The Hungarian passport has never been so valuable: it’s among the world’s strongest travel documents
The Hungarian passport has been ranked among the world’s most powerful travel documents, according to the latest quarterly index published by the consultancy firm Henley & Partners. Hungarian citizens can currently travel to 186 countries without a visa, placing Hungary in sixth position on the global list.
Europe continues to dominate the top 10
The Henley Passport Index, based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), assesses the “power” of passports by measuring how many destinations they provide visa-free access to.
At the top of the 2025 ranking stands Singapore, whose citizens can visit 193 destinations without a visa. It is followed by South Korea (190 countries) and Japan (189). In fourth place are several European countries – Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, and Switzerland – each offering visa-free access to 188 destinations.
Hungary shares the sixth spot with Greece, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden, all enjoying the same level of travel freedom. (Interestingly, in July this year, the Hungarian passport still ranked seventh on the list.)
The United Arab Emirates makes major gains
One of the past decade’s most remarkable success stories is that of the United Arab Emirates. Over the last ten years, the country has climbed 34 places, moving from 42nd to eighth position. This rise clearly shows how diplomatic relations and international cooperation can significantly influence the strength of a passport.
At the other end of the scale, Afghanistan remains at the bottom, with its passport granting visa-free access to just 24 countries. Syrian citizens hold the second weakest passport (26 countries), followed by Iraqi nationals (29). The difference is striking: Singaporeans can travel to 169 more destinations without a visa than Afghans.
The United States drops out of the top 10
In a surprising turn, the United States has, for the first time in the index’s history, fallen out of the top 10. It now ranks 12th, tied with Malaysia.
According to Origo, one key reason for the drop is that Brazil revoked visa-free entry for citizens of the US, Canada, and Australia in April due to a lack of reciprocity. Meanwhile, China granted visa exemptions to several European countries – including Germany and France – but the US was not among the beneficiaries.
A CNN analysis notes that the weakening of the American passport reflects not just a statistical shift, but also a decline in global mobility and so-called “soft power.”
Hungary holds its strong position
Hungary continues to maintain its place among the front-runners, surpassing the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States in terms of visa-free destinations.
According to Henley Passport Index data, the Hungarian passport ranks high not only in Europe but also globally, thanks to the strength and stability of the country’s international relations.