Are you wondering whether or not your passport is among the strongest in the world? In 2024, the Passport Index ranked Spain, Finland, France, Belgium, and others within the top 10 strongest passports in the world – placing the United Arab Emirates at the top of the list as the strongest passport in the world.
Global Mobility Trends for 2024
Geopolitical conflicts in key countries played a major role in shaping global migration trends in 2024. The World Migration Report 2024 indicated a record amount of displaced people last year, setting the stage for unique challenges and opportunities in 2025. In addition, businesses that previously relied on employee travel now face major concerns related to the risks involved with travel. Furthermore, businesses are less motivated to meet rising travel costs.
It stands to reason that countries are therefore moving towards policies that encourage mobility for highly skilled workers, and a more streamlined approach to immigration processing. Some practical examples of these changes include; online systems that are being introduced globally (such as the introduction of the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorization), fewer barriers to entry for citizens with dual nationality, and policies that have emerged that prioritize skills and certifications.
Where does the USA Rank?
The United States of America remains within the top 10 of the world’s strongest passports, ranking 8th overall. American citizens can enjoy visa-free access to up to 123 countries owing to its history of strong international political relations, and the US EB-5 Programme remains a popular investment route for people wishing for residence in the USA.
The Methodology Behind Passport Ranking
Passport ranking is based on multiple factors, including the number of countries a passport holder has access to on a visa-free, visa on arrival, eTA, and eVisa basis. Additionally, passports are considered based on the United Nations Development Programme Human Development Index – a measurement of how countries are perceived abroad.
The Role Of International Relations In Passport Power
Historically, strong political ties between countries have been a significant driver in determining passport power. Behind immigration policy lies a series of visa waiver agreements that drive global mobility. Naturally, the better a country’s international relations are, the higher its passport will rank. This has become particularly pertinent in modern times, as ease of travel continues to make the world smaller whilst political instability continues to be a global issue.
World’s Most Powerful Passports: Passport Rankings in 2024 and 2025
Ranked among the top 3 most powerful passports, Spain, Finland, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, and Switzerland have held their positions in the Global Passport Power Rank in both 2024 and 2025 – making European passports some of the most powerful in the world. Due to the power of these passports, there is continued interest in the Spain Golden Visa Programme (the closure of which was announced in late 2024) and the Switzerland Residence by Investment Programme.
Interested in obtaining a new passport as you move into 2025? With Passport Legacy, our qualified Client Advisors can assist you every step of the way; identifying which programmes make the most sense for you and your family in terms of budget, priorities, and benefits you need.
Simply send us an email to info@passportlegacy.com to find out more.
FAQ’s
1. Which is the strongest passport in the world in 2024?
In terms of the passport that allows travel to the most countries visa-free, Singapore is the strongest, with visa-free access to 194 countries. However, according to Passport index, who rank the strength of passports using a proprietary mix of Mobility Score (MS), VF portion of their score vs VOA and finally score on the United Nations Development Programme Human Development Index 2018, list the United Arab Emirates passport as the strongest in the world, as of January 2025.
2. How powerful is the U.S. passport?
The United States of America remains within the top 10 of the world’s strongest passports, ranking 8th overall. The US passport allows visa-free travel to 186 countries, earning it 9th spot in terms of travel freedom.
3. What are the 10 strongest passports in the world?
The UAE was officially ranked as the strongest passport in the world in 2024, and their government has already kick-started plans to ensure they keep their spot at the top come the end of 2025. Spain, Finland, France and Germany make up the rest of the top 5, representing a strong showing from European nations. Spain’s ranking at #2 increases the significance of their recent announcement that the Spanish Golden Visa Programme will be officially closing in April 2025. Below is the top 10 list in full:
- United Arab Emirates
- Spain
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Belgium
- Italy
- Switzerland
- Denmark
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