The US passport has stopped maintaining the "power" and status that it used to represent a few years ago. And according to the most recent Henley Passport Index 2025 report, this American document has dropped in the world rankings, positioning itself at number 10, which represents its lowest performance in two decades.

Although it continues to offer access to a large number of visa-free destinations, its loss of competitiveness compared to other nations has been notable according to the British consultancy specializing in investment migration.

This drop not only reflects a change in the diplomatic influence of the United States, but also a reorganization in the way in which countries manage their international mobility agreements.

The United States loses ground against to other countries

By way of comparison, in years like 2006 and 2014, the United States held first place in this same index. Today, it shares tenth place with countries like Iceland and Lithuania.

This loss of positions is attributed to several factors, including the implementation of new immigration fees, such as the so-called visa integrity fee of $250, and the lack of recent bilateral agreements that favor the free movement of its citizens. Even, and according to the British firm, the American passport runs the risk of leaving the top 10 in future counts.

Regarding the biggest changes in the list, India was the country with the biggest rise in the ranking, advancing eight positions, going from 85th to 77th, although it only added two new visa-free destinations, reaching a total of 59.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia achieved the largest increase in visa-free access, adding four more countries since January, bringing its total to 91 and allowing its passport to climb four places to 54th.

The 10 most powerful passports in the world in 2025

This ranking shows a steady advance by European and Asian countries that have strengthened their foreign policies, facilitating visa-free access to a greater number of territories.

How is the power of a passport calculated?

The Henley Passport Index evaluates the power of each passport based on the number of destinations its holders can access. without a visa. The data used comes from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and is updated quarterly to reflect changes in immigration regulations.

Each country receives one point for each destination it can access without a visa or with a visa on arrival. No points are awarded for visas that must be processed before travel or special permits. Consequently, passports that allow the greatest number of unrestricted accesses occupy the top positions, while those with the fewest accesses are placed further down the table.