SINGAPORE: The US has fallen out of the world’s high 10 strongest passports for the primary time in 20 years, marking a continued decline within the power of the American passport.
In accordance with the most recent Henley Passport Index, launched on Tuesday (Oct 14), the US passport now ranks twelfth globally, tying with Malaysia and providing visa-free entry to 180 out of 227 locations.
Singapore, with entry to 193 locations visa-free, occupies the highest spot, whereas South Korea got here in second with 190 locations, adopted by Japan at third place with 189 locations. The Henley Passport Index ranks a rustic’s passport based mostly on the variety of locations their holders can entry with out a prior visa. It is among the most cited passport-power indexes, together with the Arton Capital Passport Index.
In 2014, the US passport held the highest place, however this has declined through the years, and the most recent rating marks its lowest place for the reason that index was launched 20 years in the past.
Henley and Companions, a agency specialising in residence and citizenship planning, attributed the declining power of the US passport to the dearth of reciprocity, noting that whereas the American passport can entry 180 locations visa-free, solely 46 different nationalities can enter the US with out a visa.
This places the US 77th within the Henley Openness Index, which ranks all 199 nations and territories worldwide in keeping with the variety of nationalities they enable entry to while not having a visa.
“The declining power of the US passport over the previous decade is greater than only a reshuffle in rankings – it indicators a elementary shift in world mobility and mushy energy dynamics,” stated Henley & Companions chairman Christian Kaelin and creator of the index, which utilises knowledge from the Worldwide Air Transport Affiliation (IATA).
“Nations that embrace openness and cooperation are surging forward, whereas these resting on previous privilege are being left behind.”
