2025 Passport Power Rankings: South Korea Stays Strong at 3rd, and the 1st Place Goes to…

South Korea’s passport has ranked third in the global passport power rankings in 2025.

CNN reported on the global passport index released by Henley & Partners, a UK-based international mobility firm. This index, compiled since 2006, evaluates the number of visa-free destinations accessible to passport holders based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

In this latest survey, South Korea came in third place, along with Finland, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. South Korean passport holders can enter 192 countries without a visa. While maintaining the same ranking as the previous survey, the number of visa-free destinations increased by one. This change likely reflects China’s decision to grant South Koreans 30-day visa-free entry starting last November.

Singapore retained the top rank for the fourth consecutive time since late 2023. Singaporean passport holders can visit 195 countries without a visa. Japan secured second place with access to 193 countries.

The top ten include several European Schengen Area countries, the United States, Canada, and Australia. In contrast, Afghanistan ranked last, with visa-free access to only 26 countries. With visa-free travel to 41 nations, North Korea ranked 99. Iran, Jordan, Laos, Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Ethiopia are among the nations that have granted visa-free access to North Korea.

Dr. Christian Kaelin, chairman of Henley & Partners, noted that the increasing frequency of climate change-induced natural disasters, community breakdowns, and uninhabitable environments are prompting a reevaluation of citizenship and birthright concepts.

In related news, China has extended its visa-free transit period for foreign passengers to a maximum of ten days.

China Central Television (CCTV) reported in December that the National Immigration Administration of China announced on the 17th that the visa exemption period for transit had been extended from 72 or 144 hours to 240 hours (10 days).

Passport holders from 54 countries, including South Korea, Japan, Russia, Brazil, the UK, the US, and Canada, can now enjoy visa-free stays while transiting through China to a third country, provided they meet certain conditions. These include having a passport valid for at least three months and meeting the entry requirements of the third country.

This announcement adds 21 airports to the list of those offering visa-free entry and includes five more provinces in the eligible areas. Travelers can now benefit from visa-free access at 60 major airports, including those in Beijing and Shanghai, and can stay for up to ten days in 24 regions across China.

This measure is part of China’s ongoing efforts to expand its visa exemption policy. Previously, China extended the visa-free entry period for South Korean ordinary passport holders to 30 days and reinstated the temporarily suspended visa-free policy for Japanese citizens.