India Climbs 10 Spots In Henley Passport Index, But Visa-Free Access Dips From Last Year

Henley Passport Index 2026: India has climbed 10 places in the latest edition of the Henley Passport Index, improving its ranking despite having access to slightly fewer visa-free destinations than last year.

According to the 2026 rankings, India now stands at 75th position, up from 85th in 2025. In January 2026, India was ranked 80th, making the latest rise even more notable within a short span.

However, while the ranking has improved, the total number of destinations Indian passport holders can access without securing a prior visa currently stands at 56. This is up from 55 in January 2026 but lower than the 57 destinations recorded in 2025.

The Henley Passport Index, widely tracked by governments and immigration experts, measures passport strength

based on how many destinations holders can enter without obtaining a prior visa. It is often viewed as a proxy for diplomatic reach, bilateral agreements and global perception of migration risk. A higher ranking generally reflects stronger international relationships and reciprocal travel arrangements.

India’s passport performance has fluctuated over the past two decades. The country achieved its best-ever ranking of 71st in 2006. In recent years, however, it slipped to 80th in 2024 and further to 85th in 2025, reflecting tighter global entry rules during and after the pandemic period.

The latest jump to 75th suggests a gradual recovery in international travel access as global mobility continues to normalise and diplomatic arrangements expand.

Meanwhile, at the top of the index, Singapore continues to dominate, offering its citizens visa-free access to 192 destinations. Japan and South Korea share the second position, each providing access to 187 countries.

Sweden and the United Arab Emirates are tied at third place with entry to 186 destinations. Several European nations — France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland — jointly occupy the fourth spot, allowing visa-free travel to 185 countries.

Indian passport holders currently enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 56 destinations across Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and Oceania.

Countries Indians Can Visit Visa-Free

Angola, Barbados, Bhutan, British Virgin Islands, Cook Islands, Dominica, Fiji, Grenada, Haiti, Iran, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Macao (SAR China), Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Micronesia, Montserrat, Nepal, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Vanuatu, Thailand.

Countries Offering Visa On Arrival To Indians

Bolivia, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde Islands, Comoro Islands, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Jordan, Laos, Madagascar, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Niue, Palau Islands, Qatar, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, St. Lucia, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, Zimbabwe.