If you line up every passport in the world and ask, “Which one gets you through the most borders without trouble?” the answer this year is simple. The United Arab Emirates.
The new Passport Index report for 2025 puts the UAE right at the very top. That means if you have one of their passports, you can enter 132 countries without even needing a visa. On top of that, another 47 will hand you a visa when you arrive. So, in total, that is 179 destinations with little or no advance paperwork. Only 19 places still ask UAE citizens to sort out a visa beforehand.
Spain comes next. Close behind, but not quite the same reach. Spanish passport holders have a mobility score of 176. That breaks down to 131 visa-free destinations and 45 visa-on-arrival ones. Just 20 countries still require you to arrange a visa first.
After that, the third spot is actually shared by quite a few countries. Singapore, France, Germany, Belgium, Finland, Italy, Denmark, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Portugal, Switzerland, Greece, Austria, Norway, and Ireland. All of them score 175 on mobility. That is 129 countries you can walk into without a visa, 46 that give you one when you arrive, and 23 that still require it ahead of time.
India’s Position
India is far lower in the rankings. Position number 72, the same as Gambia, Ghana, and Uganda. The mobility score here is 74. That means 30 countries allow Indians in without a visa, 44 will issue one at the border, and for 124 countries, you still have to get it in advance.
It is not among the weakest passports, but clearly not close to the top tier either.
At the Bottom of the List
Afghanistan has the weakest passport according to this index. The mobility score is 38. Only 6 countries allow Afghan citizens without a visa, while 32 offer visas on arrival. That leaves 160 places that require a visa in advance.
Others near the bottom include Yemen, Pakistan, Somalia, Iraq, and Syria, all ranked between 97 and 100.
How These Numbers Come Together
The Global Passport Index measures 199 places, which include every UN member and a few territories. The ranking is based on how easily people can travel using their passport.
The *mobility score* is the main number. It counts how many countries you can enter without a visa, how many will give you a visa on arrival, and how many accept quick e-visas or electronic travel authorizations.
If two countries have the same mobility score, the tie is broken by looking at the United Nations Human Development Index.
Here is a quick example. Suppose your passport lets you into 32 countries visa-free, 12 countries with a visa on arrival, 2 with an electronic travel authorization, and 9 with an e-visa. Add them together ( 32 + 12 + 2 + 9), which gives you a mobility score of 55.
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