WASHINGTON – 16 October 2025:
For the first time in two decades, the United States has fallen out of the list of the world’s top 10 most powerful passports, according to the latest Henley Passport Index released this week.
The report, which measures global travel freedom based on the number of destinations accessible without a visa, ranked the US passport 11th, marking a significant decline in its mobility score.
Meanwhile, Singapore, Japan, and Germany continue to dominate the top positions, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to more than 190 destinations.
Analysts attribute the US decline to geopolitical tensions, stricter visa policies, and shifts in international mobility agreements following the pandemic and global political realignments.
Travel experts say the ranking reflects not just passport strength but also global perceptions of diplomatic openness and reciprocal visa arrangements.
Despite the drop, the US passport remains among the most sought-after travel documents, granting access to the majority of global destinations with relative ease.
