Canada has overtaken the U.S. in the Henley Passport Index, ranking 9th for visa-free destinations, while the U.S. fell to 12th place. This comes after both countries held similar positions in past years.
What the New Ranking Shows
- According to the 2025 Henley Passport Index, Canadian passport holders can enter 188 destinations without needing a visa, visa-on-arrival, or Electronic Travel Authorization.
- The U.S. passport now grants access to 180 destinations, a drop compared to previous years.
- Part of the reason for this shift comes from other countries responding to stricter U.S. visa requirements by imposing reciprocal or more complex entry rules for U.S. citizens.
Key Differences in Access
Canada can visit some countries visa-free that U.S. citizens cannot, including Belarus, Papua New Guinea, and Uzbekistan. Also, Canadians skip visa requirements in places like Bolivia and Rwanda, advantages not granted to Americans under the current index.
Trends Over Time
Over the past decade, Canada has dropped a few places in the rankings but has still held strong among the top passports globally. Meanwhile, the United States has suffered one of the steeper declines in its ranking over similar time frames.
Implications for Canadian Travel and Policy
- Canadians now have more travel freedom, which may boost tourism, mobility, and international business opportunities.
- The change could affect public perception: many view visa-free access as a soft-power measure and a symbol of national strength or international goodwill.
- U.S. policy adjustments may trigger further reciprocal visa changes from other countries, potentially altering travel dynamics more in future rankings.
