Every year the world’s passports are ranked according to how much power they wield.<\/p>\n
Australia is in the top 10 once again, but for the first time in the 20-year history of the ranking, the US passport has fallen out of it.<\/p>\n
Find out how passports are ranked, where the Australian one can take you and what led to the decline of the US passport.<\/p>\n
How does the ranking work?<\/p>\n
The Henley Passport Index is based on how many places travellers can access without a visa.<\/p>\n
But the total score also includes countries that require passport holders to obtain a visa upon arrival, a visitor’s permit or an electronic travel authority.<\/p>\n
Henley & Partners bases its score out of 227 destinations, which includes countries as well as areas that aren’t technically classified as countries, such as Taiwan.<\/p>\n
However, it only ranks 199 passports.<\/p>\n
The firm uses exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association to compile the index.<\/p>\n
Why did the US drop out of the top 10?<\/p>\n
For the first time in 20 years, the US has dropped out of the top 10.<\/p>\n
It claimed the title as the world’s most powerful passport in 2014, but now sits in 12th place.<\/p>\n
Tied with Malaysia, its passport gives access to 180 destinations.<\/p>\n
So what’s behind the descent?<\/p>\n
It’s down to a series of access changes.<\/p>\n
It lost visa-free access to Brazil in April due to a lack of reciprocity, while China and Vietnam didn’t add the US to its visa-free list.<\/p>\n
Adjustments from Myanmar and Papua New Guinea impacted the US passport ranking while boosting others.<\/p>\n
The US had the world’s most powerful passport in 2014.(Reuters: Joshua Roberts)<\/p>\n
Henley Passport Index creator Christian Kaelin said the decline of the US passport “signals a fundamental shift in global mobility and soft power dynamics”.<\/p>\n
“Nations that embrace openness and cooperation are surging ahead, while those resting on past privilege are being left behind.”<\/p>\n
Visa reciprocity is important, with US passport holders currently having access to 180 countries without a visa, while the US only allows 46 to enter visa-free in return.<\/p>\n
The UK passport, which once held the top spot on the index in 2015, has also fallen to its lowest-ever position, now sitting in 8th.<\/p>\n
Where does Australia rank?<\/p>\n
Australia is ranked 7th on the list.<\/p>\n
Its passport holders can travel to 185 destinations without a visa, or where they’re able to obtain a visa, visitor’s permit, or an electronic travel authority (ETA) upon arrival.<\/p>\n
It’s ranked alongside Czechia, Malta and Poland.<\/p>\n
The lowest Australia’s ranking has fallen to since the index was created in 2006 was 9th in 2019, 2010 and 2006.<\/p>\n