Israel’s passport has fallen from 18th to 20th place in the latest Henley & Partners global passport index, with visa-free access dropping to 165 destinations, according to rankings released Tuesday.
The Henley Passport Index, which is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), tracks the number of destinations passport holders can access without a visa. In January, the Israeli passport allowed visa-free entry to 170 destinations and was ranked 19th globally. Despite dropping to 168 destinations, it briefly climbed to 18th place in July due to shifts in other countries’ rankings.
By October 2025, however, Israel had lost visa-free access to five countries — Mauritania, the Maldives, Colombia, Somalia and Myanmar — pushing its ranking down to 20th. According to Henley & Partners, access to Mauritania, Somalia and Myanmar was removed due to broader policy changes, while Colombia and the Maldives revoked their visa waivers amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
The index reflects broader shifts in global mobility. The United States passport, once ranked first in 2014, has now dropped out of the top 10 for the first time in the index’s 20-year history. It currently ranks 12th, tied with Malaysia, offering visa-free access to 180 out of 227 possible destinations.
The United Kingdom also experienced a decline, falling from sixth to eighth place — its lowest position ever — after holding the top spot in 2015.
Asian countries now dominate the top of the index. Singapore holds the strongest passport in the world, with visa-free access to 193 destinations. It is followed by South Korea (190) and Japan (189). Several European nations round out the top 10, while Canada ranks ninth with 183 destinations.
Henley & Partners Chairman Dr. Christian H. Kaelin noted that “these seemingly small changes have had outsized consequences — underscoring just how finely balanced the global mobility landscape has become.”
Kaelin added that the U.S. passport’s decline reflects more than just a reshuffling of rankings. “The declining strength of the U.S. passport over the past decade is more than just a reshuffle in rankings — it signals a fundamental shift in global mobility and soft power dynamics. Nations that embrace openness and cooperation are surging ahead, while those resting on past privilege are being left behind.”
The firm also pointed to China’s rapid ascent on the index. The Chinese passport has jumped from 94th place in 2015 to 64th in 2025, with visa-free access to 95 destinations — a gain of 37 in the last decade. On Henley’s separate Openness Index, China now ranks 65th, offering visa-free access to 76 nations — 30 more than the United States.
"Recent developments, including granting visa free access to Russia, underscore Beijing’s ongoing strategy of increased openness. China’s moves — alongside new agreements with the Gulf states, South America, and several European countries — are cementing its role as a global mobility powerhouse, bolstering the Asia-Pacific region’s dominance in travel freedom."
Top passports by visa-free access:
- Singapore – 193 destinations
- South Korea – 190 destinations
- Japan – 189 destinations
- Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, Switzerland – 188 destinations
- Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Netherlands – 187 destinations
- Greece, Hungary, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Sweden – 186 destinations.
- Australia, Czech Republic, Malta, Poland – 185 destinations.
- Croatia, Estonia, Slovakia, Slovenia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom – 184 destinations.
- Canada – 183 destinations.
- Latvia, Liechtenstein – 182 destinations.
- Iceland, Lithuania – 181 destinations.
- United States, Malaysia – 180 destinations.