Canadian passports ranked top tier globally in 2025. It attained the seventh position in a new global ranking of the most powerful passports in the world in 2025.
The ranking was done by global consultancy Henley & Partners and is based on the number of destinations Canadian passport holders can access without a prior visa.
In 2025, Canadian passport holders have visa-free access to over 188 destinations. The ties in Canada with Malta as well as Poland also hold the seventh position.
This also marks the first time that the Canadian passport has beaten the US Passport since the company began publishing a global ranking, i.e., the Henley Passport Index, in 2006.
This year, the US fell to the ninth position on the list, two positions below last year’s ranking in the seventh position.
On the contrary, the Canadian passport has maintained its position since 2024 and is also in seventh place. It is an increase from 2023 when the Canadian passport ranked in the eighth position.
Egypt and Brazil are two nations that have removed visa restrictions on Canadians in 2025, according to the index. On the other hand, Gabon and Togo now need Canadians to have visas to visit.
Despite the fact that Canada maintained its position in seventh place, Henley and Partners pointed out that Canada has dropped three ranks over the last decade from its position in fourth place in 2015.
Methodology
Canadian passports ranked top tier globally in 2025.
The Henley Passport Index considers destinations as visa-free if they allow visa-free arrival, visa on arrival, a visitor’s permit, or require an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).
Destinations that need a visa or government-approved e-visa are not counted.
This helps determine the overall mobility of passport holders.
The index is based on data from the International Air Transport Association, enhanced by Henley and Partners’ research team.
How Does The Canadian Passport Compare To Other Passports?
The Henley Passport Index looks at the visa-free access of over 199 different passports to 227 travel destinations.
This year, Singapore reclaimed its top spot as the most powerful passport, giving its holders access to 195 out of 227 destinations worldwide.
It was followed by Japan offering visa-free access to 193 destinations.
Afghanistan is positioned at the bottom of the list, with visa-free access to 26 destinations.
The index also noted that the UAE is one of the biggest ‘climbers’ over the past decade, having gotten access to around 72 more destinations over the last decade, falling to the tenth position in 2025.
How Can One Get A Canadian Passport?
Canadian passports ranked top tier globally in 2025.
Well, in order to get a Canadian passport, one must first become a Canadian citizen.
Those born within Canada are automatically eligible.
Note: If someone is the direct child of a Canadian citizen, they may be eligible to inherit citizenship status from their parents through current interim measures.
For those not born in Canada, this can be a long process that involves first obtaining Canadian permanent residency. There are numerous pathways to PR to consider.
After obtaining PR status, there are other criteria that need to be met, like:
- Passing the citizenship test
- Canada’s physical presence requirement for citizenship
- Taking the oath of citizenship
- Filing taxes and paying any outstanding taxes owed
Generally, becoming a Canadian citizen through naturalization takes over three years.
Seek professional assistance from Immigtoronto for a hassle-free immigration process. Our skilled consultants are focused on guiding potential immigrants. If you have inquiries, please feel free to contact us at [email protected].
