The United States has fallen to 10th place in the 2026 Henley Passport Index, losing its former position among the world’s most powerful passports. In 2006, the U.S. passport was among the strongest globally, offering travel freedom comparable to Denmark and Finland. The latest report shows that American citizens can now travel visa-free or with visa-on-arrival access to 180 destinations, up from 130 in 2006.

Singapore holds the top spot in 2026, with its citizens enjoying visa-free access to 192 destinations. Japan, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates share second place, each allowing travel to 188 countries. Sweden ranks third, while Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, and Spain jointly occupy fourth place. Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the list, though its visa-free access has increased from 12 to 22 destinations since 2006.

According to the report, passport strength reflects international trust, diplomatic relations, economic capacity, and political stability, with many peaceful nations appearing among the top-ranked countries.