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For the first time in two decades, the U.S. passport has dropped out of the top 10 most powerful passports according to the Henley Index, ranking 12th, tied with Malaysia.
What this change indicates
U.S. passport holders can enter without a visa or with a visa on arrival. 180 countries or destinations.
The decline is linked to stricter U.S. immigration policies, less reciprocity in visa agreements, and decisions by countries such as Brazil, China, and Vietnam to revoke or restrict visa-free access for U.S. citizens.
Other reasons for dropping in the ranking are the diplomatic changes and global prioritiesThere are nations that have strengthened their foreign relations and relaxed their entry requirements; these have moved up the list, displacing the U.S.
Now, Asian and European countries now lead the rankings: Singapore (193 destinations), South Korea and Japan (190) stand out as the passports with the greatest travel freedom.
According to the Henley Passport Index 2025, the countries with which least powerful passports in the world These are those that offer visa-free access—or with a visa upon arrival—to very few international destinations.
Passports of the world with less ranking:
In the latest ranking, Afghanistan It occupies the last place (position 99), with access to only a few 25 destinations No visa required. It's very close. Syria, in 98th place, with 27 destinations. Iraq It appears in 97th place, allowing its citizens visa-free entry to only 30 countries.
Latin American passports with ranking low
Haiti: The weakest passport in Latin America, with visa-free access to very few destinations.
Cuba: It ranks as the second worst on the continent. It only allows visa-free access to approximately 60-64 countries.
Dominican Republic: It is also among the least mobile, with about 70 destinations without a visa.
Bolivia: another of the countries with a less powerful passport, with limited access compared to other Latin American countries.
Ecuador: It is also located in that area of lower mobility, with fewer visa-free destinations than most in the region.
While the US passport remains relatively strong compared to many, its fall outside the top 10 symbolizes a loss of "diplomatic mobility." It indicates that in a world where visa and reciprocity agreements are increasingly important, the US has not kept pace with this bilateral agenda.
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