Many people in the UK and around the world might want a second passport, offering them access to the world and greater freedom.
A second passport can offer travellers a second place to call home, as well as the opportunity to enjoy visa-free travel — especially helpful after the restrictions placed on the UK after Brexit.
Before Brexit, Brits were able to stay as long as they liked in a European country but now travellers are subject to the ’90 day rule’ — which prohibits a stay for any longer than 90 days within 180.
There are also now restrictions on travel documents. Before Brexit, you didn’t need a passport, with any type of ID — including driving licences — accepted. That has now changed and passports are the only form of ID accepted.
On top of this, your passport must be valid for at least three months after the date you intend to leave the EU country you are visiting.
What are the best passports to own in 2025?
The most (and least) powerful passports for 2025 have been revealed, indicating which passports allow the most access to the world, as well as the world’s GDP.
London-based global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley and Partners has released this year’s Henley Passport Index, which ranks the world’s passports based on the number of destinations they grant their holders access to without the need for visas.
Here are some of the best second passports to hold:
Singapore
Offering access to a whopping 193 countries (one more than two years prior in 2023), Singapore comes out on top as the strongest passport in the world.
Second passports are allowed in Singapore but dual citizenship is not, so you will need to renounce other citizenship that you may have if you choose to accept the Singapore one.
Japan and South Korea
It’s a tie between Japan and South Korea, as travellers can travel to a total of 190 different countries for each of them.— the highest possible — without the need for a visa, which makes it a highly desirable second passport to own.
Denmark / Finland / France / Germany / Ireland / Italy
There’s a few countries that offer access to 189 countries, tying Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, and Italy in third place.
This proves why so many people are after an EU passport, with Britons with Irish heritage applying in droves ever since Brexit.
Austria / Belgium / Luxembourg / Netherlands / Norway / Portugal / Sweden
With just one country less, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden all come in fourth place.
Each one allows access to 188 countries.
Greece / New Zealand / Switzerland
Once again jointly split and just one country less than fourth place, fifth place is split between Greece, New Zealand, and Switzerland.
United Kingdom
Even after Brexit, the UK passport is sixth on this list, with access to 186 countries.
What are the differences between dual citizenship and second citizenship?
Dual citizenship is where a person is recognised by the country as having rights and status in both countries. Dual citizenship can only be obtained by citizens of countries between which an agreement on dual citizenship has been signed.
Second citizenship assumes that each of the countries considers a person only as a citizen, as someone who can live there if they want, but does not recognise them as a member of the state and, therefore, they are not allowed certain rights, and cannot pay taxes, serve in the military, or receive a pension.
Second passports can be gained by having second citizenship if you have lived in the country for many years, via a process called naturalisation. Some states also grant passports for investments in their economies, which is a quicker way of gaining a passport.
