Henley Passport Index 2025: Top 10 strongest passports

The Henley Passport Index has released the latest passport index report, which represents a mindblowing shift in the way passport strength shifts. For the first time in two decades, the U.S. passport has fallen out of the world’s Top 10 most powerful travel documents. Once ranked No.1 in 2014, it now sits at No.12, tied with Malaysia.

Meanwhile, Singapore, South Korea, and Japan lead the 2025 Henley Passport Index, marking Asia’s continued dominance in global travel freedom. The decline of the U.S. and U.K. passports highlights shifting global mobility trends, as countries like China and the UAE rise through strategic visa agreements and increased openness.

The Global Passport Power Shift

The 2025 Henley Passport Index based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) ranks passports by the number of destinations accessible without a prior visa.

The 2025 Henley Passport Index confirms a clear trend:

• Asia leads with Singapore, South Korea, and Japan setting records for travel freedom.
• Europe remains strong, with countries like Germany, Italy, and France holding firm in the top five.
• The Middle East is rising, with the UAE climbing from 10th to 8th place.
• Western powers are slipping, as seen with the U.S. and the U.K.

Top 10 Passports in the World

The U.S. Passport’s Decline

The American passport’s fall from 10th to 12th place marks a turning point in global travel access. The U.S. now offers visa-free entry to 180 destinations, compared to Singapore’s 193.

What Went Wrong?

A combination of lost visa agreements and limited reciprocity has hurt the U.S. score:

• Brazil reintroduced visa requirements in April 2025.
• China expanded its visa-free list but excluded the U.S.
• Papua New Guinea, Myanmar, Somalia, and Vietnam adjusted their entry rules, further reducing American access.

Meanwhile, the U.K. has also hit a record low, sliding from 6th to 8th place, despite once leading the rankings in 2015.

Visa Reciprocity: The Hidden Weakness

The U.S. passport offers extensive travel freedom but not mutual openness. While Americans can visit 180 countries visa-free, only 46 nationalities can enter the U.S. without a visa. This places the U.S. at low 77th on the Henley Openness Index.

This imbalance mirrors trends in other Western countries like Australia, Canada, and Japan, where global access is high, but reciprocity remains limited. Over time, these countries’ passport rankings have either stagnated or declined suggesting that travel freedom without mutual openness is losing influence.

China’s Ascent: From Restricted to Respected

In contrast, China’s passport has climbed dramatically from 94th in 2015 to 64th in 2025, gaining access to 37 additional destinations. On the openness front, it now welcomes citizens from 76 countries visa-free, 30 more than the U.S.

Beijing’s active diplomacy extending visa-free travel to nations like Russia, Gulf states, and European partners signals a strategic shift toward global connectivity. This approach is strengthening China’s soft power and boosting the Asia-Pacific region’s leadership in international mobility.

The New Trend: Second Citizenships on the Rise

As passport power declines, more wealthy Americans are seeking dual citizenship through investment migration programs. According to Henley & Partners, applications from U.S. nationals rose 67% year-on-year in 2025, following a 60% increase in 2024.

Americans now make up more applicants than Turkish, Indian, Chinese, and British nationals combined, signaling a growing desire for mobility insurance in an uncertain world.

A World Redefined by Mobility

Passports remain more than just travel documents they’re symbols of trust, diplomacy, and global influence. The 2025 rankings highlight a major shift in that balance, where Asia’s open-door policies and global partnerships are reshaping freedom of movement.

In contrast, nations that limit reciprocity, like the U.S., are discovering that mobility is no longer a one-way privilege it’s a global exchange.

Complete List of Passport Index 2025