Indian passport gets stronger: Rises to 80th spot in 2026 from 85th last year

India’s passport has strengthened its global mobility, rising to the 80th position in the 2026 Henley Passport Index, up from 85th in 2025. The upgrade allows Indian citizens visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 55 countries, highlighting India’s growing diplomatic outreach and international acceptance.

The Henley Passport Index ranks passports based on the number of destinations their holders can enter without a prior visa. The data is derived from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Henley & Partners research. While India has improved its ranking, competition remains strong among top-ranking passports globally.

In comparison, India had dropped to 85th place in 2025, offering access to 57 destinations, after being 80th in 2024. The steady climb in 2026 signals enhanced international travel freedom, though Indian passport holders still face restrictions in many regions compared to the world’s strongest passports.

Singapore continues to lead the index with visa-free access to 192 destinations, followed by Japan and South Korea with 188. European countries such as Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, and Luxembourg share the third rank with access to 186 countries. The UAE has also shown significant improvement, climbing five spots to fifth position.

India now shares the 80th rank with Niger and Algeria. While the US returned to the top 10 after falling to 12th last year, Afghanistan remains at the bottom with access to 24 destinations, followed closely by Pakistan at 98th position. The index tracks 199 passports across 227 destinations, providing a global benchmark of travel freedom.