For the first time in 2 decades, The United States passport has left the Top 10 of the most powerful in the world.
El Henley Passport Index 2025prepared with data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), placed the American document in position number 12, tied with Malaysia, and with visa-free access to only 180 of the 227 global destinations.
The contrast is notable: in 2014, the US passport occupied first place in the ranking, a symbol of its influence and power of global mobility. Today, that leadership has faded, as Asia consolidates its dominance.
The new world top 10 passports
The most recent list places Singapore at the top with visa-free access to 193 destinations, followed by South Korea (190) and Japan (189). Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and other European countries also appear in the leading group, while the United Kingdom drops to eighth place, its lowest position since the index began publication 20 years ago.
In contrast, the US ranks 12th, tied with Malaysia, and below Canada, Croatia and the United Arab Emirates.
Why did the US passport drop?
The collapse is due to a series of adjustments that, although they seem minor, have had significant effects on global mobility. Among the most determining factors are:
* Brazil withdrew visa-free access for US citizens in April, due to lack of reciprocity.
* China expanded its list of visa-exempt countries, but excluded the US.
* Papua New Guinea and Myanmar changed their entry policies, affecting the US score.
* Somalia launched a new e-visa system that does not include American travelers.
* Vietnam also opted to leave the US off its exemption list.
These adjustments caused the country to lose 2 positions in a single year, falling from tenth to twelfth place.
Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, president of Henley & Partners and creator of the index, explained that “the fall of the US passport is not just a movement on the table; it reflects a profound change in the dynamics of soft power and global openness. Nations that bet on cooperation are advancing, while those that rely on their past prestige are falling behind.”
USA, increasingly less open
Although Americans can enter visa-free to 180 destinations, the country only allows visa-free access to citizens of 46 nations, which places it in 77th place on the Henley Openness Index, which measures the openness of each country to the rest of the world.
This gap between “freedom to travel” and “hospitality towards others” is one of the largest globally, second only to Australia. And according to analysts, this lack of reciprocity has taken its toll.
“Even before a second Trump term, US foreign policy was already showing a shift toward isolation,” said Annie Pforzheimer, a researcher at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. “This more closed mentality is now being reflected in the country’s loss of influence and the fall of its passport.”
The Trump effect and the cost of traveling
During the current administration, Washington has tightened requirements for travelers from dozens of countries, especially from Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Measures include:
* Visa suspension for 12 nations and additional restrictions for another 7.
* Mandatory deposit of between $5,000 and $15,000 dollars for travelers from 7 African countries (refundable only upon departure).
* Project to apply a $250 “visa integrity fee” to most non-immigrant applications.
* Increase in the cost of the ESTA system, which from September 2025 went from $21 to $40.
These changes not only reduce international reciprocity, but make travel more expensive for millions of people.
China gains ground
As the US loses strength, China has climbed positions at a surprising pace. In the last decade, it went from 94th to 64th place in the Henley Passport Index, adding 37 new visa-free destinations. In addition, it has signed agreements with Russia, several Gulf countries, South America and Europe, and in the last year alone has granted visa-free access to 30 additional nations.
“Trump has reignited trade tensions that restrict American mobility, while China takes advantage of its openness to strengthen its global influence,” explained Dr. Tim Klatte, partner at Grant Thornton China.
Interest in second citizenship grows
The weakening of the US passport has driven a trend that until a few years ago was marginal: the search for second homes or citizenships by investment.
According to data from Henley & Partners, lAmericans are now the largest group of applicants in these types of programs. Applications in 2025 are already 67% higher than those of all of 2024, a year that had also registered a jump of 60% compared to the previous year.
“In the face of political and economic volatility, wealthy families seek to diversify their citizenship, as if it were part of a financial strategy,” explains Dominic Volek, global director of private clients at the firm.
The phenomenon, once reserved for global businessmen, is becoming normalized among the American upper class. Professor Peter J. Spiro of Temple University School of Law sums it up this way: “Dual citizenship is the new American dream.”
A symbol in decline
Beyond the numbers, the loss of power of the U.S. passport reflects a profound cultural shift: The country that once represented the ultimate freedom of movement now faces restrictions that once only affected others.
While the rest of the world pushes for agreements to open borders, the US appears to be looking inward. And in a world where mobility is synonymous with power, that turn could mark not only the fate of your passport, but also that of your global influence.
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