Feeling frustrated with travel restrictions? A recent viral video by an Indian travel influencer highlighted a common pain point: the limitations of the Indian passport. While neighboring countries like Bhutan and Sri Lanka often welcome Indian tourists with open arms, venturing into many Western and European nations can be a visa hurdle. This sentiment is echoed in the latest Henley Passport Index, a global ranking system based on visa-free travel, where India has slipped to the 85th spot out of 199 countries, a drop of five places from the previous year. But what's really going on?
This year's ranking places India alongside Mauritania, which is a bit of a surprise, isn't it? The Indian government has yet to comment on the report, and the BBC has reached out to the ministry of external affairs for a statement.
It's also worth noting that countries like Rwanda, Ghana, and Azerbaijan, with smaller economies than India, which is the world's fifth-largest, hold higher positions in the ranking. India's performance has been hovering in the 80s over the past decade, even dipping to the 90th spot in 2021. These figures pale in comparison to Asian powerhouses like Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, which consistently top the charts.
This year, Singapore, like the last, tops the index, offering visa-free travel to 193 countries. South Korea and Japan follow closely, with access to 190 and 189 countries, respectively.
Currently, Indian passport holders enjoy visa-free access to 57 countries.
Passport strength is more than just a number; it reflects a nation's influence and provides its citizens with greater mobility, which in turn boosts business and educational opportunities. A weaker passport translates to more paperwork, higher visa costs, fewer travel privileges, and longer wait times.
But here's where it gets controversial... Despite the drop in ranking, the number of countries offering visa-free access to Indians has actually increased in the last decade. For example, in 2014, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power, Indians could travel visa-free to 52 countries, and the passport ranked 76th.
A year later, the ranking dropped to 85th, then rose to 80th in 2023 and 2024, only to fall again to 85th this year. Meanwhile, the number of visa-free destinations increased from 52 in 2015 to 60 in 2023 and 62 in 2024.
The number of visa-free destinations in 2025 (57) is higher than it was in 2015 (52), yet India's rank for both years is 85. So, what's the deal?
Experts point to the increasingly competitive global mobility landscape. Countries are forming more travel partnerships to benefit their citizens and economies. A 2025 report by Henley & Partners reveals that the average number of visa-free destinations has nearly doubled globally, from 58 in 2006 to 109 in 2025.
For example, China has significantly increased its visa-free destinations, rising from 50 to 82 in the last decade. Consequently, its ranking has improved from 94th to 60th during the same period.
India, which held the 77th position in July (the Henley Passport Index is updated quarterly), with visa-free access to 59 countries, dropped to 85th in October after losing access to two countries.
Achal Malhotra, former Indian ambassador to Armenia, suggests other factors influence a country's passport strength, including economic and political stability, as well as openness to welcoming citizens from other nations.
For example, the US passport has dropped out of the top 10 and now occupies the 12th position – a historic low – due to its increasingly insular stance in world politics, according to the report.
Mr. Malhotra recalls that in the 1970s, Indians enjoyed visa-free travel to many Western and European countries, but this changed after the Khalistan movement in the 1980s, which called for an independent homeland for Sikhs in India and caused internal turmoil. Subsequent political unrest has further tarnished India's image as a stable, democratic nation.
"Many countries are also becoming increasingly wary of immigrants," Mr. Malhotra adds. "India has a high number of people migrating to other countries or overstaying their visas, which interferes with the country's reputation."
Additional factors, such as the security of a country's passport and its immigration procedures, also play a role in gaining visa-free access.
India's passport faces security threats. In 2024, Delhi police arrested 203 people for alleged visa and passport fraud. Furthermore, India is known for its cumbersome immigration procedures and slow visa processing.
Mr. Malhotra believes that technological advancements, like India's recently launched electronic passport or e-passport, can improve security and streamline the immigration process. The e-passport includes a chip that stores biometric information, making it more secure.
Ultimately, more diplomatic outreach and travel agreements are crucial to improving the global mobility of Indians and, by extension, India's passport ranking.
What do you think? Do you agree with the factors affecting India's passport ranking? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
