For the first time in two decades, the United States passport has slipped out of the world’s top 10 most powerful passports, marking a significant decline in global travel freedom for American citizens.
The Henley Passport Index, a widely recognized ranking that measures a passport’s strength based on visa-free access, revealed that the US now sits in 12th place, sharing the spot with Malaysia. Holders of both passports can enter 180 out of 227 destinations without a prior visa.
At the top of the 2025 rankings stand three Asian nations Singapore leads with visa-free access to 193 destinations, followed by South Korea with 190, and Japan with 189.
The drop marks a historic low for the US, which once occupied the No. 1 position back in 2014. Even as recently as mid-2025, it was barely holding onto a top 10 spot. However, a combination of reciprocity disputes and shifting global travel policies has weakened its standing.
What Caused the Decline
One major setback came in April, when Brazil revoked visa-free entry for citizens of the US, Canada, and Australia, citing a lack of reciprocal treatment. Meanwhile, China has expanded its list of countries eligible for visa-free access including Germany and France but left the US out. Similar policy changes in Papua New Guinea and Myanmar have also affected the American passport’s score.
According to Henley & Partners Chair Christian H. Kaelin, the fall reflects more than just a reshuffling of rankings.
“The declining strength of the US passport over the past decade signals a broader shift in global mobility and soft power,” Kaelin said. “Countries that promote openness and cooperation are advancing, while those relying on past privileges are being left behind.”
The Global Mobility Shift
While the US and United Kingdom have both seen steady declines the UK slipped from 6th to 8th place since July countries like China and the United Arab Emirates are moving in the opposite direction.
China has climbed from 94th place in 2015 to 64th in 2025, gaining visa-free access to 37 new destinations in just ten years, thanks to new agreements with Russia, the Gulf states, South America, and several European countries. The UAE has been another major success story, soaring 34 places in a decade to now share the 8th spot on the list.
At the other end of the index, Afghanistan remains in the lowest position ranked 106th with visa-free access to only 24 destinations, followed by Syria (26) and Iraq (29). The gap between the most and least powerful passports now stretches to an astonishing 169 destinations.
‘Still a Desirable Passport’
Despite its fall, the US passport remains relatively strong. CNN Business Editor-at-Large Richard Quest noted earlier this year that the decline is linked to new travel restrictions like ESTA requirements in the European Union and UK, as well as lingering effects of immigration policies from the Trump era.
Quest added that while some citizens may pursue alternative citizenships through investment programs, such as the proposed $5 million “gold card” initiative, for most travelers, the change has minimal day-to-day impact.
“You’ve got your passport, you’ve got where you are. Learn and live with it,” he said.
Competing Rankings
While Henley’s Index is among the most cited, other organizations have their own rankings. Arton Capital’s Global Passport Power Rank 2025, for example, currently places the United Arab Emirates at No. 1, followed by Singapore and Spain.
Both Henley and Arton’s lists show the same broader trend the rise of Asia and the Middle East in global mobility, while traditional Western powerhouses like the US and UK are gradually losing their dominance.
The World’s Most Powerful Passports (2025)
- Singapore – 193 destinations
- South Korea – 190
- Japan – 189
- Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, Switzerland – 188
- Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Netherlands – 187
- Greece, Hungary, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Sweden – 186
- Australia, Czech Republic, Malta, Poland – 185
- Croatia, Estonia, Slovakia, Slovenia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom – 184
- Canada – 183
- Latvia, Liechtenstein – 182
- Iceland, Lithuania – 181
- United States, Malaysia – 180
