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| US Visa. |
For the first time in twenty years, the United States passport has dropped out of the world’s top 10, now ranking 12th overall.
This shift marks a major change in global travel mobility, with Asian countries such as Singapore, South Korea, and Japan now dominating the top positions—reflecting growing international cooperation, openness, and accessibility.
Nigeria, on the other hand, is placed 96th in the latest Henley Passport Index, alongside Ethiopia, Lebanon, and Myanmar. Holders of the Nigerian passport can enter only 44 destinations visa-free or with a visa on arrival, highlighting the significant travel restrictions they face compared with stronger passports.
The Henley Passport Index, which ranks countries based on the number of destinations their citizens can access without a prior visa, shows that the US passport now grants entry to 180 of the 227 countries and territories assessed, the same as Malaysia.
Singapore holds the top spot, offering visa-free access to 193 destinations, followed by South Korea with 190 and Japan with 189. Asian nations now dominate the top 10, demonstrating how forward-thinking diplomacy and mutual cooperation are reshaping international travel.
The fall in the US’s ranking has been linked to several recent developments. Brazil reinstated visa requirements for Americans in April, citing reciprocity issues, while China expanded visa-free access for many countries but excluded the US. Additional changes in Papua New Guinea, Myanmar, Somalia’s eVisa policy, and Vietnam’s entry rules also contributed to the decline.
Christian H. Kaelin, chairman of Henley & Partners, described the trend as “a fundamental change in global mobility and soft power dynamics”, noting that nations promoting openness are moving ahead while traditional privileges no longer ensure dominance.
The United Kingdom also fell from 6th to 8th place—its lowest position since 2015. Meanwhile, China made major progress, rising from 94th in 2015 to 64th in 2025, gaining access to 37 new destinations through strategic diplomatic partnerships across Europe, South America, Russia, and the Gulf region.
Similarly, the United Arab Emirates recorded a remarkable rise of 34 places over the past decade. India slipped to 85th from 80th, with visa-free access to 57 destinations, after temporarily improving to 77th earlier in the year.
At the bottom of the rankings, Afghanistan remains the world’s least powerful passport, with access to only 24 countries, followed by Syria with 26 and Iraq with 29. The gap between the most and least powerful passports now spans 169 destinations.
Top 10 Global Passports – Henley Passport Index 2025
Singapore – 193 countries
South Korea – 190 countries
Japan – 189 countries
Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, Switzerland – 188 countries
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Netherlands – 187 countries
Greece, Hungary, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Sweden – 186 countries
Australia, Czechia, Malta, Poland – 185 countries
Croatia, Estonia, Slovakia, Slovenia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom – 184 countries
Canada – 183 countries
Latvia, Liechtenstein – 182 countries
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