By Maureen O’Hare, CNN

(CNN) — The United States is on the brink of dropping out of the top 10 ranking of the world’s most powerful passports.

In the latest quarterly update of the Henley Passport Index, created by the London-based global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners, the US — which held the No. 1 position back in 2014 — has slipped down to the 10th place in the rankings.

It’s the lowest position ever for the US in the 20-year history of the index, which tracks the global freedom of movement for holders of 199 passports to 227 countries and territories around the world, using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). And because Henley counts multiple countries with the same score as a single spot in its standings, there are actually 33 countries that outrank the US on the list.

As we enter the second half of the year, Singapore has held onto its No.1 position as the world’s most powerful passport for 2025.

Holders of this most desirable of travel documents enjoy visa-free access to 193 out of 227 destinations worldwide, more than citizens of any other place on the planet.

Naturally, Singapore isn’t handing out passports to foreign nationals like candy. Applying for Singaporean citizenship requires at least two years of permanent residency, a review of “economic contributions” and other qualifications, and compulsory national service for male applicants.

South Korea has climbed to join Japan at No.2 in the ranking, with an open door to 190 destinations, ensuring that Asian nations have a solid lead in the global mobility race.

The EU member states of Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain are all at No.3 behind them, in the third tier, along with Finland, with access to 189 destinations with no prior visa needed.

Europe holds sway over the fourth position in the rankings, too, which belongs to seven countries: Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and Sweden. All enjoy visa-free access to 188 destinations.

Squeaking into fifth place are Greece, Switzerland and New Zealand, all of which have visa-free access to 187 destinations.

The mobility gap

At the opposite end of the list, at No. 99, Afghanistan remains locked in bottom place, with visa-free access to just 25 destinations, one fewer than at the start of this year. Syria is at No. 98 (with 27 destinations) and Iraq is at No. 97 (with 30 destinations).

That’s a yawning mobility gap of 168 destinations between the top- and bottom-ranked passports.

The UK has dropped one spot to No. 6 in the rankings, with visa-free access to 186 destinations. Australia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Malta and Poland are tied at No. 7, while Canada, Estonia and the United Arab Emirates are at No. 8.

The UAE is one of the biggest success stories on the index, having risen 34 places in the past decade, from No. 42 to eighth place.

China has also jumped from No. 94 to No. 60 since 2015, a rise that’s been achieved even without visa-free access to the 29 countries in Europe’s Schengen Area.

‘Active and strategic diplomacy’

Ninth place is shared by Croatia, Latvia, Slovakia and Slovenia, while No.10 is held by Iceland, Lithuania and the United States. The US now has visa-free access to 182 destinations worldwide.

In a provision in the Trump administration’s recently enacted domestic policy bill, the United States will soon require international visitors to pay a new “visa integrity fee” of at least $250, added to existing visa application costs. The fee will apply to all visitors who are required to obtain nonimmigrant visas to enter the United States.

Critics including the U.S. Travel Association, a national nonprofit organization aimed at increasing travel to the United States, have panned the new visa fee as discouraging to visitors.

Christian H. Kaelin, chair of Henley and Partners, said in a release that the latest Henley Passport Index reveals an increasingly competitive landscape in global mobility.

“The consolidation we’re seeing at the top underscores that access is earned — and must be maintained — through active and strategic diplomacy,” he said. “Nations that proactively negotiate visa waivers and nurture reciprocal agreements continue to rise, while the opposite applies to those that are less engaged in such efforts.”

Henley & Partners’ list is one of several indexes created by financial firms to rank global passports according to the access they provide to their citizens.

Arton Capital’s Passport Index takes into consideration the passports of 193 United Nations member countries and six territories — Taiwan, Macao, Hong Kong, Kosovo, the Palestinian territories and the Vatican. Territories annexed to other countries are excluded.

It’s also updated in real-time throughout the year and its data is gathered by close monitoring of individual governments’ portals.

Arton’s Global Passport Power Rank 2025 puts the United Arab Emirates in the top spot, with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 179. Second place is held by Spain, with a score of 176.

The most powerful passports for 2025

Singapore (193 destinations)

Japan, South Korea (190)

Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain (189)

Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden (188)

Greece, New Zealand, Switzerland (187)

United Kingdom (186)

Australia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Malta, Poland (185)

Canada, Estonia, United Arab Emirates (184)

Croatia, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia (183)

Iceland, Lithuania, United States (182)

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The new list of the world’s most powerful passports has come. Ireland’s passport has got the first place in the ranking of Nomad Capitalist Passport Index 2025. America’s passport is out of the top 10 in this list. At the same time, the ranking of India’s passport has declined. Pakistan’s passport is the weakest in the world as always.

