When it comes to traveling the world, a powerful passport can open doors and make global exploration much easier. Globally, some countries offer their citizens stronger passports than others, providing greater freedom to travel without the hassle of securing visas.
The Henley Passport Index ranks passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. According to the 2025 Henley Passport Index, which ranks the world’s 199 passports based on the number of destinations they offer visa-free access to, Singapore has reclaimed its title as the world’s most powerful passport. It grants holders visa-free access to 195 out of 227 global destinations.
The rest of the index’s top 10 is largely dominated by European countries, except for Australia (6th place with 189 destinations), Canada (7th place with 188 destinations), the US (9th place with 186 destinations), and the UAE, the first and only Arab state to ever make it into the upper echelons of the rankings.
In Africa, Seychelles holds the title of the strongest passport for 2025, granting its holders visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 156 countries, ranking 25th globally.
As of 2025, the following African countries have the most powerful passports:
| Rank | Passport | Access (countries) | Global rank |
| 1 | Seychelles | 156 | 25th |
| 2 | Mauritius | 151 | 29th |
| 3 | South Africa | 106 | 48th |
| 4 | Botswana | 88 | 57th |
| 5 | Namibia | 81 | 62nd |
| 6 | Lesotho | 79 | 64th |
| 7 | eSwatini | 77 | 65th |
| 8 | Malawi | 75 | 67th |
| 9 | Kenya | 74 | 68th |
| 10 | Morocco | 73 | 69th |
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* Sources: 2025 Henley Passport Index; Business Insider Africa; Future Africa.
