UK and US Passports Drop in Global Rankings as Asia Leads Mobility Gains

21 Oct

The power of the US passport has fallen to its lowest level in two decades, slipping out of the world’s top ten for the first time in the history of the Henley Passport Index.

For UK-based business travellers, this shift highlights a changing global travel landscape - one that could impact itineraries, visa requirements and the relative ease of travelling for work, particularly when connecting through or collaborating with American colleagues. It also underscores the growing influence of Asia-Pacific nations in business travel mobility, a trend that may affect corporate travel planning and global partnerships.

Once ranked number one in 2014, the US passport now sits in twelfth place, tied with Malaysia, offering visa-free access to 180 destinations out of 227. The top three positions are now held by Singapore, South Korea and Japan, reflecting the increasing travel freedom enjoyed by Asian nations.

According to Dr Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners and creator of the Henley Passport Index, even small changes can have major implications:

“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.”

The UK passport has also slipped to eighth place - its lowest-ever position - falling two places since July despite its previous dominance in 2015.

The United States’ fall is attributed to losing visa-free access to Brazil, Papua New Guinea, Myanmar, and being omitted from China’s expanding visa-free list. Recent decisions by Somalia and Vietnam to exclude the US from new visa-free arrangements compounded the decline.

While American travellers can currently access 180 destinations without a visa, the US reciprocates with visa-free access for only 46 nationalities, ranking seventy-seventh on the Henley Openness Index. This imbalance, mirrored in nations such as Australia and Canada, demonstrates a growing disparity between travel freedom and openness - a factor increasingly shaping global travel trends.

Annie Pforzheimer, Senior Associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, linked this decline to inward-facing policies:

“Even before a second Trump presidency, US policy had turned inward. That isolationist mindset is now being reflected in America’s loss of passport power.”

Meanwhile, China continues to expand its influence in international mobility. Over the past decade, it has climbed from 94th to 64th place on the Henley Passport Index and now provides visa-free access to 76 nations, 30 more than the United States.

Dr Tim Klatte, Partner at Grant Thornton China, said,

“Trump’s return to power has brought 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.”

The decline in US passport strength has also spurred demand for dual citizenships, with Henley & Partners reporting record interest among American nationals seeking alternative residence or citizenship. Dominic Volek, Group Head of Private Clients, said applications from Americans have surged by 67% this year alone, as wealthy families seek to “hedge against jurisdictional risk” and secure greater mobility.

Paul Baker, Sales Director of Global Travel Management, said that the changing passport landscape is a reminder of how dynamic global travel has become.

“For UK-based business travellers, these shifts highlight the importance of proactive travel management. Working with a trusted TMC ensures travellers are prepared for evolving visa requirements, new access rules, and the emerging opportunities across Asia and beyond.”

The Henley Passport Index, powered by IATA’s official Timatic data, has ranked the world’s passports for over twenty years, providing a definitive measure of global mobility. Alongside the Kälin–Kochenov Quality of Nationality Index, it remains a key resource for policymakers and international travellers alike.

For more information about how passport and visa changes may affect your business travel, contact your Global Travel Management Account Manager.