Tax and immigration consultancy Nomad Capitalist has released the ranking of the world’s most powerful passports. Ireland’s passport has got the first place in this ranking. This is the first time that the passport of the North American country Ireland has secured the number 1 position in the ranking of Nomad Capitalist. In this ranking, passports of 199 countries of the world have been analyzed. This also includes India’s passport, whose ranking has declined more than before. At the same time, Pakistani passport is included in the list of the weakest passports in the world as always.

Factors on which the passports were evaluated

According to CNBC, Nomad Capitalist’s pattern of analyzing passports and their international strength is different from other rankings that only value their visa-free travel strength. In today’s ever-changing world, the Nomad Passport Index tracks how each country’s passport evolves on a yearly basis. Looking at how countries’ global influence is changing. Nomad Capitalist ranks passports around the world based on five key factors: visa-free travel (50%), taxation (20%), global perception (10%), dual citizenship (10%), and personal freedom (10%).

Criteria for evaluating the world’s highest-ranked passports

For information on travel parameters, the index relies on government data from 199 passport-issuing countries and territories, as well as real-time intelligence and research. It includes a MobilityScore, which measures the ease of travel, and also studies visa-free travel, visa on arrival, and eTA and e-visa status. It also looks at the taxation pattern in countries and gives them a score from 10 to 50.

How Ireland’s passport got the lead

Evaluating 199 countries, the Nomad Capitalist Passport Index 2025 put Ireland at the top with a ‘Nomad Passport Score’ of 109. Last year, it lost the lead to Switzerland. However, in addition to this year’s win, Ireland shared the No. 1 rank with Luxembourg and Sweden in 2020. “Ireland has moved up the rankings thanks to the country’s strong international reputation, business-friendly tax policies and overall citizenship flexibility,” Javier Correa, research associate at Nomad Capitalist, told CNBC Travel.

World’s strongest vs weakest passports 2025

Ireland has been ranked as the world’s strongest passport of 2025, with the index saying Irish citizens have the “right to live and work freely throughout the European Union and, in particular, the UK.” Apart from Ireland’s top spot, other countries in the top 10 strongest passports list are: Switzerland (2nd), Greece (2nd), Portugal (4th), Malta (5th), Italy (5th), Luxembourg (7th), Finland (7th), Norway (7th), UAE (10th), New Zealand (10th) and Iceland (10th).

Pakistan’s passport lags again

The United States is ranked 45th in this list, jointly with San Marino. Meanwhile, Pakistan, Iraq, Eritrea, Yemen and Afghanistan are at the bottom of the table as the weakest passports, ranking from 195 to 199.

Know the position of Indian passport

India shared the 148th spot with Comoros, giving it a total score of 47.5 (tax: 20, perception: 20, dual citizenship: 20, freedom: 20). In last year’s index, India was ranked 147th along with Mozambique. Earlier this year, India dropped from 80th to 85th position in the list of the world’s most powerful passports in the Henley Passport Index. The 19-year-old index relies on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

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The 2025 Henley Passport Index makes one thing clear: travel freedom isn’t just a Western advantage anymore. And that shift isn’t just about where people go on a holiday, it matters for companies, governments, and industries that rely on people being able to move easily across borders.

The latest Henley Passport Index shows a reshuffling in the global mobility hierarchy. While familiar names still top the list — Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, and Finland — the momentum has clearly shifted.

The United States, once ranked No. 1 just over a decade ago, has now dropped to 10th place. American passport holders can access 182 destinations without a visa. Last year, the U.S. ranked seventh. This year’s position marks its lowest standing in two decades.

The United Kingdom has also slipped. Now ranked sixth, the UK is down two places from last year.

According to Juerg Steffen, CEO of Henley & Partners, the drop in rankings for both countries reflects broader shifts in global access.

“Americans are now leading the demand worldwide for alternative residence and citizenship options, with British nationals also among the top five globally,” Steffen said on Tuesday. “As the US and UK adopt increasingly inward-looking policies, we’re witnessing a marked rise in interest from their citizens seeking greater global access and security.”

Asia Gains Ground as India Jumps Eight Spots

While Western powers slide, several Asian countries are steadily climbing. Singapore, Japan and South Korea continue to hold the world’s most powerful passport ranking.

India made the most significant leap over the last six months, climbing eight spots from 85th to 77th. Indian passport holders can now visit 59 countries without a visa, up from 57. It’s a modest gain in numbers, but a meaningful signal of growing diplomatic reach.

The Henley Passport Index, based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association, ranks passports by the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. The index is updated quarterly.

Breaking Down Borders: Relaxed Visa Rules Are Opening Up the World Looser visa restrictions are greasing the wheels of global tourism, but the real question is whether these policies can sustain long-term growth or just offer a fleeting boost to countries eager for quick wins. Read More

China’s Openness Brings Real Change

While China’s mobility ranking is still at 60th place, its trajectory is striking. Since 2015, China has moved up 34 spots on the Henley Index.

