New Delhi: The latest edition of the Henley Passport Index is significant for people in India. The country’s global mobility standing has improved with
the present rank being 75 in 2026, up from 85 in 2025, which shows a significant climb of 10 places.
India gains one, loses two
In January 2026, India’s rank in the index was 80, and it climbed five places in just a month. The total number of destinations that Indians can access at present without securing a visa in advance is 56. While it shows an improvement from 55 in January 2026, the number is still lower than the 57 destinations recorded in 2025.
According to the latest ranking, those with Indian passport can now travel without a prior visa to several places in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific. Among the places that Indian passport holders can access without visa or prior visa are Angola, Barbados, Bhutan, British Virgin Islands, Cook Islands, Dominica, Fiji, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Kazakhstan and Kiribati.
In 2025, Indian passport holders had access to 57 visa free destinations and the number came down to 55 before settling at 56 in 2026 is due to Iran and Bolivia. In 2025, Iran suspended its visa-free entry for ordinary Indian passport holders. In 2026, Bolivia put Indian travellers into an e-visa regime, a shift from its previous visa on arrival policy. However, one country, the Gambia, has been added back into the tally, which has taken the number to 56.
What is Henley Passport Index
The Henley Passport Index is published by Henley & Partners that ranks 199 passports according to how many destinations their holders can access without securing advance visa or visa before departure. The ranking is prepared from data of the International Air Transport Association and its scoring methodology includes visa-free, visa-on-arrival and electronic travel authorisations. The strength of a passport’s mobility score depends on the number of destinations accessible without advance paperwork.
