Guess which country’s passport is now as strong as America’s? Malaysia’s

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia’s passport has reached a new milestone in global mobility, now standing next to United States as both rank 12th in the Henley Passport Index 2025, allowing visa-free access to 180 destinations worldwide.

Malaysia’s position, revealed in the October edition of the Henley Passport Index by London-based Henley & Partners, places the country’s passport among the most powerful globally, despite slipping one rank from 11th place last year.

Henley & Partners Chairman Christian H. Kaelin said the United States’ decline in passport strength symbolises a wider shift in global openness and mobility.

“The decline in the strength of the US passport over the past decade is not just a change in ranking.

“It represents a fundamental shift in the dynamics of openness and global power. Nations that embrace openness and cooperation continue to progress, while those that rely on past privileges are beginning to fall behind,” he said.

While the US passport continues to weaken, Malaysians celebrated on social media that their country’s travel document now stands equally strong, granting access to nearly all corners of the world without a visa.

Global Passport Rankings

Singapore retained its crown as the world’s most powerful passport, granting visa-free entry to 193 destinations, followed by South Korea and Japan in second and third place.

The Henley Passport Index evaluates 199 types of passports across 227 destinations, using data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). It is updated throughout the year to reflect immigration policy changes worldwide.