Unlike many rising nations, China has done this without gaining visa-free access to the EU’s Schengen Area. Instead, it has focused on building partnerships with emerging markets. In 2025 alone, China granted visa-free entry to citizens of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Brazil, and Argentina. That brings the total number of nationalities allowed visa-free entry to China to 74.

Five years ago, that number was under 20.

The policy shift is already showing results. More than 20 million foreign travelers entered China without a visa in 2024, double the previous year, and nearly one-third of all international arrivals, according to China’s National Immigration Administration.

“China’s granting of visa-free access to several European states over the past two years has also contributed to the dominance of European passports at the top of the Henley Passport Power Index, which measures the percentage of global GDP each passport provides to its holders visa-free,” Henley said in a statement.

Air travel in the region reflects the broader trend. IATA Director General Willie Walsh said overall global demand for air travel grew by 5.8% in the first five months of 2025. Asia-Pacific airlines led with 9.5% growth, while North America saw a modest 1.8% rise in international traffic, offset by a slight decline in domestic travel.

UAE Breaks Into Top 10

The United Arab Emirates has also emerged as a top mobility player. Over the past decade, the UAE has climbed 34 spots in the Henley rankings. It now sits at eighth place, with visa-free access to 185 countries.

The Gulf state has pursued a clear strategy of leveraging diplomatic ties to expand travel access. In May 2025, the UAE signed an agreement with Moldova granting visa-free travel to all Emirati passport holders.

UAE citizens have also enjoyed visa-free access to the Schengen Area since 2015, thanks to an agreement with the European Union. The waiver allows for short-term visits of up to 90 days within any 180-day period. This is for all 26 Schengen countries, including France, Germany, Spain, and Italy.

Singapore passport holders have the most flexibility for travel worldwide.

Singapore passport holders have the most flexibility for travel worldwide. Majonit/Shutterstock

Singapore passport holders have the most flexibility for travel worldwide. Majonit/Shutterstock

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lighning bolt icon An icon in the shape of a lightning bolt. Impact Link

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Thinking of visiting Brazil, Australia, or India with a US passport this summer? Not so fast … or at least not before securing a visa.

Some of the best wonders of the world require US citizens to obtain a visa before takeoff, an inconvenience in planning that long-awaited international getaway.

US passport holders can access 182 countries globally without a visa, putting it in 10th place among world passports on the global mobility spectrum, according to the 2025 Henley Passport Index. Passports from 33 other countries provide more global mobility than a US passport and two other countries are tied with the US for mobility.

The index is a ranking of passports based on how many countries their holders can access without a visa and is based on data from the International Air Transport Authority.

Singapore is in the top spot with its passport, which allows holders to travel to 193 countries without first securing a visa. Japan had previously held the No. 1 position but has since fallen to No. 2, joining South Korea with access to 190 countries.

Below are the countries with the most powerful passports, ranked by ascending number of visa-free travel options, based on the Henley Passport Index. This ranking is accurate as of May 2025.

While the Henley Passport Index has long been a reference for the status of global citizenships, the Nomad Index reshuffles the world’s most powerful passports with startling results.

The world could be your oyster, depending on your passport. Image: Getty

Ranking almost anything is always subjective, but when it’s something on the scope and scale of the world’s most powerful passports, it’s hard to invest fully in only one source. Such is the case here, where consulting firm Nomad Capitalist creates its annual Nomad Passport Index (NPI) of the world’s 199 citizenships based on five different factors looking through the eyes of global investors and entrepreneurs.

How the world’s most powerful passports are ranked

The 2025 NPI ranking is its ninth. The five factors it employs that define its methodology use aggregated data from nearly 20 sources and are weighted slightly differently:

Visa-free travel: 50%

Using government data from 199 passport-issuing countries and territories, combined with real-time intelligence and proprietary research. This factor includes a MobilityScore measuring ease of travel, which focuses on visa-free travel, visa on arrival, and eTA and eVisa (if issued within three days).

Taxation of citizens: 20%

Based on data from Nomad Capitalist’s network of tax vendors, news sources and tax authorities. They assigned the lowest score of 10 to countries that tax citizens no matter where they live (e.g. U.S.); scored 20 or 30 to countries that allow citizens to relocate to avoid tax (e.g. Finland); scored 40 for those that don’t tax foreign incomes of resident citizens (e.g. Panama); and scored 50 for countries with zero tax (e.g. Vanuatu).

Global perception: 10%

Based on the World Happiness Report, the Human Development Index and subjective factors from the Nomad Capitalist network’s experiences to determine how each country’s citizens are received and recognized.

