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For decades, the strength of a passport has been measured by travel openness, the ability to enter countries without the hassle of a visa. As per the latest rankings by theHenley Passport Index that tracks global passport power, there has been a historic shift for the first time in its 20-year history – the United States has fallen out of the top 10. The latest ranking places the US in 12th place, tied with Malaysia, allowing visa-free access to 180 of the 227 countries and territories tracked by the index. In comparison, Singapore leads the world with visa-free entry to 193 destinations, followed by South Korea (190) and Japan (189). The top 10 list is now dominated by Asian countries, reflecting a global trend toward mobility and international cooperation.Read more:10 best countries to visit in 2025; see which country tops the listSeveral factors contributed to the US’s decline. Brazil withdrew visa-free access for American travelers in April, citing a lack of reciprocity. China has expanded visa-free entry for numerous countries, particularly in Europe, but excluded the US. Changes in Papua New Guinea and Myanmar, along with Somalia’s new eVisa system and Vietnam’s updated visa rules, further reduced the US passport’s ranking.Christian H.Kaelin, chairman of Henley & Partners, noted that the decline “signals a fundamental shift in global mobility and soft power dynamics,” highlighting that countries embracing openness are moving ahead while those relying on historical privileges fall behind.Read more:Smog-free Diwali? 8 refreshing trips from Noida under INR 5,000The UK has also seen a drop, from 6th to 8th place, marking its lowest position since 2015. Meanwhile, China’s passport has climbed sharply, from 94th in 2015 to 64th in 2025, gaining visa-free access to 37 additional destinations.Diplomatic initiatives with Russia, Gulf nations, South America, and Europe have fueled this ascent. The United Arab Emirates has similarly surged, rising 34 places over the past decade.According to the latest rankings, India slipped to 85th place from last year’s 80th, with visa-free access to 57 countries. Earlier this year, its rank had briefly risen to 77

At the other end of the list, Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the index, with access to just 24 countries, followed by Syria (26) and Iraq (29).This creates a stark mobility gap of 169 destinations between the strongest and weakest passports. Despite its decline, the US passport remains highly desirable, reflecting the continued influence of American economic and cultural soft power. The latest rankings by the Henley Passport Index, indicates that global passport rankings are not static. While traditional powers like the US and UK experience decline, countries that pursue openness, diplomacy, and international engagement are rising.For travelers, these shifts are tangible: the passport you hold increasingly determines the ease with which you explore the world.In 2025, the global passport leaderboard signals a turning point, with Asian nations taking the lead and America facing the challenge of adapting to a changing international landscape. For anyone planning to travel, it is a reminder that mobility today is as much a reflection of global policy as it is of personal privilege.Below is the list of countries that secured the top positions: