The Swedish passport remains strong – but is challenged by Finland and France

Sweden continues to be one of the world's most powerful passports according to Henley Passport Index 2025With a location of fourth place and 188 visa-free destinations The Swedish passport is still among the most respected in the world. But while Sweden maintains its high ranking, other countries such as Finland and France have climbed and now share the same position. Meanwhile, countries such as Singapore, Japan and South Korea have continued to dominate the top positions.

Which countries are ahead of Sweden?

According to the latest rankings, the top positions look like this:

1. Singapore – 193 visa-free destinations
2. Japan – 190 destinations
3. South Korea, Denmark – 189 destinations
4. Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Austria – 188 destinations

The biggest change on the list is that Singapore has solidified its position as the world's most powerful passport, while Japan and South Korea are losing some strength compared to previous years.

Sweden vs Finland and France – why do they share the same ranking?

It is no coincidence that Sweden, Finland and France now share the same ranking. These countries have similar visa agreements and a common foreign policy within the EU, which means that their citizens often receive similar visa benefits. Finland, which previously ranked just below Sweden, has in recent years strengthened its bilateral agreements and reached the same level. The same applies to France, which has continued to expand its diplomatic influence globally.

What does this mean for Swedish travelers?

• The Swedish passport is still one of the world's most valuable and gives access to almost the entire world without a visa.
• Sweden has lost its former dominance, but stands strong compared to other EU countries.
• Countries like Singapore and Japan show that passport rankings can change quickly depending on international relations.

The US and the UK are lagging behind

Another interesting feature of this year's ranking is that both the US and the UK continue to lose positions. The UK is now at 6:e spot w/ 186 destinations, while the US is on 9:e spot w/ 183 destinationsPreviously, these passports were among the most powerful in the world, but increased restrictions and changing visa agreements have caused them to fall back.

How do passports from India, China and Thailand fare?

For Thailand Infos Readers, it is also interesting to look at how passports from other relevant countries rank globally:

• India: Ranked in place 82 with only 57 visa-free destinationsDespite India being a global economic powerhouse, its passport is still relatively weak, which can be explained by strict border controls and limited bilateral agreements.
• China: Ranked 60 w/ 83 visa-free destinations, which is significantly higher than India but still far behind countries like Japan and South Korea. China's passport is limited by its political relations and restrictions on entry to Western countries.
• Thailand: Ranked in place 60, just like China, with 83 visa-free destinationsEven though Thailand is a major tourist nation, the country's passport has difficulty opening up more visa-free opportunities internationally.

The big difference between these countries and EU countries like Sweden lies in diplomatic relations and bilateral agreements. Countries with strong diplomatic networks and stable foreign policies tend to have more powerful passports.

Some unexpected insights from this year's rankings

• United Arab Emirates (UAE) has climbed quickly and is now ranked 8 w/ 184 visa-free destinations, making it the strongest passport in the Middle East.
• Brazil and Argentina have improved their rankings and now have more visa-free travel destinations than before, making them the strongest passports in Latin America.
• Russian Federation has collapsed 46:e spot with only 114 visa-free destinations, partly due to geopolitical tensions and sanctions.

Overall, this year's rankings show how quickly changes can happen. While Sweden is still in the top tier, other countries have started to catch up, and global geopolitical changes can quickly affect the value of passports.

Text: The editorial staff

Image license: jackmac34, Pixabay, original image