The US is no longer among the ten most powerful passport holders in the world – a first in the country’s twenty-year history. Henley Passport Index.
The index, compiled by Henley & Partnersa London-based citizenship and residence consultancy, evaluates 199 national passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without having obtained a visa in advance.
The latest quarterly rankings include the The US Passport dropped two more places to 12thconnected with Malaysia. Just ten years ago, in 2014, the US held the #1 positiongiving its citizens the widest freedom of travel in the world.
According to International Air Transport Association (IATA) facts, US passport holders can currently enter 180 of 227 destinations visa-free – about 79% of the world. While this may sound impressive, it lags behind leaders like Singapore, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Spainwhich citizens can visit 194 destinations without a prior visa.
Why the US is falling behind
Reciprocity issues: In April 2025, Brazil has reintroduced visa requirements for Americans, citing the unequal treatment because Brazilians still require a visa to visit the US
Limited visa waiver agreements: The US is currently offering visa-free access to only 46 countriesa small fraction compared to the The Schengen area of the EUwhich guarantees broad reciprocity.
Asia’s growing openness: Countries like China, Thailand and Vietnam recently expanded visa-free entry for select countries – but not for Americans.
Geopolitical shifts: Tighter immigration and security policies in the US have reduced the mutual travel flexibility of other countries.
TOP 10 Passport List
The The 10 most powerful passports in 2025according to Henley & Partners, are:
- Singapore – 194 destinations
- France – 194
- Germany – 194
- Italy – 194
- Japan – 194
- Spain – 194
- South Korea – 193
- Finland – 193
- Sweden – 193
- Austria – 193
The Great Britainonce a dominant travel document, now sits just above the US 11th place.
The decline of the US passport reflects a a greater global rebalancing of the mobility force. Asian and European countries have steadily expanded diplomatic agreements, promoting cross-border travel and business. Meanwhile, U.S. foreign policy and visa restrictions have remained relatively static, limiting mutual benefits.
In a world where The strength of a passport often reflects diplomatic relations and soft powerThe American drop in the rankings is symbolic. As chairman of Henley & Partners Dr. Christian Kaelin noted: “A passport is not just a travel document – it is a window into a country’s global position.”
