World’s most powerful passports have been revealed, with US at risk of dropping out of top 10
Turns out, the world’s most powerful passports aren’t necessarily the ones you’d expect. The US still makes the cut… but only just. In the latest Henley Passport Index, it’s now tied for 10th place, sharing the spot with Iceland and Lithuania. Not long ago, the American passport was a golden ticket. Today? It’s at its […] The post World’s most powerful passports have been revealed, with US at risk of dropping out of top 10 appeared first on Supercar Blondie.
Turns out, the world’s most powerful passports aren’t necessarily the ones you’d expect.
The US still makes the cut… but only just. In the latest Henley Passport Index, it’s now tied for 10th place, sharing the spot with Iceland and Lithuania.
Not long ago, the American passport was a golden ticket. Today? It’s at its lowest ranking in the index’s 20-year history.
And while that’s not a collapse, it’s definitely a warning sign – the gap is widening, and the US is dangerously close to slipping out of the top 10 altogether.
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The most powerful passports in 2025
Singapore has locked down the top spot for 2025, granting citizens visa-free access to 193 destinations worldwide – the most of any passport on Earth.
That’s followed by Japan and South Korea, tied for second with 190.
A collection of EU heavyweights – Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Finland, and Ireland – round out third with 189.
It’s basically the Champions League of global mobility.
The US? Sitting in 10th place with visa-free access to 182 destinations. Still solid, but no longer leading the pack.
And unlike other countries on the rise, America’s passport strength is trending downward – back in 2014, it held first place.
This isn’t just a bragging rights thing. Travel freedom is a real, tangible perk and nations like the UAE are proving how fast it can shift.
The Emirati passport has rocketed from 42nd to eighth in just a decade thanks to strategic visa deals and diplomatic hustle.
Meanwhile, the US just introduced a new ‘visa integrity fee’ – a $250 surcharge for some incoming visitors – which has already been flagged as a potential deterrent to tourism.
Critics say it risks pushing would-be travelers toward friendlier destinations.
Who’s rising, who’s sliding, and why it matters
While America’s place slips, other countries are climbing the charts.
China has leapt from 94th to 60th since 2015, and that’s without access to the EU’s Schengen zone.
Australia, Canada, and the UK are all hanging tight in the upper ranks, while Croatia, Slovenia, and Estonia are enjoying higher mobility than ever.
On the flip side, the bottom of the list paints a stark contrast.
Afghanistan remains at 99th place with just 25 visa-free destinations. Syria and Iraq follow close behind, highlighting what Henley calls the ‘mobility gap’ – a full 168-country difference from top to bottom.
Henley & Partners, the firm behind the index, says this year’s rankings show just how fast fortunes can change.
Countries that actively build visa agreements keep rising. Those that don’t? Well, they fade from the most powerful passports leaderboard.
The US isn’t out of the game. But if it wants to stay in the global top tier, it may need to start playing it differently.
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