Kathmandu, October 15
For the first time in 20 years, the United States passport has fallen out of the list of the world’s top 10 most powerful passports, according to the Henley Passport Index 2025 published by Henley & Partners.
The US passport now ranks 12th, tied with Malaysia. American citizens can travel visa-free to 180 out of 227 destinations.
Singapore tops the index, offering visa-free access to 193 countries, followed by South Korea with 190 and Japan with 189.
Nepal’s passport remains unchanged at 101st position, while India has climbed to 77th place, improving by eight spots since the first quarter of 2025. Indian passport holders enjoy visa-on-arrival access to 59 countries, compared to Nepal’s 36.
Countries ranked below Nepal include Somalia, Pakistan, Yemen, Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan. Experts attribute the decline in the US passport’s power to stricter visa policies introduced by several nations. Brazil ended its visa-free entry for Americans in April, while China excluded the US from its new visa-free program. New travel restrictions in Papua New Guinea, Myanmar, India, Somalia, and Vietnam have also contributed to the drop.
Henley & Partners chairperson Christian H Kaelin said the decline reflects a broader shift in global power dynamics. “Countries embracing openness are moving ahead, while those clinging to old mindsets are falling behind,” he said. Analyst Annie Pforzheimer added that the US’s rigid immigration and foreign policies have weakened the global influence of its passport.
The UK passport has also fallen in rank, dropping from sixth to eighth place, while China has risen from 94th in 2015 to 64th, gaining visa-free access to 37 new destinations. China now grants visa-free entry to citizens of 76 countries, 30 more than the US, thanks to new agreements with nations across Russia, the Gulf, South America, and Europe.
