For the first time since the Henley Passport Index began two decades ago, the United States passport has fallen out of the world’s top 10 most powerful passports. Once ranked No.1 in 2014, it now stands at 12th place, tied with Malaysia, offering visa-free access to 180 of 227 destinations.
The latest ranking places Singapore at the top with access to 193 destinations, followed by South Korea (190) and Japan (189). The index is compiled using data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Why US passports are losing power
The US passport slipped from 10th to 12th place due to several access changes. The loss of visa-free entry to Brazil in April, along with exclusion from China’s expanding visa-free list, contributed to the fall. Adjustments by Papua New Guinea and Myanmar further reduced its score. More recently, Somalia’s eVisa rollout and Vietnam’s decision to exclude the US from its new visa-free list pushed it out of the top 10.
“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,” Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners, said.
The UK passport also fell to its lowest rank, slipping from 6th to 8th place since July, despite having topped the index in 2015.
Openness Gap Widens
While American citizens can visit 180 destinations visa-free, the US only allows 46 nationalities to enter without a visa. This puts it in 77th place on the Henley Openness Index, which measures how open countries are to foreign visitors.
The gap between the US’s visa-free access and its openness is among the widest in the world — just behind Australia, and slightly 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.”
China Expands Its Reach
In contrast, China has made significant gains. Over the past decade, it has moved up from 94th in 2015 to 64th in 2025, expanding visa-free access by 37 destinations. On the Henley Openness Index, China rose to 65th place after granting visa-free entry to 76 countries — 30 more than the US.
China’s recent visa-free deals with Russia, Gulf states, South American nations, and European partners highlight its growing emphasis on openness.
“Trump’s return to power has brought fresh trade conflicts that weaken America’s mobility, while China’s strategic openness boosts its global influence. These diverging paths will reshape economic and travel dynamics worldwide,” Tim Klatte, Partner at Grant Thornton China, said.
Americans Seek Second Passports
The drop in US passport strength is driving a surge in applications for alternative citizenship. Henley & Partners data shows that Americans now make up the largest group of applicants for investment migration programmes in 2025. By the third quarter, applications from US nationals were up 67% compared with all of 2024, which itself saw a 60% rise from the previous year.
“In coming years, more Americans will be acquiring additional citizenships in whatever way they can. Multiple citizenship is being normalized in American society. While it may be a bit of an exaggeration, as one social media poster recently put it, ‘dual citizenship is the new American dream,’” Peter J. Spiro of Temple University Law School said.
The latest ranking places Singapore at the top with access to 193 destinations, followed by South Korea (190) and Japan (189). The index is compiled using data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Why US passports are losing power
The US passport slipped from 10th to 12th place due to several access changes. The loss of visa-free entry to Brazil in April, along with exclusion from China’s expanding visa-free list, contributed to the fall. Adjustments by Papua New Guinea and Myanmar further reduced its score. More recently, Somalia’s eVisa rollout and Vietnam’s decision to exclude the US from its new visa-free list pushed it out of the top 10.
“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,” Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners, said.
The UK passport also fell to its lowest rank, slipping from 6th to 8th place since July, despite having topped the index in 2015.
Openness Gap Widens
While American citizens can visit 180 destinations visa-free, the US only allows 46 nationalities to enter without a visa. This puts it in 77th place on the Henley Openness Index, which measures how open countries are to foreign visitors.
The gap between the US’s visa-free access and its openness is among the widest in the world — just behind Australia, and slightly 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.”
China Expands Its Reach
In contrast, China has made significant gains. Over the past decade, it has moved up from 94th in 2015 to 64th in 2025, expanding visa-free access by 37 destinations. On the Henley Openness Index, China rose to 65th place after granting visa-free entry to 76 countries — 30 more than the US.
China’s recent visa-free deals with Russia, Gulf states, South American nations, and European partners highlight its growing emphasis on openness.
“Trump’s return to power has brought fresh trade conflicts that weaken America’s mobility, while China’s strategic openness boosts its global influence. These diverging paths will reshape economic and travel dynamics worldwide,” Tim Klatte, Partner at Grant Thornton China, said.
Americans Seek Second Passports
The drop in US passport strength is driving a surge in applications for alternative citizenship. Henley & Partners data shows that Americans now make up the largest group of applicants for investment migration programmes in 2025. By the third quarter, applications from US nationals were up 67% compared with all of 2024, which itself saw a 60% rise from the previous year.
“In coming years, more Americans will be acquiring additional citizenships in whatever way they can. Multiple citizenship is being normalized in American society. While it may be a bit of an exaggeration, as one social media poster recently put it, ‘dual citizenship is the new American dream,’” Peter J. Spiro of Temple University Law School said.
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