The latest Henley Passport Index, a ranking that measures how many countries a traveler can visit without needing a visa, reports that the U.S. passport now ranks 12th globally, sharing the position with Malaysia.
Last year, the U.S. was in seventh place, and it was at the top of the list 10 years ago.
“The declining strength of the U.S. passport over the past decade is more than just a reshuffle in rankings – it signals a fundamental shift in global mobility and soft power dynamics,” Christian H. Kaelin, chair of Henley & Partners and creator of the index, said in a press release. “Nations that embrace openness and cooperation are surging ahead, while those resting on past privilege are being left behind.”
This drop could be related to the hardline administration policies taken on by the Trump administration. The report cites Annie Pforzheimer, Senior Associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, who said of the drop: “Even before a second Trump presidency, U.S. policy had turned inward. That isolationist mindset is now being reflected in America’s loss of passport power.” She noted that a series of “legal and questionably legal barriers to travel and temporary residence” have raised “red flags” for travelers, and that Trump’s mass deportations have also been a reason for concern.
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Henley & Partners, a firm that specializes in helping families with citizenship and residence, cited a lack of visa reciprocity as a primary reason why countries fall down the rankings. It notes that American passport holders can currently access 180 destinations visa-free, but the U.S. itself allows only 46 other nationalities to enter without a visa. In April, Brazil ended visa-free travel for citizens of the U.S., Canada, and Australia, citing a lack of reciprocity.
India’s passport ranking has also fallen down to the 85th position, dropping from the 77th position. India shares the position with Mauritania.
Asian countries currently dominate the ranks with Singapore leading. Singapore-passport holders can visit 193 countries without visas. This is followed by South Korea with 190, and Japan with 189.
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The fourth position is jointly held by Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain and Switzerland, offering visa-free travel to 188 destinations. Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland and the Netherlands share the fifth spot, and provide access to 187 countries without visas.
The sixth place is occupied by Hungary, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal and Sweden who allow entry to 186 countries without a visa. Croatia, Estonia, Slovakia, Slovenia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom are in seventh place, which allow visa-free access to 184 countries.
The ninth position goes to Canada, who offer visa-free travel to 183 countries. In the tenth position are Latvia and Liechtenstein which offer access to 182 countries without a visa.