For the first time in two decades, the United States has fallen out of the top 10 in the Henley Passport Index, now ranking 12th globally. This is a remarkable drop compared to 2014, when it was at the top of the list.
The index classifies passports based on the number of destinations their holders can enter without obtaining a visa beforehand. The U.S. passport allows access to 180 countries worldwide without a visa or with a visa on arrival until 2025, which is a reduction compared to previous years.
There are a variety of reasons for this decline:
Global Mobility Agreement Changes: In April 2025, the U.S. lost visa-free travel to Brazil because of a lack of reciprocity. Moreover, China and Vietnam have not put the U.S. on their visa-free lists, affecting the mobility score.
Strained Diplomatic Relations: Recent years have witnessed changes in U.S. foreign policy that have contributed to strained diplomatic relations with several countries. Strained relations have, in turn, impacted the creation of new visa-free agreements, constricting the growth of travel freedoms for U.S. passport holders.
Domestic Policy Reforms: The introduction of the $250 ‘visa integrity fee’ for foreign tourists, among other things, has raised doubts about the outcome of such a move in terms of travel and global accessibility. The U.S. passport's lower ranking can be blamed in part on these policies.
The Asian nations have made impressive leaps in passport power. Singapore tops the list for 2025 with visa-free travel to 193 destinations, followed by South Korea and Japan, each with 190 destinations.
The loss of strength in US passports might have implications for its citizens who frequently travel for business or pleasure. The smaller list of visa-free destinations might lead to increased costs of travel costs and cumbersome paperwork.
At the same time, such a situation could ignite discussions about changing the existing policies in favor of U.S. citizens with passports regarding international mobility.
The fall of the United States out of the top 10 in the Henley Passport Index indicates the dynamic nature of global mobility. Although the U.S. still has a fairly robust passport, the fall demonstrates the role of forward-looking diplomatic relations and mutual visa arrangements in strengthening the passport and retaining that strength.
Fixing these issues might prove fundamental to moving the U.S. passport back to its previous position of global mobility leadership.