Could this be in response to Donald Trump's thunderous announcements, which follow one another in rapid succession? In any case, the pace of updates to the Henley Passport Index seems to be accelerating. Last October, the authors of the report pointed to Contrasting trajectories between the United States and ChinaThe US passport is losing considerable influence. It has to be said that American 'diplomacy' is not always inclined to open its borders with arms wide open...
Admittedly, the United States is back in the top 10 after briefly dropping out at the end of 2025. " But this recovery masks a longer-term decline for both the United States and the United Kingdom, which were jointly ranked number 1 in 2014. "as the authors of the report point out. In 2025, the two countries recorded the biggest drop in the number of countries accessible without a visa - the Henley Passport Index ranking criterion. And over the longer term, in the space of two decades, they have fallen six and four places respectively.
" The power of passports ultimately reflects political stability, diplomatic credibility and the ability to define international rules. "Misha Glenny, journalist and Rector of the Vienna Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences. " At a time when transatlantic relations are straining and domestic politics are becoming more volatile, the erosion of mobility rights for countries like the United States and the United Kingdom is less a technical anomaly than a signal of a deeper geopolitical recalibration. ".
Another strong trend is the gap between access to US territory and that guaranteed by the US passport. US passport holders enjoy visa-free access to 179 destinations, while the USA allows only 46 nationalities to enter without a visa. This places the USA 78th on the Henley Index of openness, with one of the widest gaps in the world between outward mobility and inward access. Conversely, China is playing the openness card, with more than 40 countries added in two years to the list of passports accepted without a visa, which now stands at 77 nationalities. At the same time, China has moved up 28 places over the past decade, to 59th place, with access to 81 visa-free destinations.
" The global balance of power is clearly shifting, marked by the renewed openness of China and the nationalist retreat of the United States. "says Tim Klatte, Partner at Grant Thornton China. " At a time when countries are increasingly competing to exert influence through mobility, openness is becoming a crucial element of this discreet power. ".
On this international chessboard in full blitz mode, some pieces still offer a measure of stability. Starting with Singapore and the European countries, which maintain their hegemony in the 2026 ranking. Stamped, and even double-stamped: the City State passport now opens the doors to 192 visa-free destinations. Visit Japan and the South Korea complete the podium, before a "grouped shot" from the Old Continent.
Henley Passport Index 2026: the Top 10
- Singapore - 192 visa-free destinations
- Japan and South Korea - 188 destinations
- Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland - 186 destinations
- Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands and Norway - 185 destinations
- Hungary, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and United Arab Emirates - 184 destinations
- Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Malta, New Zealand and Poland - 183 destinations
- Australia, Latvia, Liechtenstein and the United Kingdom - 182 destinations
- Canada, Iceland and Lithuania - 181 destinations
- Malaysia - 180 destinations
- United States - 179 destinations
Alongside this top 10, the Henley & Partners report points to a two-speed evolution in international mobility. Its authors deplore "a growing gap between the world's most and least mobile populations". " Over the last 20 years, global mobility has developed considerably, but the benefits have been unevenly distributed "says Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners. " Today, passport privileges play a decisive role in determining opportunities, security and participation in economic life. ".
