German Passport Ranks as 3rd-Most Powerful in Henley Index 2025
German Passport Drops to 3rd Place in Henley Passport Index 2025
The annual Henley & Partners Passport Index has ranked the German passport as the third most powerful globally for visa-free travel in 2025, down from its first-place position in 2024.
The Henley Passport Index 2025
Each January, Henley & Partners releases its authoritative Passport Index, evaluating 199 passports based on their visa-free access to 227 destinations worldwide. Passports earn one point for each country their holders can visit without a visa or where a visa, visitor’s permit, or electronic travel authorization (ETA) is available upon arrival.
Destinations requiring pre-arranged visas or pre-departure government authorization do not contribute points. Although the index is launched annually, it is updated quarterly to reflect changes.
In its first 2025 edition, Henley & Partners crowned the Singaporean passport the most powerful, granting visa-free access to 195 destinations. The Japanese passport secured second place with access to 193 destinations.
German Passport Falls to Third Place
The German passport dropped from the top spot in 2024 to share third place in 2025 alongside the passports of Finland, France, Italy, South Korea, and Spain. These passports each grant visa-free access to 192 destinations.
Since the Henley Passport Index began in 2006, Germany’s ranking has fluctuated between first, second, and third place, with one exception in 2011, when it fell to fifth. The 2025 ranking continues to underscore the global appeal of German citizenship, especially for long-term residents seeking naturalization.
Germany has seen a significant rise in naturalizations, spurred further by the 2024 introduction of dual citizenship, which allows naturalized citizens to retain their original nationality. In 2023, the country recorded its highest number of naturalizations in 23 years, a trend expected to grow.
Top Passports for Visa-Free Travel in 2025
According to Henley & Partners, the best passports for visa-free travel in 2025 are:
- Singapore (195 destinations)
- Japan (193 destinations)
- Finland, France, Germany, Italy, South Korea, Spain (192 destinations)
- Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden (191 destinations)
- Belgium, New Zealand, Portugal, Switzerland, United Kingdom (190 destinations)
- Australia, Greece (189 destinations)
- Canada, Malta, Poland (188 destinations)
- Czechia, Hungary (187 destinations)
- Estonia, United States (186 destinations)
- Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia, United Arab Emirates (185 destinations)
The Henley Passport Index remains a key reference for travelers and policymakers, offering insights into the relative power and freedom afforded by passports worldwide.