For the first time since the Henley Global Passport Index launched two decades ago, the United States has fallen out of the world’s top 10 most powerful passports. Once unbeatable at number one in 2014, the American passport now sits in 12th place—tied with Malaysia—with visa-free access to just 180 of 227 global destinations.
That drop might sound technical, but it signals something bigger: the shrinking reach of U.S. soft power. According to Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, chairman of Henley & Partners and creator of the index, “The declining strength of the U.S. passport is more than a reshuffle—it signals a fundamental shift in global mobility and influence. Nations that embrace openness and cooperation are surging ahead, while those resting on past privilege are being left behind.”
This year’s rankings are dominated by heavyweights in Asia. Singapore sits at number one, granting its citizens visa-free access to 193 destinations. South Korea follows with 190 and Japan rounds out the top three at 189. Meanwhile, the U.S.—alongside Canada, the U.K. and Australia—has seen its passport power erode.
The slide comes after a series of access losses. Brazil scrapped visa-free entry for Americans in April, citing a lack of reciprocity. China declined to include the U.S. in its growing visa-free list. Papua New Guinea, Myanmar, Somalia and Vietnam all made similar moves. Each adjustment chipped away at the once-unquestioned dominance of the U.S. passport—and will make it a bit harder for U.S. citizens to travel to these countries, as visas will now be required to enter.
Experts say politics are partly to blame. The Trump administration’s immigration crackdown—suspending visas to travelers from a dozen nations and imposing restrictions on several more—has made reciprocity harder to sustain/
“Even before a second Trump presidency, U.S. policy had turned inward,” says Annie Pforzheimer, a senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “That isolationist mindset is now being reflected in America’s loss of passport power.”
The State Department insists otherwise, saying the U.S. passport remains “one of the strongest in the world” and emphasizing secure, reciprocal travel agreements. But the numbers tell a different story: the U.S. now allows visa-free entry to only 46 nationalities—ranking 77th in global openness.
As access dwindles, more Americans are seeking backup plans. Henley & Partners reports a record surge in applications for second citizenships—up 67% in 2025 compared to last year. “Dual citizenship is becoming the new American dream,” says Professor Peter Spiro of Temple University Law School.
This year's ranking shows that passport power is no longer guaranteed by economic might alone. In a world where openness equals influence, the U.S. continues to slide from the top.
Top 10 Global Passport Index rankings 2025
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Japan
- Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, Switzerland
- Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Netherlands
- Greece, Hungry, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Sweden
- Australia, Czechia, Malta, Poland
- Croatia, Estonia, Slovakia, Slovenia, UAE, U.K.
- Canada
- Latvia, Liechtenstein