What Are the Top 5 Passports in the World Right Now?

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RIF Trust on the Importance of a Strong Passport

RIF Trust CEO Mimoun Assraoui urges HNWIs to use Residency by Investment and Citizenship by Investment programs for any mobility issues. He advises you research which offer the most powerful passports. “There are many things you can control in life,” he reasons.

“Where you are born and which passport you qualify for as a result is not one of them.”

Our CEO concludes: “In this article, we will show how investing in a second passport can diversify your business and leisure travel opportunities.”

What Is Our Passport Index and How Does It Rank Passports?

The RIF Trust Passport Index is the world’s most regularly updated indicator of travel documents. There is no other Passport Index like it. When comparing passports on the Index, there are two figures to look out for.

The first is the one on the left. This refers to visa-free countries. However, by visa-free countries we mean destinations that you don’t require a visa to visit, countries where you can travel to with a visa on arrival, and destinations requesting you solicit an eVisa.

Now the second figure, the one on the right, is always 199. This static number specifies how many passports are in existence with RIF Trust only counting countries and not territories like the Cayman Islands. In ascending order, here are the top 5 passports in the world right now.

5th Passport Rank

It’s a 4-way tie for 5th place on our Index. If you have one of these passports, you will be able to enjoy visa-free travel to 179 out of 199 countries. Let’s break down that ranking in more detail below.

More specifically, the Croatian passport enables you to enter 118 destinations without a visa, 33 with a visa on arrival, and 28 via an eVisa. The Slovakian passport offers identical access. There’s the exact number of purely visa-free countries, destinations you can travel with a visa on arrival, and those stipulating entry with an eVisa.

The Japanese passport is slightly different, as it offers 117 strictly visa-free destinations, 37 countries you can visit with a visa on arrival, and 25 with an eVisa. Moving on to the South Korean passport, this allows you to travel to 116 unadulterated visa-free countries, 40 destinations courtesy of a visa on arrival, and 23 via an eVisa. Unfortunately, none of these passports are available through Residency or Citizenship by Investment.

4th Passport Rank Passports

6 countries share 4th position, offering visa-free travel to 180 out of 199 destinations. The Republic of Singapore passport guarantees arrival in 131 visa-free countries per se, 27 destinations with a visa on arrival, and 22 through an eVisa. A Norwegian passport is your ticket to enter 122 visa-free destinations, 32 countries through a visa on an arrival, and 26 with an eVisa.

The New Zealand passport permits travel to 117 visa-free countries, 38 with a visa on arrival, and 25 destinations via an eVisa. A Hungarian passport, meanwhile, secures entry to 120 visa-free destinations, 33 through a visa on arrival, and 27 countries through an eVisa.

With a Czech Republic passport, you can visit 121 visa-free countries, 32 via a visa on arrival, and 27 destinations with an eVisa. The Australian passport gives you access to 113 visa-free destinations, 41 with a visa on arrival, and 26 countries through an eVisa. RIF Trust currently doesn’t run any programs that allow you to invest in any of these passports.

3rd Passport Rank

A further 6 countries are in 3rd spot, providing visa-free access to 181 out of 199 destinations. A Polish passport ensures your arrival in 121 visa-free countries, 32 via a visa on arrival, and 28 with an eVisa. The Greek passport guarantees entry in 122 visa-free destinations, 31 countries with a visa on arrival, and 28 through an eVisa.

Through a Portuguese passport you can visit 124 visa-free countries, 30 destinations via a visa, and 27 with an eVisa. With a population of around 668,000, Luxembourg is the smallest country in our top 5 passports. Nonetheless, a Luxembourg passport establishes access to 125 visa-free destinations, 30 through a visa on arrival and 26 via an eVisa.

The Finnish passport allows you to enter 126 visa-free countries, 29 destinations through a visa on arrival, and, also, 26 via with an eVisa. A Danish passport, likewise, permits arrival in 126 visa-free destinations, 30 via a visa on arrival, and 25 through an eVisa. 2 of these 6 countries offer Residency by Investment.

Invest a minimum €250,000 to obtain a Greek Golden Visa. You’ll enhance your mobility by being able to travel freely through the 29 countries comprising the EU Schengen Area. Spend more than 183 days a year in Greece for 7 years, pass the requisite citizenship tests, and you can become a national (and passport holder).

The lowest threshold for a Portuguese Golden Visa is €325,000, another Schengen Zone entry point. There’s a minimum physical residency requirement of needing to spend 14 days every 2 years on Portuguese soil. You qualify for Portuguese citizenship and a passport 5 years after applying for residency.

2nd Passport Rank

9 passports are in the second position, guaranteeing visa-free travel to 182/199 destinations such as the Swiss passport (122/33/27). The Dutch passport (125/30/27) is the 2nd of this 9. Then there’s the Italian passport (126/30/26).

Joining this trio of travel documents is the Irish passport (121/35/26). You also have the German passport (126/30/26) in this section. In addition, there’s the French passport (127/29/26).

The first of the final 3 documents in this ranking is the Belgian passport (126/29/27). Next is the Austrian passport (124/31/27) and, lastly, there is the Swedish passport. None of these passports are available through Residency or Citizenship by Investment.

1st Passport Rank

The passports of two countries share the top spot on our Passport Index (183/199). One is a travel document of another European country, the Spanish passport (126/31/26). The other may surprise you, the UAE passport (126/35/22).

Invest at least €350,000 in a Spanish Golden Visa. You’ll receive visa-free travel across the Schengen Area and after 10 years of residency (2 if you’re from Latin America or the Philippines), Spanish citizenship and a passport. Hurry to apply as the cut-off point is Wednesday, April 2, 2025 as no Golden Visa applications will be accepted after this date.

Whilst the $550,000 UAE Golden Visa doesn’t allow you to naturalize as a citizen in the United Arab Emirates, it does offer myriad benefits. This residence permit allows you access to 18 visa-free destinations. There’s also the chance to add a limited number of domestic staff as dependents.

How to Invest in One of These Top 5 Passports in 2025

Your next step to acquiring a strong second passport is to talk with a Residency and Citizenship by Investment specialist like RIF Trust. This, above all, allows us to tailor what you need to the right program. So, contact us now, and we’ll show you how you and your family can start their route to dual citizenship today, without any further delay.