Ireland has slipped from joint fourth to joint ninth in the updated Henley Passport Index, with visa-free or e-vasa access to 187 countries, down from 189 earlier in the year.
The US passport dropped to count 37th place in the Index, tied with Malaysia at 180 visa-free destinations. Asian nations dominate, with Singapore (193 destinations), South Korea (190), and Japan (189) leading the rankings.
China’s expanded visa-free policy excludes the US, contributing to its ranking decline. The US allows only 46 nationalities visa-free entry, ranking 77th in the Henley Openness Index. Demand for alternative citizenship among Americans has surged 67pc in 2025.
The 15 countries that require Irish passport holders to have a visa are: Afghanistan, Algeria, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo (Rep.), Eritrea, Ghana, Libya, Mali, Nauru, Niger, North Korea, Sudan, Turkmenistan and Yemen.
The 24 countries that require Irish passport holders to have an e-visa are: Azerbaijan, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Congo (Dem. Rep.), Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea, India, Liberia, Mauritania, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Russian Federation, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, Togo and Vietnam.
The 32 countries that require visa on arrival for Ireland passport holders are: Bahrain, Bangladesh, Burundi, Cambodia, Comoro Islands, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Madagascar, Maldives, Namibia, Nepal, Niue, Palau Islands, Qatar, Rwanda, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu and United Arab Emirates.
The 16 countries that require electronic authorisation (ETA or ESTA) for Ireland passport holders are: American Samoa, Australia, Canada, Guam, Israel, Kenya, Mozambique, New Zealand, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Seychelles, South Korea, Sri Lanka, St. Kitts and Nevis, United States and US Virgin Islands.
Christian H. Kaelin shared: “The declining strength of the US passport over the past decade is more than a reshuffle in rankings – it signals a fundamental shift in global mobility and soft power dynamics.”
Tim Klatte shared: “Trump’s return to power has brought fresh trade conflicts that weaken America’s mobility, while China’s strategic openness boosts its global influence.”
Peter J. Spiro shared: “Multiple citizenship is being normalised in American society.”
