Japanese passport ranked less powerful than Malaysian

Japan shares the fourth position with seven other countries -- Croatia, Estonia, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and South Korea, according to the Global Passport Power Rank 2025.

Canada-based Arton Capital ranked 199 passports from around the world based on how many countries their holders can visit visa-free, with a visa on arrival, an e-visa (if issued within three days), or with an electronic travel authorization.

Last year, the Japanese passport was the world's second most powerful while the Malaysian passport ranked 10th.

This year, Malaysian passport jumped by seven places to third position with visa-free access to 174 destinations.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) passport is the world's most powerful with access to 179 destinations, followed by Singapore and Spain in second place, according to Arton Capital.

The world's least powerful passports come from countries mired in political conflicts Pakistan, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria.

According to the latest Henley Passport Index by the London-based global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners, Singapore holds the title of the world's most powerful passport, allowing visa-free entry to 193 destinations, followed by South Korea and Japan. Malaysia stands 12th in the Henley index.