45 strongest passports in the world in 2025
There are 256 countries in the world, but when choosing one for second citizenship, the decision comes down to concrete benefits.
A strong passport can provide visa-free access to key regions, reduce tax burdens, and unlock new business and investment opportunities.
A passport’s strength can be measured in different ways, depending on individual goals, such as ease of relocation, tax advantages, or dual citizenship policies. Still, the number of visa-free destinations remains the most widely used benchmark.

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45 strongest passports in the world in 2025
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Best passports to hold in 2025
In this article, we concentrate on the travel opportunities given by the strongest passports in the world.
However, this criterion is not genuinely objective if you are looking for alternative citizenship. It is also vital to look at factors such as taxes, cost of living, and living standards.
Several countries offer affordable citizenship-by-investment programs, with passports available for investments starting at $130,000. This makes obtaining a second citizenship more accessible to individuals and families seeking global mobility, financial security, and long-term benefits.
According to the Immigrant Invest Passport Index, the most powerful passports in the world—ranked by visa-free access, visas on arrival, and electronic travel authorisations, include the following:
United Arab Emirates — 175.
Denmark — 173.
Sweden — 173.
Singapore — 172.
Republic of Korea — 172.
Germany — 172.
Spain — 172.
Finland — 172.
Italy — 172.
Luxembourg — 172.
Netherlands — 172.
France — 172.
Ireland — 172.
Portugal — 172.
Belgium — 172.
Switzerland — 172.
Austria — 172.
Japan — 171.
Australia — 171.
New Zealand — 171.
Norway — 171.
Czech Republic — 171.
Greece — 171.
Hungary — 171.
Poland — 171.
Slovak Republic — 171.
United Kingdom — 170.
Lithuania — 170.
Croatia — 170.
United States of America — 169.
Malta — 169.
Latvia — 169.
Slovenia — 169.
Estonia — 169.
Malaysia — 169.
Bulgaria — 169.
Romania — 169.
Iceland — 168.
Cyprus — 168.
Canada — 167.
Liechtenstein — 167.
Monaco — 166.
Chile — 164.
Brazil — 163.
Argentina — 163.
The list looks attractive. And the UAE, as a country with one of the best passports in the world, looks like the best choice for a person who wants to gain absolute travel freedom.
Citizenship in the UAE is available through naturalisation after 30 years of residence. However, this is not the only requirement.

Albert Ioffe,
Legal and Compliance Officer, certified CAMS specialist
Applicants for UAE naturalisation must speak Arabic, have legal income, permanent residence, a clean criminal record, and a recognised qualification. Those with past convictions may apply after rehabilitation. Wives of UAE citizens are exempt from the education requirement.
The UAE permitted dual citizenship by amending the Nationality Law in 2021. Under the amended law, foreign investors, professionals, individuals with special talents, and their families now have the opportunity to acquire citizenship under specific conditions. However, eligibility for dual citizenship is subject to nomination by government or royal court officials.
Aside from the UAE, most countries on the list have complex requirements for obtaining citizenship. At the same time, some of the most powerful countries have specific programs for obtaining residency.
Portugal, Malta, Italy, Greece, and Cyprus have Golden Visa programs, which allow you to get a residence and citizenship in exchange for investments in countries’ economies.

