- By Ajeet Kumar
- Wed, 15 Oct 2025 11:58 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Henley Passport Index 2025: In a major setback for the United States, the Henley Passport Index has descended America’s powerful stature of holding the world’s Top 10 most powerful passports position for nearly a decade. According to the latest index published by Henley & Partners, which ranks passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access visa-free, America has now placed in 12th position. It tied with Malaysia, with visa-free access to only 180 of 227 destinations worldwide.
What led to the US decline in the Henley Passport Index?
According to the passport ranking publisher, the decline of the US passport and its most recent drop from 10th to 12th position on the index has been driven by a series of access changes.
1. The loss of visa-free access to Brazil in April due to a lack of reciprocity, and the US being left out of China’s rapidly expanding visa-free list, marked the start of its downward slide.
2. This was followed by adjustments from Papua New Guinea and Myanmar, which further eroded the US score while boosting other passports.
3. Most recently, Somalia’s launch of a new eVisa system and Vietnam’s decision to exclude the US from its latest visa-free additions delivered the final blow, pushing it out of the Top 10.
4. While American passport holders can currently access 180 destinations visa-free, the US itself allows only 46 other nationalities to enter without a visa.
5. This puts it way down in 77th place on the Henley Openness Index, which ranks all 199 countries and territories worldwide according to the number of nationalities they permit entry to without a prior visa.
Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners and creator of the Henley Passport Index, says these seemingly small changes have had outsized consequences — underscoring just how finely balanced the global mobility landscape has become. “The declining strength of the US 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. Nations that embrace openness and cooperation are surging ahead, while those resting on past privilege are being left behind.”
China’s ascent: A decade of gains
In sharp contrast, China has been among the biggest climbers on the Henley Passport Index over the past decade, leaping from 94th place in 2015 to 64th in 2025, with its visa-free access score increasing by 37 destinations during that time, according to Henley Passport Index.
On the Henley Openness Index, China has also risen dramatically, granting visa-free access to an additional 30 countries in the past year alone. It now sits in 65th position, providing entry to 76 nations — 30 more than the US.