US slips once more in passport energy rankings

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The US is getting ready to dropping out of the highest 10 rating of the world’s strongest passports.

Within the newest quarterly replace of the Henley Passport Index, created by the London-based world citizenship and residence advisory agency Henley & Companions, the US — which held the No. 1 place again in 2014 — has slipped right down to the tenth place within the rankings.

It’s the bottom place ever for the US within the 20-year historical past of the index, which tracks the worldwide freedom of motion for holders of 199 passports to 227 international locations and territories around the globe, utilizing unique knowledge from the Worldwide Air Transport Affiliation (IATA). And since Henley counts a number of international locations with the identical rating as a single spot in its standings, there are literally 33 international locations that outrank the US on the checklist.

As we enter the second half of the yr, Singapore has held onto its No.1 place because the world’s strongest passport for 2025.

Holders of this most fascinating of journey paperwork get pleasure from visa-free entry to 193 out of 227 locations worldwide, greater than residents of every other place on the planet.

Naturally, Singapore isn’t handing out passports to international nationals like sweet. Making use of for Singaporean citizenship requires at the least two years of everlasting residency, a evaluation of “financial contributions” and different {qualifications}, and obligatory nationwide service for male candidates.

South Korea has climbed to affix Japan at No.2 within the rating, with an open door to 190 locations, making certain that Asian nations have a strong lead within the world mobility race.

The EU member states of Denmark, France, Germany, Eire, Italy, and Spain are all at No.3 behind them, within the third tier, together with Finland, with entry to 189 locations with no prior visa wanted.

Europe holds sway over the fourth place within the rankings, too, which belongs to seven international locations: Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and Sweden. All get pleasure from visa-free entry to 188 locations.

Squeaking into fifth place are Greece, Switzerland and New Zealand, all of which have visa-free entry to 187 locations.

On the reverse finish of the checklist, at No. 99, Afghanistan stays locked in backside place, with visa-free entry to only 25 locations, one fewer than at the beginning of this yr. Syria is at No. 98 (with 27 locations) and Iraq is at No. 97 (with 30 locations).

That’s a yawning mobility hole of 168 locations between the top- and bottom-ranked passports.

The UK has dropped one spot to No. 6 within the rankings, with visa-free entry to 186 locations. Australia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Malta and Poland are tied at No. 7, whereas Canada, Estonia and the United Arab Emirates are at No. 8.

The UAE is likely one of the greatest success tales on the index, having risen 34 locations previously decade, from No. 42 to eighth place.

China has additionally jumped from No. 94 to No. 60 since 2015, an increase that’s been achieved even with out visa-free entry to the 29 international locations in Europe’s Schengen Space.

‘Lively and strategic diplomacy’

Ninth place is shared by Croatia, Latvia, Slovakia and Slovenia, whereas No.10 is held by Iceland, Lithuania and the US. The US now has visa-free entry to 182 locations worldwide.

In a provision within the Trump administration’s lately enacted home coverage invoice, the US will quickly require worldwide guests to pay a brand new “visa integrity fee” of at the least $250, added to present visa utility prices. The payment will apply to all guests who’re required to acquire nonimmigrant visas to enter the US.

Critics together with the U.S. Journey Affiliation, a nationwide nonprofit group aimed toward rising journey to the US, have panned the brand new visa payment as discouraging to guests.

Christian H. Kaelin, chair of Henley and Companions, mentioned in a launch that the most recent Henley Passport Index reveals an more and more aggressive panorama in world mobility.

“The consolidation we’re seeing on the prime underscores that entry is earned — and have to be maintained — by energetic and strategic diplomacy,” he mentioned. “Nations that proactively negotiate visa waivers and nurture reciprocal agreements proceed to rise, whereas the other applies to those who are much less engaged in such efforts.”

Henley & Companions’ checklist is one in every of a number of indexes created by monetary companies to rank world passports in keeping with the entry they supply to their residents.

Arton Capital’s Passport Index takes into consideration the passports of 193 United Nations member international locations and 6 territories — Taiwan, Macao, Hong Kong, Kosovo, the Palestinian territories and the Vatican. Territories annexed to different international locations are excluded.

It’s additionally up to date in real-time all year long and its knowledge is gathered by shut monitoring of particular person governments’ portals.

Arton’s World Passport Energy Rank 2025 places the United Arab Emirates within the prime spot, with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival rating of 179. Second place is held by Spain, with a rating of 176.