Ranking of Countries with the Strongest Passports in 2025
US citizens have traditionally enjoyed the world's most powerful passport, offering unparalleled global access and security. However, over the last decade, the passport power of American citizens has seen a significant decline. This decline is primarily due to a combination of increased global travel restrictions, evolving geopolitical tensions, and changes in immigration and security policies that affect international mobility for U.S. passport holders.
Factors Contributing to the Decline
Heightened Security Measures and Stricter Visa Requirements
The rise of global terrorism concerns and the COVID-19 pandemic has led to the imposition of stricter visa requirements by various countries. These measures have reduced the number of countries offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to American passport holders, restricting their travel freedoms.
Geopolitical Shifts and Diplomatic Relations
Political conflicts and strained relations between the U.S. and other nations can result in more restrictive entry requirements, affecting the perceived "power" of the U.S. passport. For instance, the implementation of more stringent controls on migration by the U.S. has sometimes led to reciprocal tightening by other countries.
Domestic Immigration Policy Changes
Changes in U.S. immigration policies or enforcement actions can lead other nations to reassess their openness to U.S. travelers. This is illustrated by the increasing emphasis on national security by multiple countries, leading to enhanced travel document scrutiny, affecting the ease with which U.S. citizens can enter some destinations without pre-approved visas.
Rising Countries in Visa-Free Access Rankings
While the U.S. has seen a decline, other countries have made significant strides in visa-free access. For example, Saudi Arabia has added twice as many destinations since January, moving up four places to 54 on the visa-free access rankings. The UAE, despite not having visa-free access to Europe's Schengen Area, has made a notable progression, rising 34 places in the last decade to the eighth position on the visa-free access rankings.
China, too, has made a remarkable shift in its visa policy, granting visa-free entry to 75 nations, with over a dozen added in the last six months alone. However, unlike other top risers, China has not yet gained visa-free access to Europe's Schengen Area. India has risen eight places in six months to 77 on the visa-free access rankings, despite only adding two destinations to its list.
The Pursuit of Global Access and Security
The decline in U.S. passport power is less about the passport itself and more about external political, security, and health-related constraints worldwide that have tightened travel access globally, including for Americans. This trend is reflected in the increasing number of citizens from various nations seeking alternative residence, citizenship, and investment options to secure their global access and security.
UK citizens, for instance, are fifth in the list of those seeking global access and security, nearly ten years after the Brexit retreat from Europe. As the world continues to navigate political, security, and health challenges, the pursuit of global access and security is likely to remain a significant concern for many nations.
[1] Le Monde, "Les controverses autour de la politique d'immigration aux États-Unis", 2021.
- The decline in the power of the US passport, due to stricter visa requirements and geopolitical tensions, has led some citizens to seek alternative residence, citizenship, and investment options for global access and security.
- For instance, the UAE has made significant progress in the visa-free access rankings, rising 34 places in the last decade, despite not having visa-free access to the Schengen Area.
- Similarly, China has made a remarkable shift in its visa policy, granting visa-free entry to 75 nations, with over a dozen added in the last six months, as part of its pursuit of global access and lifestyle.
