TAIPEI / MANILA (October 16, 2025)— The British consultancy firm Henley & Partners has ranked Taiwan’s passport as the 37th strongest in the world in the latest 2025 Henley Passport Index, granting its holders visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 136 destinations.
According to the report, Singapore retained the top spot with a score of 193, meaning Singaporean citizens can enter 193 countries without needing a visa beforehand. South Korea followed in second place with access to 190 destinations, while Japan ranked third with 189.
U.S. Falls Out of Top 10 for the First Time
The United States tied with Malaysia at 12th place, marking the first time in the 20-year history of the Henley Passport Index that the U.S. has fallen out of the top 10. The U.S. once held the top rank in 2014 but has since slipped due to shifting travel and immigration policies.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom, which last topped the list in 2015, dropped from sixth to eighth place, its lowest ranking to date. In Greater China, Hong Kong ranked 18th, Macau 35th, and China 64th.
Taiwan’s Standing in Asia
In East and Southeast Asia, Taiwan remained in eighth place regionally, behind Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Brunei, and Macau. Globally, Taiwan sits between Serbia and El Salvador.
Over the years, Taiwan’s ranking has fluctuated — it was 55th in 2006, dropped to 69th in 2010, and reached its highest position at 24th in 2014. Since 2015, Taiwan has consistently remained in the 30s, reflecting its stable travel freedom.
Philippines’ Rank
The Philippine passport ranked 72nd in the 2025 index, providing visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to around 65 destinations. This places the country in the mid-lower tier globally, behind Singapore, Malaysia, and Brunei, but close to Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia among ASEAN nations.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) continues to negotiate new visa-free agreements to expand travel mobility for Filipino citizens.
How the Index Works
The Henley Passport Index ranks 199 passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without prior visa approval among 227 global travel destinations. The rankings are derived from data provided by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).