Khaberni - For the first time in 20 years, the American passport has exited the list of the top 10 passports in the world, according to the Henley Passport Index for 2025, which ranks passports based on the number of countries their holders can enter without a visa or with a visa on arrival.
In 2014, the American passport topped the global ranking, being the most powerful in terms of access to global destinations. Now, in 2025, it has declined to the 12th position, tied with Malaysia, with its holders allowed entry to 180 countries without a visa.
East Asia Leads
East Asian countries topped the new ranking, with Singapore in first place allowing entry to 193 countries, followed by South Korea (190 countries) and Japan (189 countries), while Germany, Luxembourg, and Italy shared the fourth position.
Experts believe the rapid decline in the ranking of the American passport is due to several factors, the most significant being the strict policies that the United States has adopted in recent years, especially during President Donald Trump's administration, which adopted a more closed approach regarding immigration and travel.
Christian Kälin, chairman of Henley & Partners said, "The decline in the power of the American passport over the past decade is more than just a shift in rankings, it indicates a fundamental shift in the dynamics of global mobility and soft power. Countries that embrace openness and cooperation advance quickly, while those that rely on past privileges fall behind."
In the same context, Annie Pforzheimer, a senior researcher at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, stated that American policy had become "isolationist" even before Trump's second term, adding that this isolationist mindset is now reflected in America losing the power of its passport.
American Restrictions
Henley & Partners explained that one of the main reasons for this decline is the lack of visa reciprocity, noting that the United States allows citizens from only 46 countries to enter without a visa, while holders of the American passport can enter 180 countries.
In April 2025, Brazil ended the visa exemption system for citizens of the United States, Canada, and Australia, due to the lack of "reciprocity," contributing further to the decline.
The cost of American visas saw a notable increase, with fees for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) doubling from 21 dollars to 40 dollars on September 30, 2025.
Countries Only Open Their Doors to Europe!
Several countries have taken measures that contributed to their rise at the expense of the United States, such as China, which expanded its visa exemptions to several European nations, including Germany and France, but excluded the United States.
In a significant development, Vietnam decided to exclude America from its visa exemption list, a step described in the report as "the final blow" to the American passport in the 2025 ranking.
The ranking saw additional changes due to new decisions from countries like Papua New Guinea, Myanmar, and Somalia, which offered visa facilitations.
Americans Seek a Second Nationality
Reflecting the decline in global mobility for holders of the American passport, Henley & Partners reported an "unprecedented" increase in the number of Americans seeking alternative residency or a second nationality.
The increase in requests from U.S. citizens reached 67% by the end of the third quarter of 2025, compared to the total in 2024.
The American passport was not the only one to lose its status, as the United Kingdom also fell to its lowest ranking ever, although it retained the eighth position within the most powerful passports.
