The little blue book joined its counterparts in the US and UK in a slight drop down the rankings in the latest Henley Passport Index, updated on Tuesday.

The index counts the number of countries a passport provides visa-free travel, based on International Air Transport Association (IATA) data, to rank their power.

It doesn’t take into account how easy it is to move permanently to another country or other factors.

Australia was fifth alongside Portugal this time last year but dropped to seventh on the latest figures, sitting alongside Czechia, Hungary, Malta and Poland.

Aussie travellers now have visa-free access to four fewer countries but it’s unclear which ones.

The UK in sixth with 186 countries and close neighbour New Zealand in fifth with 187 both did a little bit better but also suffered slight falls, down from a tie for fourth.

Asian countries further established their lead over a pack of European nations.

Singapore maintained its lead on top of the ranks with visa-free access to 193 countries while South Korea joined Japan in second with 190 nations.

It continues a trend established over the past 10 years as the US and UK passports dropped from the most powerful in the world in 2015 and 2014.

The US was ranked eighth last year but dropped to 10th, losing easy travel access to four countries to end up with 182. 

The index concept’s inventor said global mobility was increasingly competitive.  

“The consolidation we’re seeing at the top underscores that access is earned — and must be maintained — through active and strategic diplomacy,” he said, in a statement.

“Nations that proactively negotiate visa waivers and nurture reciprocal agreements continue to rise, while the opposite applies to those that are less engaged in such efforts.”

China and the United Arab Emirates are key examples, rising dozens of places in the past decade.

China has risen from 94th to 60th despite their travellers still needing to apply for visas to the 29 countries in Europe’s Schengen area and the UAE surged from 42nd to eight. 

Henley said as emerging economies libearlised their visa regimes and invested in diplomacy, legacy powers such as the US and UK appeared to be retreating behind more entry restrictions. 

“Americans are now leading the demand worldwide for alternative residence and citizenship options, with British nationals also among the top five globally,” Henley and Partners chief executive Dr Juerg Steffen said.

As the US and UK adopt increasingly inward-looking policies, we’re witnessing a marked rise in interest from their citizens seeking greater global access and security.

“Your passport is no longer just a travel document — it’s a reflection of your country’s diplomatic influence and international relationships.

“In an era of growing inequality and mounting geopolitical uncertainty, strategic mobility and citizenship planning are more critical than ever.”