For the first time, a northern European nation—Ireland—has topped the Nomad Capitalist Passport Index 2025, which evaluates the world’s most powerful passports beyond just visa-free travel. Unlike traditional rankings, this index assesses five key factors: visa-free travel (50%), taxation (20%), global perception (10%), dual citizenship (10%), and personal freedom (10%). Ireland earned a top score of 109, edging past last year’s leader Switzerland, which now shares second place with Greece (108.5).
Ireland Tops 2025 Passport Power Rankings, Greece and Switzerland Follow Close Behind
Ireland’s rise was credited to its global reputation, business-friendly tax laws, and citizenship flexibility, offering residents the right to live and work freely across both the EU and UK. Greece also saw a significant jump in rank, reflecting its growing appeal among investors and retirees.
The top 10 strongest passports for 2025 include: Ireland, Switzerland, Greece, Portugal (4th), Malta and Italy (5th), followed by Luxembourg, Finland, and Norway (7th). UAE, New Zealand, and Iceland tied for 10th. The U.S. fell to 45th, sharing its spot with San Marino.
India Slips in 2025 Passport Rankings as Global Mobility Gaps Widen
On the other end of the spectrum, Afghanistan, Yemen, Eritrea, Iraq, and Pakistan were named the world’s weakest passports, ranking 195 to 199.
India, meanwhile, dropped a notch from 147th to 148th (shared with Comoros), scoring 47.5. This includes scores of 20 in taxation, perception, dual citizenship, and personal freedom. Comparatively, the Henley Passport Index had already noted India’s drop from 80th to 85th earlier this year based on IATA data. Nomad Capitalist’s ranking highlights how “policy shifts and global perceptions” shape the mobility and value of citizenship in an increasingly interconnected world.
Summary:
Ireland topped the 2025 Nomad Capitalist Passport Index for its strong global reputation, tax policies, and EU-UK access. Greece and Switzerland followed. India dropped to 148th, reflecting limited mobility and lower perception. The U.S. ranked 45th, while Afghanistan, Yemen, and Pakistan held the lowest positions.