Realistic plan to get a powerful passport
Golden visas: an accessible route to long-term status. Some countries offer residence or permanent residence through investment programmes, often called Golden Visas. This path allows applicants to maintain their lifestyle — no need to marry, change jobs, or study abroad. It’s a practical solution for those who value freedom of movement without major personal changes.
Golden Visa holders can usually apply for citizenship after 5 to 10 years of legal residence. During this time, they benefit from local rights, such as healthcare access, property ownership, and tax optimisation options.
So, it seems the realistic plan is:
Get a residence permit or permanent residence.
Use the benefits of the status during the specified period.
Apply for citizenship.
Alternative paths require life changes or family ties. Citizenship by marriage, birth, or descent often demands proof of lineage or years spent living in the country. For example, a foreigner married to a French citizen must live in France for four years before applying for citizenship. These paths are not available to everyone.
Naturalisation: a longer road tied to purpose. A residence permit for work, study, or medical reasons can lead to citizenship through naturalisation. This requires full integration, including language proficiency, long-term physical presence, and sometimes renouncing other citizenships.
Golden Visas stand out for their flexibility. They offer a clear, stable path to a powerful passport — without the upheaval often required by other immigration routes.
Ways to a powerful passport by investment
Malta citizenship by naturalisation for exceptional services by direct investment. This way, to get a second passport requires an investment of at least €690,000.
According to the legal conditions, an investor:
contributes €600,000 or €750,000 to the National Development and Social Fund;
makes a charitable donation of €10,000;
and rents real estate for 5 years for €16,000 annually or purchases housing for €700,000.
But firstly, they get a residence permit and maintain it for 1 or 3 years. At the end of this period, they must pass the Eligibility Test and then can apply for citizenship.
The Greece Golden Visa grants residency permits to investors and their families who invest a minimum of €250,000 in real estate. But this applies to real estate under renovation only. To obtain a residence permit by purchasing a new property in Athens, an investor should buy real estate valued at €800,000.
Investors can include spouses, children under 21, and dependent parents. The program has attracted interest due to Greece’s desirable climate, rich history, and affordable property prices. Additionally, holders of the Golden Visa can benefit from Greece’s healthcare and education systems.
The passport of Greece is obtained after 7 years of residing in the country. Investors are not obliged to live permanently in Greece.
Hungary Golden Visas allows obtaining a residence permit with an investment of €250,000. The program offers two options:
buying bonds;
making a charitable donation.
Foreigners can only obtain Hungarian citizenship by naturalisation: residing in Hungary for 11 years and only leaving it for no more than 45 days a year.
The Portugal Golden Visa program offers five investment options for those who want to get residency in Portugal and apply for a passport in 5 years:
support for arts and preserving cultural heritage — €250,000+;
purchase of units in investment funds — €500,000+;
financing scientific research — €500,000+;
investing in a local company and creating 5 jobs — €500,000+;
opening a company in Portugal and creating 10 new jobs.
Portugal has recently passed a bill allowing people to apply for a passport in 5 years after requesting a residence permit, including a Golden Visa. Previously, foreigners did so 5 years after receiving their residency cards.
Investors do not need to live in Portugal but visit the country for 7 days a year.
The Italy Golden Visa was launched in 2017. Four investment pathways are available, with varying investment thresholds. The entry-level option involves investing at least €250,000 in an innovative startup. Alternatively, investors often favour contributing to philanthropic organisations, with investments starting at €1,000,000.
The Golden Visa grants a two-year residence permit initially, extendable in three-year periods. After 10 years of residency, investors and their families become eligible for Italian citizenship, unlocking visa-free travel to 172 countries.
Permanent residence in Cyprus can be obtained by investment of at least €300,000 in real estate or securities. Permanent residents enjoy tax benefits, exempting them from taxes on global income, dividends, and capital gains.
After residing in the country for 8 years, permanent residents are eligible to apply for Cypriot citizenship, granting visa-free travel to over 160 countries, including the European Union and the UK.
Way to a powerful passport for financially independent people
The Passive Income Visa, or D7, is one of the most affordable ways to live legally in Portugal. It requires a stable foreign income of €870+ per month.
As a resident, one will be able to travel across the Schengen Area visa-free and apply for citizenship in 5 years after requesting residency.
The residence permit card is issued for 2 years, after which it can be extended for 3 years. The main difference from the Golden Visa is that with the D7 one, a foreigner must spend 1.5 years in a row or 16 months in total for 2 years in Portugal.
Austria offers a residence permit for financially independent individuals who can support themselves without working. This type of residence does not grant the right to work in the country.
To qualify, applicants must show a stable monthly income — at least €2,548 for one person. For couples, the requirement is from €4,020 per month, with an additional €393 for each child. Applicants also need to transfer funds to an Austrian bank account to cover living expenses for at least one year.
While the minimum required amount is €30,000, transferring €80,000 or more significantly increases the chances of approval.
You must rent or purchase a home in Austria, though no specific property value is required. The process of obtaining the permit takes around three months or more. Applicants must spend at least 183 days per year in Austria and may include a spouse and children under 18 in the application.
Switzerland: a lump-sum tax of ₣450,000+. According to the law, a foreigner can get a residence permit in Switzerland by paying a lump-sum tax.
This residence permit allows one to move to Switzerland with a family, spouse and children under 18, but it does not allow one to work legally in the country. The lump-sum pax is paid yearly, and after 10 years of living in the country, a foreigner can apply for citizenship.

