Did you know your passport has power? Not in the superhero sense, but in how many countries you can travel to without needing a visa. That’s called passport strength, and it matters in 2025.

Imagine planning a holiday or business trip, only to find out you need to spend time, money, and effort applying for a visa. That’s what happens when your passport isn’t very powerful.

In today’s global world, having a strong passport means:

You can visit more countries without hassle.
You save money on visa fees.
You can make last-minute travel plans.
You spend less time at the borders.

For UK citizens like you, this power is slowly fading. Your passport is no longer one of the top-ranked in the world, and that’s a big deal for how easily you can travel

Photo: unsplash.com/@raecaspar

A decade ago, things were very different. In 2013, the UK passport was ranked at the top globally. From 2013 to 2015, it was considered one of the strongest passports anywhere. You could go almost anywhere, no questions asked.

But then, slowly, things started to change:

Brexit made travel rules with Europe more complicated.

Global politics became more unstable.

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 disrupted worldwide mobility.

By 2020 and 2021, the UK had dropped to 7th place in the global passport rankings. In 2024, there was some hope—the UK climbed back up to 4th. But now, in 2025, it has slipped again.

Understanding the Henley Passport Index: How Rankings Are Calculated

Who decides which passport is the strongest?

The most trusted ranking system is the Henley Passport Index. This index looks at:

How many destinations can you travel to without needing a visa?

How many countries give you a visa on arrival?

The index covers 199 passports and 227 destinations. Each time a country adds or removes visa-free access for another, the rankings shift.

The more countries you can visit without needing to apply for a visa first, the higher your passport ranks.

Photo:  unsplash.com/@ethanrwilkinson

As of July 2025, the UK passport ranks 6th in the world, according to the Henley Passport Index.

What does that mean for you?

You can travel to 186 countries visa-free.

That’s still a lot—but it’s fewer than before.

In 2024, UK citizens could access 191 countries visa-free. So you’ve lost five destinations in just a year.

It’s not a disaster, but it’s part of a downward trend that warrants attention.

The Henley Passport Index:

1. Singapore (193)

2. Japan, South Korea (190)

3. Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain (189)

4. Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden (188)

5. Greece, New Zealand, Switzerland (187)

6. United Kingdom (186)

7. Australia, Czechia, Hungary, Malta, Poland (185)

8. Canada, Estonia, United Arab Emirates (184)

9. Croatia, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia (183)

10. Iceland, Lithuania, United States (182)

11. Liechtenstein, Malaysia (181)

12. Cyprus (178)

13. Bulgaria, Monaco, Romania (177)

14. Chile (176)

15. Andorra (171)

16. Argentina, Brazil, San Marino (170)

17. Hong Kong (SAR China) (169)

18. Israel (168)

19. Brunei (164)

20. Barbados (163)

To see the complete Henley Passport Index head here.