New Delhi: In a stinging blow to American global clout, the United States passport has slipped out of the world’s top 10 most powerful for the first time in two decades, according to the latest Henley Passport Index.
Once an unrivalled gateway to the globe, it now shares 12th place with Malaysia, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to just 180 destinations out of 227.
The index, compiled by Henley & Partners using International Air Transport Association data, crowns Singapore as the undisputed champion with entry to a whopping 195 countries — up from its 2024 tie at the top. Japan and South Korea clinch second with 193 destinations each, while a powerhouse European bloc — Denmark, Ireland, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain — ties for third at 192. The US, which held seventh place last year and topped the charts in 2014, has plummeted amid stalled visa-waiver pacts and lingering diplomatic frictions with nations like China, Russia, and Iran. Post-COVID travel curbs, including a near-doubled ESTA fee to $40, haven’t helped, as rivals swiftly liberalised policies.
For India, it’s a tale of steady ascent: climbing to 85th from 90th post-pandemic lows, with access to 59 destinations — a gain from 57 in 2024. This marks a consistent improvement from 84th place in 2023, buoyed by fresh bilateral ties. Neighbouring Pakistan, however, slides to 103rd with only 31 destinations, down from 101st last year.
As superpowers grapple with eroding mobility, the index underscores a shifting world order: Asia rises, while the West wanes. For globe-trotters, it’s a reminder that passport power is no longer a birthright — it’s earned through diplomacy.