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Canada just scored higher than the USA on the 2025 Henley Passport Index, but don’t pop the champagne (or maple syrup) just yet.
Released on January 8, the Henley Passport Index ranks the world’s 199 passports according to the number of destinations they can access visa-free and is based on Timatic data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
According to the new report, Canada sits in 7th place, giving its passport holders visa-free access to 188 destinations. Meanwhile, the USA landed in 9th with 186 destinations. Sure, it’s a win, but both countries have been slipping down the ranks in recent years.
Canada has dropped three spots over the last decade, while the USA tumbled seven, making both part of the index’s “losers list” for the steepest declines.
So why the slide? Experts say it’s a mix of politics and global perceptions. For the USA, certain policies and travel restrictions have hurt its standing. While not as affected, Canada hasn’t seen much progress either, as other nations secure more visa agreements.
Meanwhile, Singapore reclaimed the top spot with visa-free access to 195 destinations, followed by Japan in 2nd with 193. Europe dominates much of the top 10, but even there, some countries have lost ground.
The UAE is a standout in this year’s ranking, climbing into the 10th spot with 185 visa-free destinations—a massive jump compared to a decade ago.
On the opposite end, Afghanistan remains at the bottom, with access to just 27 destinations—a staggering 169 fewer than Singapore, marking the most significant mobility gap in the index’s 19-year history.
It’s not all bad news for Canadians, though. Holding the 7th most powerful passport is still impressive, especially when we’re so accustomed to being outshone by our southern neighbours.
Here’s a closer look at the full list.
2025 Henley Passport Index top 10:
- Singapore
- Japan
- South Korea, Germany, Spain, Italy, France, and Finland
- Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden
- Belgium, New Zealand, Portugal, Switzerland, and the U.K.
- Australia and Greece
- Canada, Malta and Poland
- Czechia and Hungary
- Estonia and the U.S.
- The UAE, Latvia, Lithuania, and Slovenia
Click here to explore the entire ranking.
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