India’s Passport Climbs to 75th Rank in Henley Passport Index: A Step Forward in Global Mobility

India has registered a notable improvement in global travel mobility, rising to the 75th position in the latest edition of the Henley Passport Index. The updated rankings indicate that Indian passport holders can now travel to 56 destinations without obtaining a visa in advance. This development marks a significant improvement from last year’s ranking and reflects gradual progress in India’s international travel access.

The index, which evaluates 199 passports against 227 travel destinations worldwide, is compiled using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association. It measures how many countries a passport holder can enter visa-free, with a visa on arrival, or through electronic travel authorisation. The higher the number of accessible destinations, the stronger the passport’s global standing.

India climbs to 75th spot in global passport rankings | LiveMint

Expanded Travel Access for Indian Citizens

With the new ranking, Indian citizens enjoy visa-free or simplified entry access to 56 countries across Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific regions. This includes destinations that allow either visa-free travel, visa-on-arrival facilities, or electronic permits, reducing paperwork and easing travel planning.

Although the overall number of accessible destinations has seen minor fluctuations due to policy changes in some countries, India’s relative position improved because several other nations experienced sharper declines in their mobility scores. This relative gain has helped India climb higher in the global standings despite the evolving visa landscape.

Global Comparison: Where India Stands

While India’s rise to 75th position is encouraging, there remains a considerable gap between mid-tier passports and the world’s strongest travel documents. According to the 2026 rankings, Singapore holds the top spot, offering its citizens visa-free access to 192 destinations. Close behind are Japan and South Korea, both providing extensive global mobility.

European nations such as France, Germany, and Spain also continue to rank among the top performers. These countries benefit from strong diplomatic ties, economic influence, and longstanding bilateral agreements that allow seamless cross-border travel.

In contrast, Indian passport holders still require prior visas for most countries in Europe, North America, and parts of East Asia. This highlights the broader global disparity in travel freedom, where passport strength often reflects economic standing, foreign policy relationships, and reciprocal agreements.

Historical Trends and India’s Journey

India’s passport strength has experienced fluctuations over the past two decades. The country’s best historical performance was 71st place in 2006. In recent years, rankings dipped into the 80s before the latest recovery to 75th position. This upward movement signals renewed momentum in expanding travel partnerships and diplomatic engagement.

Experts note that passport rankings are influenced not only by bilateral negotiations but also by global geopolitical shifts, security considerations, and migration trends. As international relations evolve, visa agreements are regularly reassessed, causing annual changes in rankings.

Why Passport Rankings Matter

Passport strength is more than a travel convenience metric; it reflects a country’s global connectivity. Greater visa-free access reduces travel costs, simplifies international movement, and enhances opportunities for tourism, trade, education, and cultural exchange. For businesses and professionals, easier mobility can support cross-border investments and global networking.

For India, climbing in the rankings indicates steady diplomatic outreach and growing engagement with the global community. However, continued efforts will be necessary to expand visa-free agreements with key economic regions.

The MGMM Outlook

India’s rise to 75th place in the latest Henley Passport Index rankings reflects gradual but meaningful progress in strengthening the country’s global standing. With access to 56 destinations through visa-free entry, visa-on-arrival, or electronic travel authorisation, Indian citizens now experience relatively smoother international mobility than in recent years. Although some of this climb is due to declines in other countries’ rankings, it still signals improving diplomatic engagement and expanding travel partnerships. Compared to previous dips into the 80s, this movement upward suggests renewed momentum in India’s global outreach and foreign policy efforts.

At the same time, the gap between India and the world’s strongest passports remains wide. Nations like Singapore, Japan, and South Korea continue to dominate global mobility rankings, offering their citizens access to nearly the entire world without prior visas. Indian travellers still require visas for major regions such as Europe and North America, highlighting ongoing disparities in travel freedom that are closely linked to economic power and diplomatic leverage. Even so, the steady climb indicates that India is moving in a positive direction, and sustained international engagement could further enhance mobility and global opportunities for its citizens.

(Sources: Economic Times, LiveMint, Hindustan Times)