Dili, June 10, 2025 (Média Democracia) – In 2025, Timor-Leste’s passport has been ranked among the top qualifications out of 16 countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
In an interview, Minister of Justice Sérgio de Jesus Fernandes da Costa Hornai stated that the ranking of Timor-Leste’s passport, which also includes CPLP (Community of Portuguese Language Countries) nations, has earned a strong qualification position.
“Our passport has a high quality moving forward. I can say we are close to reaching around 50 countries worldwide. Within ASEAN, we are ranked in either third, fourth, or fifth place among the 16 member states. In the CPLP as well, our qualification is notably high,” said Minister Sérgio to journalists at the Ministry of Justice building.
He explained that Timor-Leste achieved a good passport ranking due to its strong security features and continued efforts toward digitalization. This ongoing improvement helps maintain the country’s standing in global passport rankings.
“When we talk about biometrics and digitalization, we must also look at the overall quality of services. That’s why we continue working to ensure the Timor-Leste passport maintains a strong qualification among the 16 ASEAN countries,” he added.
Meanwhile, Singapore, Malaysia, and Brunei hold the most powerful passports in Southeast Asia, according to the latest ranking released by the British global citizenship and residence advisory firm, Henley & Partners.
According to the Henley Global Mobility Report, Singapore continues to hold the title of the most powerful passport in the world and in Southeast Asia, offering visa-free access to 195 countries and territories. Malaysia follows in second place in the region with visa-free access to 183 destinations, while Brunei ranks third with access to 166 destinations.
“Timor-Leste is ranked fourth, with its passport granting visa-free access to 97 destinations. Thailand, whose economy heavily relies on tourism, ranks fifth with access to 82 visa-free destinations. Indonesia, the largest economy in Southeast Asia, is in sixth place with access to 76 visa-free destinations. The Philippines passport allows access to 67 countries and ranks seventh in the region. Cambodia ranks eighth with access to 53 visa-free destinations, while Vietnam ranks ninth with access to 51 destinations,” explained Minister Sérgio.
In Southeast Asia, Vietnam’s passport is slightly more powerful than those of Laos (49 destinations) and Myanmar (46 destinations). The Henley Passport Index monitors global travel freedom across 227 countries and territories, using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
This ranking is based on the total number of destinations a passport allows entry to without a visa. The index is continuously updated throughout the year to reflect changes in visa policies and is considered an important measure of global mobility.
Reporter: Domingas
Photo: Domingas