Canadian Passport Continues To Surpass The U.S. In Latest Global Ranking
Canadian Passport Retains Position in the Top 10 Most Powerful Passports in the World
According to the latest ranking of Henley Passport Index published on July 22, 2025, the Canadian passport continues to be in the top 10 most powerful passports in the world, specifically in 8th place - on par with the passports of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Estonia.
What is the Henley Passport Index?
The Henley Passport Index is a global ranking published periodically by Henley & Partners. It is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and ranks the power of passports based on the number of countries their citizens can visit visa-free or with a visa-on-arrival.
How many countries are visa-free with a Canadian passport?
As of the latest update, Canadian passport holders can travel to 184 countries and territories without a prior visa. While that’s down slightly from the 188 destinations in January 2025 (when Canada ranked 7th), it still beats the US passport, which has now dropped to 10th place in the rankings.
The US passport is losing its status
Notably, the US passport – once a leader – has been steadily declining over the past 20 years. If this trend continues, the US could drop out of the top 10 most powerful passports in the world – something that has not happened since Henley & Partners began publishing the ranking in 2006.
The most powerful passports in the world today
According to Henley Passport Index July 2025:
- Number 1: Singapore – visa-free access to 193 countries.
- Number 2: Japan and South Korea – visa-free access to 190 countries.
- Number 3 (tied): Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy and Spain – all visa-free to 189 destinations.
Countries that made significant leaps:
- India: rose from 85th to 77th in just 6 months.
- Saudi Arabia: 4 new visa-free destinations added.
Meanwhile, some countries have seen significant drops in rankings over the past decade:
- Venezuela: down 15 places
- US: down 8 places
- Vanuatu: down 6 places
- UK: down 5 places
- Canada: down 4 places from 10 years ago
Advantages of Canadian passport
Not only does a Canadian passport allow citizens to travel internationally conveniently to 184 visa-free destinations, it also makes re-entry into Canada easier and faster, especially at international airports.
Who can apply for a Canadian passport?
- Citizens born in Canada: automatically entitled to a passport.
- Citizenship by “blood”: if one parent is Canadian.
- Naturalized citizens: must become permanent residents first, live in Canada for at least 3 years in the last 5 years before applying for citizenship.
Conclusion:
Despite a slight adjustment in the rankings, the Canadian passport still maintains its position as one of the most powerful passports in the world, surpassing many large countries such as the US and the UK. This not only affirms Canada's quality of life and international reputation, but is also a great motivation for those who are planning to settle and become citizens of this country. Are you interested in settling and becoming citizens of Canada?
Contact TTN immigration for advice on suitable immigration programs, helping you and your family soon become Canadian citizens - owning a passport that is among the most powerful in the world.
