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Key Points

The US passport has fallen out of the top 10 most powerful passports for the first time in twenty years. It's now tied with Malaysia for 12th place with access to 180 countries visa-free. Several countries including Brazil, China, and Vietnam have recently restricted US passport holders. Meanwhile, China has made significant gains, climbing 30 spots in the rankings over the past decade.

Key Points: US Passport Drops From Top 10 Most Powerful For First Time

  • US tied with Malaysia at 12th place with visa-free access to 180 countries
  • Singapore leads with 193 destinations followed by South Korea and Japan
  • UK also dropped to eighth place, its lowest ranking since 2015
  • China climbed from 94th to 64th place adding 37 visa-free destinations
  • US ranks 77th on openness index due to limited visa-free entry for foreigners
  • Vietnam and Somalia recently imposed new restrictions on US passport holders
2 min read

US passport slips from top 10 powerful passports list for first time

US passport falls to 12th place globally, losing top 10 status for first time in Henley Index history due to visa restrictions from multiple countries.

"The decline has been attributed to a number of factors, including the removal of visa-free entry to Brazil earlier this year - Henley Passport Index"

New Delhi, Oct 14

The US passport has fallen out of the top 10 most powerful passports in the world for the first time since the Henley Passport Index was introduced twenty years ago. With visa-free travel to 180 of 227 countries, the US, which was the world leader in 2014, is now tied with Malaysia for 12th place.

With visa-free access to 193 destinations, Singapore remains in the top place, followed by South Korea with 190, and Japan with 189, according to the most recent Henley Passport Index, which is based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Recent changes in access by a number of nations are the cause of the US ranking's decline. The decline has been attributed to a number of factors, including the removal of visa-free entry to Brazil earlier this year, exclusion from China's growing list of countries that do not require a visa, and new entry restrictions imposed by Myanmar and Papua New Guinea.

More recently, the US passport's reputation was further damaged by Vietnam's decision to exclude the US from its new visa-free programme and Somalia's implementation of an eVisa system.

The UK has also suffered, dropping from sixth to eighth place since July, the lowest since it topped the index in 2015.

Only 46 nationalities are permitted entry into Washington without a visa, whereas US citizens are granted visa-free travel to 180 locations. According to the Henley Openness Index, which rates nations according to how hospitable they are to foreign tourists, this disparity puts the US in 77th place.

The US lags Australia and only marginally surpasses Canada, New Zealand, and Japan in the disparity between its own openness and its international travel privileges.

On the other hand, China has made significant strides in the last ten years. It has added 37 more destinations to its list of visa-free travel destinations, moving up from 94th in 2015 to 64th in 2025.

After allowing visa-free travel to 76 nations, 30 more than the US, China is now ranked 65th on the Henley Openness Index. Beijing's increasing focus on global mobility and openness is demonstrated by recent visa-free agreements with Russia, the Gulf states, several South American nations, and European partners.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
Meanwhile, we Indians still struggle with visa applications for most countries. At least the US has 180 visa-free destinations! Our passport needs much more diplomatic work. Hope our government focuses on improving our global mobility too.
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Arjun K
Interesting to see China's progress - from 94th to 64th in 10 years! They're clearly using soft power effectively. The US decline might reflect changing global perceptions about American influence. The world is definitely becoming more multipolar.
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Sarah B
As someone who travels frequently for work, this is concerning. The US needs to reconsider its immigration policies if it wants to maintain global leadership. Reciprocity matters in international relations. The openness index ranking at 77th is quite telling.
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Vikram M
Singapore, Japan, South Korea leading the pack - Asian countries showing how it's done! 🎯 Meanwhile, both US and UK declining. This reflects the shifting economic and political power to Asia. Good lesson for India to build stronger international ties.
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Michael C
While this is interesting data, let's not forget that passport power isn't everything. The US still offers incredible opportunities and quality of life. However, they should definitely work on improving their global relationships and travel accessibility.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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