Canada named among world’s most powerful passports; US passport drops to lowest ranking in 20 years
The latest global passport ranking released by Henley & Partners listed the Canadian passport among the 10 most powerful in the world for 2025.
Canada placed ninth overall against 198 other passports based on how many destinations Canadian citizens can visit without a visa.
As of October 7, 2025, those who possess a Canadian passport have visa-free access to 183 travel destinations worldwide.
As per the Henley Passport Index, Canada continues to beat out the US passport, which fell three positions since July 22 and was knocked off the top 10 list.
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Which passports ranked among the top 10 most powerful?
The table below outlines which passports ranked among the top 10 in 2025.
These rankings were determined based on a passport’s “Visa score,” representing how many destinations passport holders can access visa-free.
Despite multiple shared rankings in the top 10, Canada stands out as the sole occupant of the ninth position.
| Rank | Passport | Number of destinations passport holders can access visa-free |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore | 193 |
| 2 | South Korea | 190 |
| 3 | Japan | 189 |
| 4 | Germany | 188 |
| Italy | ||
| Luxembourg | ||
| Spain | ||
| Switzerland | ||
| 5 | Austria | 187 |
| Belgium | ||
| Denmark | ||
| Finland | ||
| France | ||
| Ireland | ||
| Netherlands | ||
| 6 | Greece | 186 |
| Hungary | ||
| New Zealand | ||
| Norway | ||
| Portugal | ||
| Sweden | ||
| 7 | Australia | 185 |
| Czech Republic | ||
| Malta | ||
| Poland | ||
| 8 | Croatia | 184 |
| Estonia | ||
| Slovakia | ||
| Slovenia | ||
| United Arab Emirates | ||
| United Kingdom | ||
| 9 | Canada | 183 |
| 10 | Latvia | 182 |
| Liechtenstein |
An examination of the top three slots
The latest Henley Index features the Singapore passport in first place, a position maintained throughout all three 2025 passport rankings.
Japan held second place in January of 2025 and shared this slot with South Korea in the July 2025 rankings. This title now belongs solely to South Korea after Japan dropped to third.
Despite Japan falling to third place, it does not share this slot with any other country—whereas in the July 22 rankings, there was a seven-way tie for this position among the following nations:
- Denmark.
- Finland.
- France.
- Germany.
- Ireland.
- Italy.
- Spain.
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How has Canada’s position changed compared to previous 2025 rankings?
Since the beginning of the year, Canada dropped by two ranks overall and now offers visa-free access to five fewer destinations.
In January of 2025, the Canadian passport held seventh place, granting access to 188 travel destinations visa-free.
That edition of the Henley Passport Index marked the first time the Canadian passport beat out the US passport, which held ninth place.
On July 22—when the updated index was released—Canada dropped down to the eighth position and permitted holders access to 184 destinations.
That edition of the index continued to illustrate the strength of the Canadian passport in comparison to the US passport (which, at that point in time, had dropped to 10th place).
As of now, Canada holds three positions over the US passport, which for the first time in the rankings' 20-year history, has fallen out of the top 10 world’s strongest passports.
Taking a broader view over the past decade, the Canadian passport has moved down five places in the global rankings but continues to maintain a spot on the top 10 list.
Methodology
The Henley Passport Index is updated using data provided by the International Air Transport Authority and considers 199 different passports and a total of 227 travel destinations.
A “Visa score” is assigned to each passport, representing the number of destinations for which you do not need a visa to enter.
This score impacts how a passport ranks against others, dictating its position in the index.
For a destination to be considered visa-free in the index, the destination must allow either allow visa-free entry, visa on arrival, a visitor’s permit, or require an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).
If a visa or e-visa is required, a destination is not counted.
How to apply for a Canadian passport
To obtain a Canadian passport, you must first become a Canadian citizen—either by birth, through naturalization, or inheriting Canadian citizenship.
Beyond having a visa-free score of 183, a Canadian passport allows citizens to reenter Canada more efficiently and minimize delays at the border.
You can apply for a Canadian passport at a Service Canada location or by mail.
When submitting an application, you must include the following in your application package:
- The application form (PPTC 153);
- Proof of Canadian citizenship (a birth certificate or citizenship certificate);
- Proof of identity (such as your driver’s license or foreign passport); and
- Two identical passport photos.
You will also need a guarantor and two references in order to complete the application—and must specify whether you want a five-year or ten-year passport.
The typical processing time for a Canadian passport is 10 to 20 business days, and you can expect to receive it by mail unless you paid for pick-up service.
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