U.S. passport falls in visa-free travel rankings while China rises

Amid isolationist politics, Americans face increased barriers to travel and migration

20240107 N US Passport

Americans accounted for the single largest cohort of applicants for investment migration program requests received by Henley & Partners last year. © Reuters

PAK YIU, Nikkei staff writer

NEW YORK -- American passport holders were the second biggest loser over the past decade in an annual global ranking of passports with visa-free access, while Chinese citizens were among the biggest climbers.

U.S. passport holders have visa-free access to 186 out of 227 destinations, according to this year's Henley Passport Index, compiled by investment immigration firm Henley & Partners. That represents the U.S.' second biggest decline -- after Venezuela -- in its passport strength between 2015 and 2025, falling from second place to ninth. 

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