Passport facts & stats

Question 1

What is the State Department application fee to renew an adult U.S. passport book?

Accepted Answer

$130. First-time applicants applying in person pay the same $130 plus a separate $35 acceptance fee.

Question 2

Which country held the world's most powerful passport in the 2026 Henley Passport Index?

Accepted Answer

Singapore (192 destinations visa-free). Japan and South Korea tied for second place, each with visa-free access to 188 destinations.

Question 3

In the 2026 Henley Passport Index, how many destinations could U.S. passport holders visit without a prior visa?

Accepted Answer

179 destinations. That placed the U.S. 10th — down from 4th in 2006 and from a shared 1st place with the UK in 2014.

Question 4

How many destinations can holders of the lowest-ranked passport (Afghanistan) visit visa-free in 2026?

Accepted Answer

24 destinations. The 168-destination gap between first and last place has widened sharply since 2006, when it was 118.

Question 5

How many nationalities can enter the United States without a prior visa, per Henley's 2026 Openness Index?

Accepted Answer

46 nationalities. That ranks the U.S. 78th of 199 — one of the widest gaps between a passport's outbound access and a country's openness.

Question 6

How many visa-free destinations has the UAE passport added since 2006, the biggest gain on the Henley index?

Accepted Answer

149 destinations. The UAE climbed 57 places to 5th, with visa-free access to 184 destinations in 2026.

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