Dual citizenship: 10%

Using embassy data and their network experiences to assess the ability to hold dual citizenship ranging from a score of 10 for strictly forbidden (e.g. China) to a score of 50 for freely allowed (e.g. Canada).

Personal freedom: 10%

Based on data and news reports about mandatory military service, government surveillance, press freedom and other factors to determine the personal freedom of citizens, travellers and expats, with scores ranging from 10 for least freedom to 50 for most.

While some of these factors are undoubtedly interpretive and based on experience as much as data, this approach, claims the report, takes it beyond rankings that focus solely on visa-free travel: “While most indices – and most people – think of a passport only in terms of travel privileges, we understand that citizens of different countries deal with very different requirements to pay tax, live freely, comply with regulations and avoid scrutiny when travelling.

According to NPI ratings Ireland has been in a long rivalry with Switzerland for the top spot. Image: Getty

“In that regard, the number of countries a passport holder may visit does not tell the whole story. The Nomad Passport Index speaks to those seeking personal freedom and financial prosperity in a changing world, offering a deeper analysis of the true value of each passport.”

The world’s five most powerful passports

While the 2025 Henley Index points to Singapore as 2025’s most powerful passport, the NPI instead places Ireland firmly atop the global ranking. Looking back over previous NPI rankings it’s clear to see Ireland has been in a long rivalry with Switzerland for the top spot.

These two neutral nations have often dominated the rankings with consistent top marks for perception, dual citizenship and freedom while also ranking very highly for visa-free travel and taxation. This year a slight boost in Ireland’s mobility score coupled with a slight dip in Switzerland’s saw them swap places from their 2024 standings.

Ireland has certain unique advantages that also add to its appeal. Entrepreneur-friendly tax policies, ease of travel, and fast-track citizenship options are great, but the right to live and work across the EU as well as the UK places it in a truly unique position post Brexit.

Occupying second spot alongside Switzerland is Greece, which has leapt four places from last year’s ranking. The NPI attributes this to its “rising prominence in EU migration, investment and tax discussions, along with the expansion and streamlining of its tax incentive programs [introduced in late 2024],” that have, “significantly enhanced its appeal among global citizens over the last 12 months.”

Greece’s jump up the rankings has bumped Portugal down to fourth, even though this sun-drenched slice of Iberia has actually improved its overall score. Beyond its glorious weather, Portugal remains a global favourite with visa-free access to destinations like South Africa and one of Europe’s most expat-friendly tax regimes. As the report states, “For many, it’s still the EU’s ultimate lifestyle passport.”

Greece came in the top 5 global passports in the new rankings. Image: Getty

Taking the fifth spot is Malta, racing up from 14th place last year. This is down to a big jump in its tax score, the result of renewed interest in its non-dom tax regime. This aided by English being its official language, great international connections and the unarguable appeal of the Mediterranean lifestyle make it a smart European base without the added tax burden.

Rounding out the top five alongside Malta is Italy, climbing thanks to the government’s decision to expand the flat tax regime and widen access for high net worth individuals (HNWIs) and retirees looking for simpler tax rules. And it would be remiss to overlook Italy’s many, many other qualities, from relatively low cost of living compared to much of Europe to its deep cultural well, quality of life and, of course, the food!

Other major players in the world passport rankings

Further down the list we come to the United Arab Emirates in 10th place, a significant drop from its position at the top of the list just two years previous. While its score is unchanged over that time, it hasn’t improved like myriad other countries around it. In particular the NPI notes that “the decline stems primarily from recently introduced taxes, signalling a clear shift in attractiveness to global entrepreneurs and raising questions about the UAE’s future appeal.”

Elsewhere, Germany has dropped out of the top ten to 13th yet remains eight places clear of the U.K. in 21st. The U.S. meanwhile languishes in a lowly 45th position alongside San Marino, hampered by strict taxation, reduced mobility and a significant drop in personal freedoms and global perception.

The world’s least powerful passports

One area where the NPI does align with the Henley Index is at the bottom of the rankings, where once again we find Afghanistan. With lowest available scores for perception, freedom, dual citizenship and taxation, its citizens enjoy far fewer freedoms than almost any other passport holder. Indeed, only Syria, five places above it in the list, has a lower travel score.

A Syrian passport is among the least powerful passports, according to NPI. Image: Getty

Said Nomad Capitalist research associate Javier Correa, “While there were many winners and some losers, the key takeaway from our new research is that, in today’s turbulent times, holding multiple citizenships is no longer a luxury; it is a vital strategy for navigating the modern world. This is the age of global mobility, and the most successful global citizens need to go where they are treated best, with the most comprehensive, up-to-date research at their disposal.”

For a comprehensive list and look at the methodology behind this ranking of the world’s most powerful passports, read and download the 2025 Nomad Passport Index.

This article was originally published on forbes.com and all figures are in USD.