For the first time since the Henley Passport Index was launched two decades ago, the United States is no longer among the world’s Top 10 most powerful passports.

It now ranks 12th, tied with Malaysia, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 180 of 227 destinations. The UK passport also hit a record low, slipping from 6th to 8th since July. 

Who’s on top now?

The 2025 leaderboard is led by Asia’s long-running front-runners:

• Singapore: 193 destinations

• South Korea: 190 destinations

• Japan: 189 destinations

  These figures come directly from the latest Henley update, which is powered by exclusive IATA data. 

What changed for the US and UK:

Henley attributes America’s drop from 10th to 12th to a series of recent access changes that shaved points off the US score while boosting others. Loss of visa-free access to Brazil in April, exclusion from China’s widening visa-free list, and subsequent adjustments by countries such as Papua New Guinea, Myanmar, Somalia (eVisa rollout), and Vietnam contributed to the decline. The UK meanwhile slid to 8th, its lowest-ever position on the index. 

Why the Henley Passport Index matters:

The Henley Passport Index is widely regarded as the most authoritative benchmark of travel freedom. It tracks 199 passports against 227 destinations, using official IATA data and ongoing in-house research. For globally mobile families and investors, a movement of just one or two ranks can translate into real travel friction, lost time, and higher costs for spontaneous trips, business travel, and relocation planning. 

The bigger trend: reciprocity and “openness” gaps:

Henley’s analysis highlights widening reciprocity gaps. Countries that expand mutual visa-free agreements rise; those that don’t stagnate or decline. This helps explain why Asia’s leaders continue to dominate while historically strong passports face headwinds. 

What proactive individuals are doing:

Investors and internationally active professionals are increasingly building complementary mobility portfolios that combine:

• Citizenship by investment in stable jurisdictions to add a second passport

• Residence by investment to secure long-term access to the EU, UK or key Asian hubs

• Strategic sequencing of residence and citizenship options to diversify travel rights and hedge against policy shocks

How Citizenship Network can help:

Citizenship Network advises on multi-jurisdiction mobility planning aligned with family, lifestyle, and investment goals. The team designs bespoke strategies that may include:

• Caribbean citizenship by investment for rapid visa-free access gains

• EU residence options for long-term settlement and Schengen mobility

• Tailored combinations that optimize both access and security

Next step: explore the latest Henley Passport Index details and request a personalized mobility plan from Citizenship Network’s advisors.