The global map of passport power is shifting. The United States and the United Kingdom, which until 10 years ago could visit the most countries visa-free, are clearly in decline. In contrast, Asian countries, including China, are rapidly increasing the number of visa-free destinations. Experts said the national power and diplomatic credibility embedded in passports are moving from the West to the East.
According to the latest Henley Passport Index released on the 13th (local time) by U.K.-based global migration consultancy Henley & Partners, Singapore, which can visit 192 countries worldwide without a visa, ranked No. 1 in passport power. Korea and Japan tied for second with 188 countries each. The Henley Passport Index is a leading indicator that ranks countries by tallying the number of destinations a passport holder from a specific country can enter without a visa, based on International Air Transport Association (IATA) data.
The most notable point in this release is the U.K.'s record drop. The United Kingdom lost eight visa-free destinations over the past year. That is the largest decline among those surveyed. The U.K. passport, which once boasted the world's highest level, tying the United States for No. 1, has now fallen to seventh (182 countries). Observers said the numbers show that, since Brexit (EU withdrawal), the U.K. lost the benefits of free movement within the European Union and that its recent diplomatic clout and economic standing are not what they used to be.
The situation is not much different for the United States. In the October release last year, the United States fell to 12th, dropping out of the top 10 for the first time. In the January release, it rebounded slightly to 10th (179 countries). However, practical mobility actually worsened in three months. The number of visa-free destinations fell from 180 in October last year to 179 as of January this year, down by one. Henley & Partners said the two-spot rise was merely the result of relative ranking shifts among top-tier countries, and it is hard to see it as a recovery in U.S. passport competitiveness.
Since last year, the United States has been running its policies in a direction that rolls back reciprocal visa waiver arrangements with various countries. Brazil and Vietnam, among others, withdrew visa waivers for Americans, citing reciprocity, after the United States declined to grant visa-free entry to their citizens. This suggests the structural collapse of the fundamental global mobility status that U.S. passports once enjoyed.
China, by contrast, has shown an unusual surge. China has raised its passport ranking by nearly 30 spots over the past decade. Having stayed at 94th in 2015, China has jumped to 59th this year. Since the 2020s, China has aggressively expanded visa-free and simplified-entry agreements, mainly with parts of the Middle East, Central Asia, South America, Eastern Europe and Africa.
In particular, in just the past two years, it implemented an aggressive opening policy allowing visa-free entry to more than 40 countries. In November last year, the Chinese government said it would extend its temporary unilateral visa waiver for holders of ordinary passports from 45 countries, including Korea. As of this year, China allows visa-free entry for foreigners from 77 countries, far outpacing the United States at 46.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is also standing out in passport power no less than China. The UAE added 107 visa-free destinations over the past decade and rose to fifth this year. It is cited as the fastest-growing country in the index's history.
Experts interpreted this phenomenon as a reversal in soft power. While the United States locked its doors citing security and the need to curb illegal immigration, China and the UAE used visa-free benefits as a diplomatic tool to gain allies. They are pursuing a strategy of building international trust by lowering barriers for partner countries, rather than unilaterally prioritizing their own citizens' mobility. Misha Glenny, director of the Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) in Vienna and an expert in international politics, said, "As geopolitical conflicts intensify, cross-border mobility is becoming increasingly politicized," and noted, "A decline in passport power can be a warning sign that a country is becoming increasingly isolated in the international community."
In fact, this year's survey found that the gap in mobility by nationality is widening worldwide. The gap between top-ranked Singapore (192 countries) and bottom-ranked Afghanistan (24 countries) has widened to 168 countries. It is the largest since the index began 20 years ago.
Christian H. Kaelin, chairman of Henley & Partners, said, "While top-ranked countries enjoy unprecedented freedom of movement, lower-ranked countries are becoming more isolated," adding, "This entrenches inequalities of wealth and opportunity beyond the mere inconvenience of travel."