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More options to get travel freedom
If you’re considering obtaining a second passport from a European country, look into the options available in Portugal, Hungary, Greece, or Malta. However, if your main goal is visa-free travel within the EU, the UK, and China, Caribbean citizenship by investment programs may be a better fit.
Compared to naturalisation, which often takes several years, these investment programs offer a much faster route. Citizenship can be granted in 6—8 months.
Caribbean citizenship obtained by investment allows for highly effective travel, offering broad visa-free access. Most of them grant visa-free entry to 150+ countries. Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, and Dominica citizens enjoy visa-free visits to China for 30 days.
Caribbean programs for obtaining a second passport
These Caribbean passports are not only beneficial for those seeking visa-free access to key countries but also provide tax advantages, residency benefits, and the ability to pass citizenship to future generations.
With lower investment thresholds compared to European Golden Visa programs, these options are a cost-effective way to gain mobility and financial flexibility.
Antigua and Barbuda, as well as St Kitts and Nevis, offer particularly attractive cost-effective options for large families.

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Worst passports to hold in 2025
According to the Immigrant Invest Passport Index, the weakest passports in the world that grant fewer travel opportunities are:
Eritrea — 79 visa-free countries;
Myanmar — 78 visa-free countries;
Pakistan — 74 visa-free countries;
South Sudan — 73 visa-free countries;
Somalia — 69 visa-free countries;
Iraq — 67 visa-free countries;
Afghanistan — 66 visa-free countries;
Syria — 65 visa-free countries.
Unfortunately, the citizens of these countries not only have a lower level of travel freedom, but they also have limitations on participation in some programs for cosmopolitans. For example, citizens of Afghanistan can’t apply for St Kitts and Nevis and Malta citizenship, and residents of Syria can’t enrol in the Dominica program.
Rising and falling citizenship destinations in 2025 compared to 2024
Singapore and Japan are the leading countries for visa-free access, with both securing the top spots in 2025.
Dominica, once considered one of the most affordable citizenship options in the Caribbean, has seen a slight decline in its visa-free access as several countries in Asia have imposed new visa restrictions. While it still maintains access to over 140 countries, including the EU, the loss of key visa-free agreements with the UK.
Instead of conclusion
There are a lot of powerful passports, but not all countries willingly grant citizenship to foreigners.
There is a plan if you have enough time: get a residence permit in Portugal, Hungary, or Malta and then wait 5—10 years to apply for citizenship by naturalisation.
There is a plan if you have no time and if traveling visa-free to Europe is enough for you: check the citizenship by investment programs in the Caribbean and other countries.
All named programs have different options for participation. For example, you can buy or rent an estate, found a company or buy shares or bonds and so on.
Traditionally, the most popular is real estate purchasing: it’s profitable because you can rent it out. It’s returnable; some programs allow you to sell it after 5 or more years of ownership without losing status. It’s comfortable; you can live on your property if you want to move to the country.
Immigrant Invest is a licensed agent for citizenship and residence by investment programs in the EU, the Caribbean, Asia, and the Middle East. Take advantage of our global 15-year expertise — schedule a meeting with our investment programs experts.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to the Immigrant Invest Passport Index, the countries with the strongest passports are the United Arab Emirates, Denmark, Sweden, Singapore, the Republic of Korea, Germany, Spain, Finland, Italy, and Luxembourg. They can be named the countries with the most powerful passports by the visa-free destinations number.
The UAE passport is the best passport to have in 2025, according to the Immigrant Invest Passport Index.
According to the Immigrant Invest Passport Index, the weakest passports in the world that grant fewer opportunities for travel are:
Eritrea;
Myanmar;
Pakistan;
South Sudan;
Somalia;
Iraq;
Afghanistan;
Syria.
Seychelles is the country with the best citizenship benefits in Africa; it allows its holders to visit 150 countries visa-free.
The top 5 most powerful passports are in the United Arab Emirates, Denmark, Sweden, Singapore, and the Republic of Korea.
Investors can obtain second citizenship by investment in the Caribbean or Vanuatu. The investment amount starts at $130,000. The process takes several months, with the faster procedure in Vanuatu — 1—4 months.
According to the Immigrant Invest Passport Index, Syria has the weakest passport in the world. It only grants access to 65 visa-free countries.
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