By 2025, Canadian passports will be ranked among the world's best passports

In the latest ranking of the world's best passports in 2025, the Canadian passport ranks seventh. This ranking is conducted by global consulting firm Henley&Partners, based on the number of destinations that Canadian passport holders can travel to without a prior visa.

By 2025, Canadian passport holders will be able to travel visa free to 188 destinations. Canada is tied for seventh place with Malta and Poland.

Defeating the US passport for the first time

This is also the first time since the company began releasing the global ranking Henry Passport Index in 2006 that Canadian passports have defeated American passports. This year, the United States' ranking on the list has dropped to ninth place, two places lower than last year's seventh place.

On the other hand, the Canadian passport has maintained its position since 2024, also ranking seventh. Compared to 2023, the ranking of Canadian passports has increased, with Canadian passports ranking eighth at that time.

According to the index, Egypt and Brazil are the two countries that will lift visa restrictions on Canadians by 2025. On the other hand, Gabon and Togo now require Canadians to hold a visa in order to visit.

Although Canada still maintains its seventh position, Henley&Partners points out that Canada has dropped three places from fourth place in 2015 over the past decade.

How to Calculate

If the destination allows visa free entry, visa on arrival, visitor permit, or requires electronic travel authorization (eTA), the Henley Passport Index will consider the destination as a visa free destination. The destinations that require visas or government approved electronic visas (e-visas) are not included.

This helps to determine the overall mobility of passport holders.

The index is based on data from the International Air Transport Association and has been refined by the research team of Henley&Partners.

contrast

The Henry Passport Index examined the visa free status of 199 different passports for travel to 227 tourist destinations. This year, Singapore regained its title as the best passport, allowing holders to travel to 195 out of 227 destinations worldwide.

Following closely behind is Japan, which has opened visa free entry to 193 destinations.

Afghanistan ranks last on the list, with only visa free access to 26 destinations.

The index also points out that the United Arab Emirates is one of the "fastest rising countries" in the past decade, with an increase of 72 inbound tourist destinations, and is expected to fall to tenth place by 2025.

how to get

To obtain a Canadian passport, one must first become a Canadian citizen. Individuals born within Canada are automatically eligible.

Note: If someone is a direct child of a Canadian citizen (at birth), they may be eligible to inherit citizenship from their parents through the current temporary measures.

For non Canadian born individuals, this may be a lengthy process, starting with obtaining permanent residency in Canada. There are many ways to consider obtaining permanent residency.

After obtaining PR status, other criteria need to be met, namely:

Actual residency requirements for Canadian citizens (you must have resided in Canada for at least three years in the past five years);

Declare taxes and pay any unpaid taxes;

Passing the citizenship test;

Swearing to become a citizen.

Generally speaking, it takes more than three years to become a Canadian citizen through naturalization.