- India ranks 75th in the 2026 Henley Passport Index, up from 85th in 2025
- Indian passport holders now have visa-free access to 56 destinations
- India shares its rank with Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Madagascar, and Mauritania
- Maldives leads South Asia at 49th place with access to over 93 destinations
- Singapore retains the world’s most powerful passport with 192 visa-free destinations
India has climbed 10 positions to rank 75th in the 2026 edition of the Henley Passport Index, marking a notable improvement from its 85th position last year. Despite the rise in ranking, the number of destinations Indian passport holders can visit without obtaining a visa in advance has slightly declined.
According to the latest index released by Henley & Partners, Indian citizens now enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 56 destinations, down from 57 in 2025. Iran and Bolivia are no longer on the visa-free list for Indian travelers this year.
India shares the 75th position with Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Madagascar, and Mauritania, reflecting similar levels of global mobility among these nations.
Passport rankings are widely viewed as a barometer of a country’s diplomatic influence and international standing. The Henley Passport Index ranks 199 passports against 227 travel destinations, measuring how many locations passport holders can enter without securing a visa beforehand.
The index is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), offering a snapshot of global travel freedom at a given time.
Historically, Asian and European countries have dominated the top of the rankings. Nations such as Singapore, Japan, and Germany have frequently secured leading spots, while Western European countries, including France, Italy, and Spain have consistently ranked high.
Indian passport holders can travel visa-free to a diverse group of countries across Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific. These include popular destinations such as Barbados, Bhutan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Mauritius, among others.
However, Indian travelers still require a visa for 170 destinations worldwide.
Within South Asia, Maldives emerged as the strongest performer, ranking 49th with visa-free access to more than 93 destinations. China ranked 56th with access to 82 countries.
Bhutan stood at 83rd place, while Myanmar ranked 88th. Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal were positioned at 91st, 93rd, and 95th respectively. Pakistan ranked 97th with access to 32 destinations, while Afghanistan was placed 101st, with access to 24 countries.
Singapore retained its position as the world’s strongest passport, offering visa-free access to 192 destinations. Japan and South Korea shared second place with 187 destinations each, followed by Sweden and the United Arab Emirates with 186.
Among major Western economies, the United Kingdom ranked seventh with access to 182 destinations. France placed fourth with 185, Germany ranked eighth with 181, and the United States stood at 10th with 179 visa-free destinations.
While India’s climb in the rankings reflects incremental diplomatic gains, the slight drop in visa-free access highlights the dynamic nature of global mobility and international relations.
