For the first time since the Henley Passport Index began nearly 20 years ago, the US passport has slipped out of the top 10 most powerful passports worldwide.
The top 10 is now dominated by Asian countries, with Singapore leading the pack. A Singapore passport allows visa-free access to 193 of 227 destinations tracked by the Henley Passport Index, followed closely by South Korea (190) and Japan (189).
According to the latest Henley Passport Index data, the US passport now ranks 12th, tied with Malaysia, granting access to 180 destinations. Several factors contributed to the decline, including Brazil’s withdrawal of visa-free entry in April, exclusion from China’s growing visa-free programme, and changes by Papua New Guinea and Myanmar. Modifications in Somalia’s eVisa system and Vietnam’s new visa-free list also affected the US ranking, Henley Passport Index noted.
Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners, commented, “The declining strength of the US passport over the past decade is more than just a reshuffle in rankings — it signals a fundamental shift in global mobility and soft power dynamics. Nations that embrace openness and cooperation are surging ahead, while those resting on past privilege are being left behind.”
The British passport has also fallen, moving from 6th to 8th position since July, despite leading the index in 2015.
US citizens can now travel visa-free to 180 destinations, while only 46 nationalities can enter the United States without a visa. This places the US 77th on the Henley Openness Index, a measure of national receptiveness to international visitors. The US exhibits one of the world’s largest gaps between outbound visa-free privileges and inbound visa restrictions, ranking near Australia and just ahead of Canada, New Zealand, and Japan.
Annie Pforzheimer, Senior Associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said, “Even before a second Trump presidency, US policy had turned inward. That isolationist mindset is now being reflected in America’s loss of passport power.”
Meanwhile, China has advanced significantly, moving from 94th in 2015 to 64th in 2025, gaining visa-free access to 37 additional countries. Its position on the Henley Openness Index is 65th, surpassing the US by 30 nations. China’s diplomatic gains include recent visa-free agreements with Russia, Gulf states, South American countries, and European partners, reflecting its commitment to international engagement.
According to the latest Henley Passport Index, the top 10 passports are:
| Rank | Country/Countries | Visa-Free Access |
| 1 | Singapore | 193 |
| 2 | South Korea | 190 |
| 3 | Japan | 189 |
| 4 | Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, Switzerland | 188 |
| 5 | Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Netherlands | 187 |
| 6 | Greece, Hungary, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Sweden | 186 |
| 7 | Australia, Czechia, Malta, Poland | 185 |
| 8 | Croatia, Estonia, Slovakia, Slovenia, United Arab Emirates, UK | 184 |
| 9 | Canada | 183 |
| 10 | Latvia, Liechtenstein | 182 |
As per the latest rankings, India stands at 85th position with visa-free access to 57 countries. Earlier this year, its rank had risen to 77.
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