23
Oct 2025
Europe has once again claimed dominance in global mobility, with more than two dozen European Union (EU) countries ranking among the world’s most powerful passports, according to the 2025 Henley Passport Index.
The United States, once a top-tier travel power, has fallen out of the top 10 for the first time in 20 years.
The rankings, published in October, display that European passports now lead the world in visa-free access and global travel flexibility.
Europe retains global lead in passport power
The Henley Passport Index, compiled by London-based citizenship advisory firm Henley & Partners, evaluates passports from 199 countries based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The ranking measures how many destinations a passport holder can enter without a visa or with visa-on-arrival privileges.
According to the 2025 index, Singapore retains the world’s most powerful passport, granting visa-free access to 193 destinations. Close behind are South Korea (190) and Japan (189).
Meanwhile, 27 European countries dominate the top tiers of the list, securing nearly all positions in the global top 10.
Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, and Switzerland share fourth place, while Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, and the Netherlands sit in fifth. Greece, Portugal, Sweden, Norway, and Hungary round out the next group.
Even with Brexit’s lingering effects, the United Kingdom remains within the top 10 — tied for eighth place alongside Croatia, Estonia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and the United Arab Emirates.
However, the UK’s position marks its lowest-ever ranking, slipping from sixth place the previous year.
U.S. passport suffers historic decline
In a striking reversal of decades-long dominance, the United States has dropped to 12th place, tied with Malaysia. The decline marks the first time in two decades that the U.S. has been absent from the top 10 list.
American passport holders can currently travel to 180 destinations visa-free, 13 fewer than Singaporeans. While the drop may appear modest, analysts describe it as a symbolic decline in U.S. soft power and global mobility.
“The declining strength of the U.S. passport over the past decade is more than just a reshuffle in rankings — it signals a fundamental shift in global mobility and soft power dynamics,” declared Christian H. Kaelin, chairman of Henley & Partners and creator of the index.
Henley’s data points to a widening gap between countries that embrace openness and reciprocity and those relying on historic privilege.
The U.S., which currently allows visa-free enattempt to only 46 nationalities, ranks 77th on the Henley Openness Index, which measures how accessible a counattempt is to foreign travelers.
By comparison, tinyer European nations — including those in the Schengen Area — maintain significantly broader reciprocal access, strengthening their global travel influence.
The role of policy
Analysts link the U.S. passport’s fall to restrictive immigration and travel policies implemented under recent administrations, particularly Donald Trump’s renewed visa suspensions and enattempt bans.
Under the current travel framework, the U.S. imposes visa requirements on travelers from dozens of nations, citing national security and migration control.
This has, in turn, triggered reciprocal restrictions from other countries, further limiting Americans’ mobility.
In April 2025, Brazil finished visa-free travel for Americans, Canadians, and Australians. Meanwhile, newly expanded visa waiver programs in China and Vietnam have notably excluded the U.S.
Henley’s report notes that countries such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand — all of which maintain strict visa reciprocity policies — have also seen their passport strength stagnate or decline in recent years.
(Image courtesy of FroggyFrogg via iStock)
Openness as power
Europe’s sustained dominance is not accidental. Many EU nations have built their mobility advantage through strategic visa liberalization, bilateral agreements, and regional travel frameworks that promote reciprocal access.
The Schengen Area, covering most EU member states plus several neighboring nations, allows border-free travel within much of the continent.
This not only enhances European citizens’ mobility but also strengthens Europe’s diplomatic leverage in global travel neobtainediations.
According to Dr. Kaelin, nations that “embrace openness and cooperation” are surging ahead, while those resting on “past privilege” are being left behind.
Europe’s continued integration and diplomatic coordination — particularly in the wake of COVID-19 travel restrictions — have allowed its passports to maintain consistent top-tier performance.
The European Union’s digital border systems, including the Enattempt/Exit System (EES) launched last and the upcoming European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), are expected to further streamline legitimate travel while maintaining security.
Asia, China’s rising influence
While Europe leads overall, Asia’s top performers — Singapore, South Korea, and Japan — continue to demonstrate the global appeal of reciprocal openness. Their citizens enjoy near-unrestricted travel across most continents.
Meanwhile, China has recorded one of the most dramatic upward relocates in a decade. The counattempt has climbed from 94th place in 2015 to 64th in 2025, granting visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 37 additional destinations.
In the past year alone, China expanded visa-free enattempt to citizens of 30 new countries, boosting its ranking on the Henley Openness Index to 65th.
