The latest global passport rankings are in—and once again, Canada’s passport remains among the most powerful in the world, beating out the United States. Global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners has released its Henley Passport Index, and as of July 22, the Canadian passport ranks eighth globally, tied with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Estonia.
The Henley Passport Index is compiled using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). It measures the strength of a passport by the number of countries its holders can visit without a prior visa. Currently, Canadian passport holders enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 184 destinations around the world.
How Has Canada’s Passport Rank Changed?
Canada has dropped one spot since January 2025, when it was ranked seventh and granted access to 188 destinations without a prior visa. Still, the Canadian passport continues to rank higher than the U.S. passport, which has now fallen to 10th place. Notably, January 2025 marked the first time since 2006—when the index was first published—that Canada outranked the U.S. in the global passport standings.
The U.S. is now dangerously close to dropping out of the top 10 for the first time in the index’s 20-year history.
What are the top Passports in the World?
Here are the world’s most powerful passports, according to the latest Henley Index:
- 1st Place: Singapore – Access to 193 destinations
- 2nd Place (Tie): Japan and South Korea – Access to 190 destinations
- 3rd Place (Seven-way tie): Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain – Each provides access to 189 destinations
Other Noteworthy Shifts
- India has made the largest leap in the last six months, moving from 85th to 77th place by gaining visa-free access to two more destinations.
- Saudi Arabia recorded the biggest increase in visa-free access, adding four destinations since January 2025.
On the other hand, some countries are seeing a decline:
- The UK and U.S. have both dropped one position since January.
- Over the past decade, the biggest fall has been for Venezuela, which slid down 15 spots. It’s followed by:
- The U.S. (down 8 spots)
- Vanuatu (down 6)
- The UK (down 5)
- Canada (down 4)
Why the Canadian Passport Stands Out
Beyond access to 184 countries, the Canadian passport offers practical benefits. It simplifies re-entry into Canada, making international travel smoother for its citizens.
Canadian citizenship is granted automatically to individuals born in Canada or those with Canadian parents. For others, the path to a Canadian passport begins with permanent residency and requires living in Canada for at least three years before becoming eligible for citizenship through naturalization.
