Henley & Partners: US Passport Power Wanes as Asia Rises
Once the leading passport in terms of visa-free access, the US has steadily slipped while Asian counterparts are on the rise, according to Henley & Partners.
The US passport is currently ranked 12th with visa-free access to 180 out of 227 destinations worldwide, tying with Malaysia, according to the Henley Passport Index. Once ranked as the leading passport in 2014, this marks the first time the US fell out of the top 10 since the index was created 20 years ago.
The decline was attributed to access changes with the absence of visa-free access from countries including Brazil, China, Papua New Guinea, Myanmar, Somalia and Vietnam.
Second Citizenships
According to Henley, the drop in the power of US passports is driving an «unprecedented surge in demand for alternative residence and citizenship options». The firm’s data indicates that Americans have become by far the group with the largest demand for investment migration programs in 2025, with applications in the first nine months of 2025 already 67 percent higher than the total of 2024.
«Faced with unprecedented volatility, investors and wealthy American families are adopting a strategy of geopolitical arbitrage to acquire additional residence and citizenship options. They are hedging against jurisdictional risk and leveraging differences across countries to optimize personal, financial, and lifestyle outcomes,» said Dominic Volek, group head of private clients at Henley & Partners.
«The declining strength of the US 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. Nations that embrace openness and cooperation are surging ahead, while those resting on past privilege are being left behind,» added Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, chairman of Henley & Partners and creator of the Henley Passport Index.
Asia’s Dominance
In contrast, Asia has been on the rise with the top three ranks occupied by countries in the region, led by Singapore (visa-free access to 193 destinations), followed by South Korea (190 destinations) and Japan (189 destinations).
China is also a noteworthy country as the biggest climber over the past decade, rising from 94th place in 2015 to 64th in 2025, with an increase of 37 visa-free destinations during this period to 82.
«Trump’s return to power has bought fresh trade conflicts that weaken America’s mobility, while China’s strategic openness boosts its global influence. These diverging paths will reshape economic and travel dynamics worldwide,» said Dr. Tim Klatte, partner at Grant Thornton China.
