British News Agency

This puts it on par with Cyprus in terms of visa-free access and just two spots behind the United States. Bulgarian citizens can enter 178 countries without a visa — a number that remains unchanged — but the country has climbed one position since the start of the year to rank 14th.

Meanwhile, the U.S. passport saw a notable drop, falling out of the top 10 for the first time. The United States, which held the top spot in 2014, now shares 12th place with Malaysia, offering visa-free access to 180 countries.

This decline reflects recent changes in visa policies, including the end of visa-free entry to Brazil, the removal of China from the list, and updates to entry regulations for Papua New Guinea and Myanmar.

The ranking methodology, based on International Air Transport Association (IATA) data, measures passport strength by the number of countries granting visa-free access. Singapore (193 countries), South Korea (190), and Japan (189) top the list. Five European countries — Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, and Switzerland — share fourth place with visa-free access to 188 countries. The UK passport, once ranked first in 2015, has dropped to eighth — its lowest position since the index began.

Christian Kellin, Chairman of the Henley Passport Index, said these changes signify more than minor ranking shifts — they reflect a global trend in which nations embracing openness and cooperation gain mobility advantages. While U.S. passport holders still enjoy access to 180 countries, only 46 countries reciprocate with visa-free entry to the United States.

By contrast, the Chinese passport has made significant progress, rising from 94th in 2015 to 64th in 2025. The number of visa-free destinations for Chinese citizens has increased by 37, reflecting the growing influence of nations expanding global connectivity.

Turkey ranks 51st, with visa-free access to 113 countries.