For the first time in about two decades, the United States has fallen out of the top 10 most powerful passports in the world. Credit: ajay_suresh – CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

For the first time in about two decades, the United States has fallen out of the top 10 most powerful passports, the latest Henley Passport Index shows, reflecting what analysts called a broader shift in global mobility and the effects of changing visa policies worldwide.

The index, compiled by Henley & Partners using International Air Transport Association data, ranks passports by the number of destinations their holders can visit without a prior visa. The United States now sits tied for 12th place with Malaysia, with US passport holders able to enter 180 of 227 destinations visa-free, Henley reported. A year ago, the U.S. was seventh on the list, and it was still in the top 10 as recently as July.

“The declining strength of the U.S. 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,” Christian H. Kaelin, chair of Henley & Partners and creator of the index, said in a press release.

The Fall of the US Passport in the index reflects changes in travel rules and reciprocity disputes 

The slide of the US passport reflects several recent changes in travel rules and reciprocity disputes. Henley pointed to moves by other countries,  including Brazil’s April decision to end visa-free entry for citizens of the United States, Canada, and Australia, and expansions of visa waivers that did not include American travelers, notably in China and Vietnam. The firm also noted adjustments in smaller nations such as Papua New Guinea, Myanmar, and Somalia that have reshuffled access for many passports.

Analysts and lawyers linked part of the decline to U.S. policy choices. “Nations that embrace openness and cooperation are surging ahead, while those resting on past privilege are being left behind,” Kaelin said. Peter J. Spiro, a law professor at Temple University, in an interview with The Guardian, said the change has fuelled interest in dual citizenship among Americans. “Multiple citizenship is being normalized in American society,” Spiro said, pointing to rising demand for alternative passports.

Once unrivalled at No.1 in 2014, the American passport has now slumped to 12ᵗʰ place.

Explore the updated index and find out where your passport ranks: https://t.co/6UItfxlYJF pic.twitter.com/07LCOYvOQe

— Henley & Partners (@HenleyPartners) October 14, 2025

Observers also cited recent U.S. travel-policy moves that may have contributed to the perception of decreased openness. The cost of the U.S. Electronic System for Travel Authorization, or ESTA, nearly doubled Sept. 30, from $21 to $40, and critics say tighter U.S. immigration enforcement in recent years has reduced reciprocity with other countries.

Asian passports are becoming the most dominant 

Some countries are on the rise. Asian passports dominate the top of the Henley ranking. Singapore leads with visa-free access to 193 destinations, followed by South Korea (190) and Japan (189). Henley also highlighted China’s dramatic climb over the past decade and noted the United Arab Emirates’ large gain in mobility, rising into the top ranks.

The shifting landscape is already affecting behavior, Henley said. By the end of the third quarter of 2025, the firm reported a 67% increase in applications from U.S. nationals seeking alternative residence or citizenship compared with all of 2024.

The decline of the U.S. passport comes amid broader, if uneven, changes in global travel rules. Some governments have introduced expanded visa-free programs that favor European and Asian countries, while others have tightened entry for certain nationalities in the name of security or reciprocity. Critics say the result is a smaller set of unilateral travel freedoms for American travelers than in previous years.

The Henley & Partners rankings for the most powerful passports in 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)
  
• USA, Malaysia (180)