia, United States (186)
- Latvia, Lithuania, United Arab Emirates, Slovenia (185)