US Passport Falls To 10th In Global Travel Ranking

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC – The United States has been placed 10th in the 2026 Henley Passport Index, tying with Iceland for its lowest ranking since 2016. Because several countries share positions in the index, more than 30 nations are now ranked ahead of the U.S.

According to a Newsweek report, the lower ranking does not necessarily mean the U.S. passport has become significantly less powerful. Instead, experts said other countries have expanded visa-free access for their citizens by signing new visa-waiver agreements and diplomatic deals, allowing them to move ahead of the United States in the rankings over time.

The Henley Passport Index compares passports from 199 countries and territories based on access to 227 destinations without requiring a visa before travel.

The latest ranking extends a gradual decline for the U.S. passport over the past decade. It was ranked fourth in 2016, slipped to fifth in 2017 and 2018, dropped to sixth in 2019, remained seventh from 2020 through 2024, moved to ninth last year and now stands at 10th.

Singapore retained the top position this year. Japan, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates shared second place, while Sweden ranked third.

Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway and Spain were tied for fourth. Austria, Greece, Malta, Portugal and Switzerland shared fifth place, followed by Hungary, Poland and the United Kingdom in sixth.

Australia, Canada, Czechia, Latvia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Slovakia and Slovenia were tied for seventh, while Croatia and Estonia ranked eighth. Liechtenstein and Lithuania shared ninth place.