United Kingdom
- Franceup to 90 days
- Singaporeup to 90 days
- Thailandup to 60 days
- Japanup to 90 days
- United Statesup to 90 days
United Kingdom vs United States Passport Comparison
United Kingdom
EUROPE
7
Rank
Visa-Free Access182 countries
The United Kingdom passport remains one of the most powerful travel documents globally, offering high levels of travel mobility for British citizens. As of 2026, the U...
United States
AMERICAS
10
Rank
Visa-Free Access179 countries
The United States passport offers high travel mobility for American citizens, currently providing access to 179 destinations through visa-free or visa-on-arrival arran...
United Kingdom vs United States Passport Comparison Overview (2026)
This comparison analyzes visa-free access, ranking trends, and mobility metrics for United Kingdom vs United States. United Kingdom currently leads this comparison with 182 visa-free destinations, while United States has 179. Use the detailed sections below to compare practical travel access and historical changes.
- 129 visa-free destinations are shared by all compared passports.
- The largest exclusive advantage is 10 destination(s) unique to one passport in this comparison.
- Ranking and access figures are rendered from country ranking history with a 2026-first year preference.
Detailed Passport Metrics
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | United Kingdom | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-Free Destinations | 182 | 179 |
| 2026 Ranking | 7 | 10 |
| Global Mobility Score | 20/100 | 88/100 |
| Openness Score | 87/100 | 85/100 |
| Continent | EUROPE | AMERICAS |
| Schengen Member | Yes | Yes |
| Citizenship by Investment | No | No |
| Residency by Investment | Yes | Yes |
| Visa on Arrival | 32 | 35 |
| eTA Available | 13 | 10 |
| e-Visa Available | 22 | 25 |
| Visa Required | 20 | 21 |
Visa-Free Destinations
2026 Ranking
Global Mobility Score
United Kingdom
20/100
United States
88/100
Openness Score
United Kingdom
87/100
United States
85/100
Continent
United Kingdom
EUROPE
United States
AMERICAS
Schengen Member
Citizenship by Investment
Residency by Investment
Visa on Arrival
eTA Available
e-Visa Available
Visa Required
Summary Insights
Comparison Summary & Recommendations
Overall Winner
United Kingdom
With 182 visa-free destinations, United Kingdom offers the most global mobility among the compared passports.
Schengen Area Access
United Kingdom
United Kingdom is a Schengen Area member, providing free movement across 27 European countries.
Residency by Investment
United Kingdom
United Kingdom offers a Residency by Investment program for those seeking alternative pathways.
Most Unique Access
United Kingdom
United Kingdom provides exclusive visa-free access to 10 destinations not accessible with the other passports.
Key Insights
- • All compared passports share access to 129 common destinations
- • The strongest passport offers 182 visa-free destinations
- • Consider your travel priorities: business, leisure, or specific regions when choosing a passport
- • Visa requirements can change - always verify current entry requirements before traveling
Visa Access Breakdown
Visa Access Analysis
Understanding the overlap and unique access each passport provides
129
Shared Destinations
10
Unique to United Kingdom
6
Unique to United States
Exclusive Visa-Free Access
United Kingdom
10 unique destinations
BelarusBoliviaBrazilCape Verde IslandsThe GambiaParaguayUzbekistanVenezuelaVietnamRwanda
United States
6 unique destinations
CanadaHondurasPalau IslandsPuerto RicoUS Virgin IslandsTajikistan
Shared Visa-Free Destinations (129)
Countries that all compared passports can access visa-free
JapanSouth KoreaAlbaniaAndorraAnguillaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustriaBahamasBarbadosBelgiumBelizeBermudaBonaire; St. Eustatius and SabaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBruneiBulgariaCayman IslandsChileColombiaCook IslandsCosta RicaCroatiaCuracaoCyprusCzechiaDenmarkDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEl SalvadorEstoniaFalkland IslandsFaroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench West IndiesGeorgiaGermanyGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuam+79 more destinations
Historical Ranking Trends
Ranking Trends Over Time
Historical passport ranking comparison from 2006 to 2026 (lower rank is better)
| Year | United Kingdom Rank | United States Rank | United Kingdom Visa-free | United States Visa-free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 3 | 1 | 128 | 130 |
| 2007 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | 6 | 3 | 152 | 155 |
| 2009 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | 1 | 7 | 166 | 159 |
| 2011 | 3 | 5 | 171 | 169 |
| 2012 | 3 | 4 | 167 | 166 |
| 2013 | 1 | 2 | 173 | 172 |
| 2014 | 1 | 1 | 174 | 174 |
| 2015 | 1 | 2 | 173 | 172 |
| 2016 | 3 | 4 | 175 | 174 |
| 2017 | 4 | 5 | 173 | 172 |
| 2018 | 5 | 5 | 186 | 186 |
| 2019 | 6 | 6 | 184 | 184 |
| 2020 | 7 | 7 | 185 | 185 |
| 2021 | 7 | 7 | 185 | 185 |
| 2022 | 6 | 6 | 186 | 186 |
| 2023 | 6 | 7 | 187 | 186 |
| 2024 | 4 | 7 | 191 | 188 |
| 2025 | 5 | 9 | 190 | 186 |
| 2026 | 7 | 10 | 182 | 179 |
Each cell shows rank and visa-free count for that year.
Destinations
Notable Visa-Free Destinations
Representative destinations that highlight each passport's strongest visa-free access profile.
United States
- United Kingdomup to 180 days
- Franceup to 90 days
- Italyup to 90 days
- Spainup to 90 days
- Japanup to 90 days
Resources
Official Resources
Primary government and immigration sources for policy verification before travel.
United Kingdom
United States
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