U.S. Passport Ranking Drops and is tied with three Countries for 6th Place

Ever wonder why different passports have different colors? Yes, it has to do with the country it’s issued from, but it’s also an indication of how powerful the passport is. Meaning, depending on what the ranking of the passport is, you will have more or less global travel restrictions. An example would be if you have one of the top rankings, you will have less travel restrictions, like you won’t need a visa to enter certain countries.

How are the rankings determined? By Arton Capital Passport Index.

Not too long ago we were tied at first place as the most valuable passport in the world. We’ve since dropped down to 6th place, and we’re tied with three other countries for that position—Canada, Ireland and Malaysia.

So why the sudden decrease in value for the American passport?

Some believe it has to do with President Trump and his push for travel bans, and his refusal to allow visa-free travel to members of five EU countries: Croatia, Cyprus, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria.

Newsweek reports, “The U.S. travel troubles have taken off since Trump assumed office, as several countries have revoked visa-free access for American passport holders. Turkey and the Central African Republic revoked the easy travel, and the European Union in March voted to end visa-free travel for Americans in a non-binding resolution. The EU, though, ultimately opted not to go through with the motion.”

The Newsweek article continued, “In 2015, the United States tied for first place with the United Kingdom on the list; last year, it slipped to fourth place. America now trails 18 countries, including Belgium, Japan, Sweden and first-place Singapore.”

“This is a testament of Singapore’s inclusive diplomatic relations and effective foreign policy,” Philippe May, managing director of Arton Capital’s Singapore office said in a statement.

May told CNN that smaller nations “who are not a threat to anyone” are the ones most likely to have more in-demand passports today.

Whatever the reason may be, one thing is for certain—there will be more hassles for U.S. citizens holding passports when they travel.

Before booking a flight anywhere, check the visa requirements.