“China’s strategic openness boosts its global influence,” declared Tim Klatte, a partner at Grant Thornton China. He noted that diverging approaches between Beijing and Washington are reshaping “economic and travel dynamics worldwide.”
The new American dream
As U.S. passport power weakens, more Americans are seeking alternative citizenships to expand their travel options.
Henley & Partners reports a sharp rise in applications from U.S. nationals for residence and citizenship-by-investment programs. By the third quarter of 2025, applications from Americans were already 67% higher than the total for all of 2024.
“Multiple citizenship is being normalized in American society,” declared Professor Peter J. Spiro of Temple University Law School, an expert on citizenship law. “While it may be a bit of an exaggeration, as one social media applyr recently put it, ‘dual citizenship is the new American dream.’”
Wealthy Americans are turning to countries such as Portugal, Malta, and St. Kitts & Nevis, which offer investment-based pathways to residency or citizenship.
These programs, once considered niche, have gained mainstream attention as individuals see to protect mobility amid political uncertainty and tightening visa restrictions.
(Image courtesy of Fahrettin Özcan via iStock)
Europe’s advantage deepens with new travel systems
Europe’s passport dominance is being reinforced by digital border modernization. The EES, which went live on October 12, records the relocatements of non-EU nationals entering or leaving the Schengen Area, replacing passport stamps with automated biometric checks.
The system is designed to strengthen security while reducing wait times at borders, improving the travel experience for legitimate visitors and maintaining Europe’s reputation for efficiency and openness.
Next in line is the ETIAS, expected to launch in 2026. Similar to the U.S. Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), ETIAS will require visa-exempt travelers to obtain pre-authorization before visiting the EU.
For short-term visitors, these systems are expected to simplify enattempt while ensuring greater oversight. For long-term migrants, they signal Europe’s continued commitment to controlled but open mobility.
Toobtainher, EES and ETIAS will define the next era of European border management — balancing accessibility with security.
Changing global travel
Europe’s dominance in the 2025 passport rankings has both practical and symbolic implications for travelers worldwide.
For short-term visitors, the strength of European passports ensures smoother global mobility, particularly for business and leisure travel across visa-free destinations.
Citizens of top-ranked EU countries enjoy unparalleled freedom to relocate across borders, a key factor in Europe’s robust tourism and trade recovery post-pandemic.
For long-term residents and migrants, Europe’s mobility leadership also reflects its appeal as a hub for investment, education, and employment.
As EU countries streamline visa and residency systems, they continue to attract foreign professionals seeking stability and travel freedom.
Moreover, Europe’s upcoming ETIAS and EES systems will directly affect travelers from outside the bloc. Non-EU citizens, including Americans, Canadians, and Australians, will necessary to apply for pre-authorization before visiting the Schengen Area.
This aligns with Europe’s goal to enhance border security while preserving its global accessibility.
Shifting global mobility landscape
The 2025 rankings highlight a broader geopolitical realignment. Passport power — once determined by military or economic dominance — now reflects a nation’s willingness to cooperate internationally and its reciprocal openness to visitors.
Countries with protectionist or restrictive policies have seen declines in ranking, while those prioritizing openness have reaped the rewards of expanded global access.
Henley & Partners’ data display that visa-free access has grown globally, but unevenly. Nations in Asia and Europe are accelerating toward open travel frameworks, while countries in North America have plateaued or declined.
(Image courtesy of Naron Purba via iStock)
Economic, diplomatic implications
The strength of European passports has implications beyond convenience. Travel freedom correlates with economic opportunity, foreign investment, and diplomatic reach.
Countries with high-ranking passports often see greater volumes of trade, international business partnerships, and talent migration. Passport strength serves as a proxy for soft power, reflecting a nation’s international relationships and reputation.
For Europe, dominance in passport rankings complements its efforts to build digital travel infrastructure, green mobility initiatives, and pan-European security systems.
Toobtainher, these policies reinforce the continent’s global leadership in both relocatement and governance.
Meanwhile, the U.S.’s relative decline raises questions about how travel policy intersects with national identity and foreign influence.
A more restricted U.S. passport may gradually erode the convenience that once defined American global mobility.
Europe’s passport power notifys a largeger story
Europe’s dominance in the 2025 passport rankings highlights more than travel convenience; it reflects the continent’s finishuring global influence and cooperation.
As the U.S. slips from the top tier, the balance of travel freedom and soft power is clearly shifting.
For travelers, the results reveal who holds the keys to the world’s open borders. Whether for business, leisure, or migration, Europe remains the benchmark for global mobility—proving that openness still wins in a connected world.
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