When it comes to travel, the power really is in your hands. The latest Henley Passport Index has just landed, and the Australian handy little blue book has once again been ranked among the most powerful in the world. Earlier this year, we proudly claimed sixth place (tied with Greece), thanks to our travel docs that grant us visa-free travel to 189 out of 227 destinations worldwide. But in a mid-year update, we slipped slightly to seventh place, now unlocking access to only 185 places around the globe.
For the past two decades, Henley and Partners has used data from the International Air Transport Authority to compare the visa-free access of 199 nations’ passports to 227 global locations. This year, Singapore has clung to its title as the world’s most powerful passport, offering visa-free travel to 193 destinations. Japan and South Korea tied in second place, with their citizens free to travel to 190 global destinations without a visa. Meanwhile, seven countries – Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy and Spain – tied for third, allowing their citizens to travel visa-free to 189 places around the world.
In the mid-year 2025 ranking, Australia dropped from sixth-place – its highest-ever ranking on the Henley Passport Index’s 20-year history (a feat reached only four times) – to seventh. However, when factoring in ties, Australia ranked behind 20 other countries, sharing the 22nd spot with Czechia, Hungary, Malta and Poland. Citizens in Australia can travel freely to 185 destinations worldwide, either without needing a visa, or being able to easily obtain a visa, visitor’s permit or electronic travel authority (ETA) upon arrival.
Aussies planning a one-week vacay can stay close to home with visa-free travel to hot spots in Oceania, like the Solomon Islands, New Caledonia and New Zealand, along with more than a dozen places in Asia, including Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia. Dreaming of a Euro-summer getaway? You can embark on a visa-free adventure across 50 European destinations, such as France, the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands (though keep in mind, new UK entry rules may require an e-visa for certain stays). Take it even further by exploring exotic places like Botswana, Qatar, Mexico, and the Bahamas, all without the hassle of a visa.
So the question is this, Aussies: where in the world would you like to go?
Here are the top 10 most powerful passports in the world for 2025:
- Singapore – 193 destinations
- Japan and South Korea – 190 destinations
- Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland and Spain – 189 destinations
- Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and Sweden – 188 destinations
- Greece, New Zealand and Switzerland – 187 destinations
- UK – 186 destinations
- Australia, Czechia, Hungary, Malta and Poland – 185 destinations
- Canada, Estonia and UAE – 184 destinations
- Croatia, Latvia, Slovakia and Slovenia – 183 destinations
- Iceland, Lithuania and United States – 182 destinations