**US No Longer on Most-Powerful Passport List; What About India?**
*By Chanshimla Varah | Oct 15, 2025, 12:39 pm*
For the first time in two decades, the United States passport has fallen out of the top 10 most powerful passports in the world, according to the Henley Passport Index 2025. The US now ranks 12th globally, tied with Malaysia. Citizens of both countries enjoy visa-free access to 180 of the 227 countries tracked by the index.
This shift marks a significant change in global mobility dynamics, moving away from Western dominance toward rising Asian nations.
**Top Passport Rankings: Asia Takes the Lead**
Singapore continues to hold the top spot as the world’s most powerful passport, granting its citizens visa-free access to 193 destinations. South Korea and Japan follow closely behind, with access to 190 and 189 countries respectively.
European nations including Germany, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland also feature prominently in the top 10. These countries benefit from strong diplomatic ties and an openness to travel, helping maintain their high rankings.
**Why Has the US Passport Declined?**
The decline of the US passport’s global standing is largely attributed to a widening reciprocity gap. Although American citizens can travel visa-free to 180 destinations, the United States offers visa-free access to only 46 countries, ranking it 77th worldwide in terms of openness.
This imbalance has prompted several countries—such as Brazil, Vietnam, China, and Papua New Guinea—to impose travel restrictions on American visitors in response.
**China’s Rise and India’s Progress**
China’s passport ranking has seen a steady climb over the past decade, rising from 94th in 2015 to 64th in 2025. Chinese citizens now enjoy visa-free access to 76 destinations. This improvement is credited to Beijing’s proactive travel diplomacy and reciprocal visa agreements with countries like Russia and several Gulf states.
India’s position has also improved steadily in recent years. Currently ranked 85th, Indian passport holders have visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 57 destinations. India shares this ranking with Mauritania, a country located in Northwest Africa.
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As global mobility patterns continue to evolve, the shifting passport rankings highlight broader geopolitical and diplomatic changes shaping international travel.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/world/us-no-longer-on-most-powerful-passport-list-what-about-india/story