The United States has fallen from its once revered status as one of the top 10 most powerful passports in the world. According to the Henley Passport Index, the U.S. now ranks at No. 12 in terms of passport strength, marking a significant shift from its previous ranking as No. 1 in 2014. This decline has come as a surprise to many, as the U.S. has been a longstanding member of the top 10 club for the past two decades.
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Singapore has claimed the top spot for possessing the world’s most powerful passport, offering visa-free access to an impressive 193 destinations. Following closely behind are South Korea in second place with access to 190 destinations and Japan in third with 189 destinations. Noteworthy mentions in the top rankings include Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Spain, and Italy tied for fourth place with access to 188 countries.
Greece, Hungary, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden are all tied for sixth place, each providing their passport holders with access to 186 destinations. On the other hand, Canada secures the ninth rank with access to 183 places, just before nations like Latvia and Liechtenstein with 182 each. The U.S. finds itself on equal footing with Malaysia at the 12th place, allowing passport holders access to 180 destinations, leaving them outranked by 36 other countries.
This decline in ranking for the U.S. comes after an 11-year reign at the top spot, with the country consistently holding a strong position in the top 10 until this year. Christian H. Kaelin of Henley & Partners highlighted that this shift in rankings signals a broader change in global mobility and soft power dynamics, indicating that nations embracing openness and cooperation are forging ahead while others are left behind. The U.K. also shares a similar fate, having plummeted to No. 8 after holding the top spot in 2015.
Interestingly, amidst the U.S. and the U.K.’s descent in rankings, China has seen a remarkable rise from 94th place in 2015 to 64th in 2025. Similarly, the United Arab Emirates has experienced a significant climb from the 42nd spot in 2015 to No. 8 in 2025. These shifts underscore the evolving landscape of global travel and diplomatic relationships among nations.
In light of these changes, some countries have imposed restrictions on visa-free travel for certain passport holders. For instance, passport holders in the U.S., Canada, and Australia no longer enjoy visa-free access to Brazil, as the South American country revoked this privilege in response to restrictions placed on Brazilian passport holders by these nations. Similarly, Vietnam and China have excluded the U.S. from their visa exemption lists, although China has expanded visa-free access to multiple countries across different regions.
As the global landscape continues to evolve, the ranking of passports serves as a reflection of the changing dynamics of international relations and cooperation. The recent shift in rankings highlights the importance of diplomatic relationships and policy decisions in shaping the ease of travel for passport holders worldwide.