An IMGlobalWealth.com News Report
For the first time since the creation of the Henley Passport Index two decades ago, the United States has dropped out of the world’s top 10 most powerful passports. Once unrivalled in first place in 2014, the American passport now ranks joint 12th alongside Malaysia, granting visa-free access to only 180 of 227 destinations worldwide.
The Asian trio of Singapore (193 destinations), South Korea (190), and Japan (189) now dominate the index, which is powered by exclusive International Air Transport Association (IATA) data and ranks passports according to the number of destinations their holders can enter without obtaining a visa in advance.
The United States’ latest fall from tenth to twelfth place reflects a steady erosion of its travel privileges. The loss of visa-free entry to Brazil in April, following a reciprocity dispute, and exclusion from China’s rapidly expanding visa-free list triggered the decline. This was compounded by revisions from Papua New Guinea and Myanmar, while recent policy shifts by Somalia and Vietnam — both excluding the US from new visa-free schemes — delivered the final blow.
Dr Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners and creator of the Henley Passport Index, says small changes can have disproportionate effects in a highly sensitive mobility landscape. “The weakening of the US passport over the past decade is not merely a reshuffle in rankings — it marks a broader shift in global mobility and soft power. Nations embracing openness are advancing rapidly, while those resting on past privilege are falling behind.”
Britain, too, has seen its passport slip to a record low, down from sixth to eighth place since July, despite once holding the top position in 2015.
Visa Reciprocity Matters More
While US citizens can currently enter 180 destinations without a visa, the United States itself grants the same privilege to only 46 nationalities. This puts it 77th on the Henley Openness Index, which ranks 199 countries and territories by how accessible they are to foreign visitors.
The gap between American travel freedom and its restrictive visa policy is one of the widest globally — exceeded only by Australia and just ahead of Canada, New Zealand, and Japan. All five nations with such disparities have either stagnated or declined in passport power over the past decade.
Annie Pforzheimer, Senior Associate at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, says the trend is political as much as procedural. “Even before a second Trump presidency, US policy had turned inward. That isolationist instinct is now mirrored in America’s waning passport strength.”
The more insular stance has had marked effects on developing nations. President Trump has suspended visa issuance to travellers from 12 countries across Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia; imposed strict curbs on seven more; and threatened bans on up to 36 others — most of them African. A visa bond of USD 5,000 to 15,000 is now required for citizens of seven African states, refundable only on departure. Meanwhile, plans are afoot for a universal USD 250 “visa integrity fee” on most non-immigrant visa applications, and the cost of the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) almost doubled on 30 September 2025, from USD 21 to USD 40.
China’s Ascent: A Decade of Gains
China’s passport has been one of the biggest climbers of the past decade, rising from 94th place in 2015 to 64th in 2025 — an improvement of 37 destinations. On the Openness Index, it has also leapt forward, granting visa-free access to 76 countries, 30 more than a year ago, and 30 more than the US currently offers.
Recent visa-waiver deals with Russia, the Gulf states, South America, and parts of Europe underline Beijing’s strategy of expanded openness and global engagement. Together with South Korea and Singapore, China is reinforcing the Asia-Pacific region’s dominance in global mobility.
Dr Tim Klatte, Partner at Grant Thornton China, notes the geopolitical dimension: “Trump’s return to office has reignited trade disputes that constrain America’s mobility, while China’s reciprocal diplomacy strengthens its international reach. These diverging strategies will reshape travel and economic dynamics worldwide.”
Americans Seek Second Citizenships
The waning power of the US passport has prompted a surge in demand for alternative residence and citizenship options. Henley & Partners reports that Americans are now the largest nationality group applying for investment migration programmes in 2025.
By the end of the third quarter, applications from US nationals were already 67% higher than the total for 2024, which itself rose by 60% year-on-year. According to Dominic Volek, Group Head of Private Clients at Henley & Partners, “Faced with geopolitical volatility, wealthy Americans are engaging in what we call geopolitical arbitrage — acquiring additional residence and citizenship rights to mitigate jurisdictional risk and diversify lifestyle, financial, and mobility options.”
Prof Peter J. Spiro of Temple University Law School in Philadelphia adds that while US citizenship remains valuable, it is no longer sufficient on its own. “Increasingly, Americans are seeking additional citizenships through any legitimate means available. Multiple citizenship is becoming normalised in US society. As one online commentator put it, perhaps only half in jest, ‘dual citizenship is the new American dream.’”
