World’s Most Powerful Passports for 2025: US falls from top 10 in Henley Passport Index, India at 80th rank

Henley Passport Index 2025: US Drops Out of Top 10 for the First Time, India Ranks 80th

The once-dominant United States passport has lost its shine. For the first time in two decades, the American passport has dropped out of the top 10 most powerful passports in the world, according to the latest Henley Passport Index 2025. The US now ranks 12th, tied with Malaysia, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 180 destinations.

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The slide marks a symbolic shift in global mobility dynamics — a world where Asian countries now dominate the rankings once ruled by Western nations. Experts say this trend reflects broader geopolitical shifts, with openness and reciprocity now defining a country’s passport strength more than raw global influence.

World’s Most Powerful Passport 2025: Singapore Tops the Chart, South Korea and Japan Close Behind

In the 2025 rankings, Singapore retains its crown as the world’s most powerful passport, giving its citizens visa-free access to 193 countries. South Korea (190) and Japan (189) follow closely, reaffirming Asia’s stronghold on travel freedom.

European countries such as Germany, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland continue to feature prominently in the top 10, reflecting their consistent diplomatic ties and travel openness.

In contrast, the United States, which once held the No. 1 position in 2014, has now slipped to its lowest-ever spot. Analysts attribute this decline to the erosion of reciprocity — the principle that travel privileges should be mutual.

The 12 Most Powerful Passports for 2025

1. Singapore (193 destinations)
2. South Korea (190 destinations)
3. Japan (189 destinations)
4. Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, Switzerland (188 destinations)
5. Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Netherlands (187 destinations)
6. Greece, Hungary, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Sweden (186 destinations)
7. Australia, Czech Republic, Malta, Poland (185 destinations)
8. Croatia, Estonia, Slovakia, Slovenia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom (184 destinations)
9. Canada (183 destinations)
10. Latvia, Liechtenstein (182 destinations)
11. Iceland, Lithuania (181 destinations)
12. USA, Malaysia (180 destinations)

Visa Reciprocity Gap Widens for the US

A key reason behind the US slide is the widening reciprocity gap. While Americans can travel to 180 destinations without a visa, the US itself offers visa-free access to only 46 countries, ranking 77th globally in openness.

This imbalance has triggered a wave of retaliatory policy shifts. In 2024, Brazil reinstated visa requirements for American tourists after Washington failed to extend the same courtesy to Brazilians. Vietnam and China — both of which have expanded visa-free entry to dozens of countries — excluded the US from their new lists.

Countries such as Papua New Guinea, Myanmar, and Somalia have also updated their entry systems, further limiting visa-free access for Americans.

“The declining strength of the US passport over the past decade is more than a reshuffle — it signals a shift in global soft power,” said Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners. “Nations embracing openness are surging ahead, while those resting on past privileges are being left behind.”

China’s Dramatic Rise, India Steady at 80th

While the US and UK struggle to maintain their former dominance, China’s passport has climbed rapidly — from 94th in 2015 to 64th in 2025, offering visa-free access to 76 countries. Beijing’s recent travel diplomacy, including reciprocal visa agreements with Russia, Gulf nations, and parts of Europe, has strengthened its mobility influence.

Meanwhile, India ranks 80th, allowing visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 62 destinations. Though relatively modest, India’s position has improved steadily over the past few years as it continues to expand bilateral travel agreements with Asian, African, and Caribbean nations.

Wealthy Americans Seek Second Passports

The weakening US passport is also changing traveller behaviour. According to Henley & Partners, applications by wealthy Americans for investment migration programmes — schemes that grant citizenship or residency through financial contributions — have jumped by 67% year-on-year as of Q3 2025.

Experts say this reflects a growing desire among affluent citizens to reclaim travel flexibility and “future-proof” their global mobility in an increasingly restrictive travel environment.

World’s Least Powerful Passport 2025: Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq

At the other end of the spectrum, Afghanistan remains the world’s least powerful passport, with visa-free access to just 24 destinations. Syria (26) and Iraq (29) also continue to rank near the bottom, highlighting the vast mobility gap of 169 destinations between the world’s strongest and weakest passports.