New Delhi: There is some good news for Indians who are keen on travelling abroad. The Indian passport has seen a significant improvement in its global ranking, making it even more powerful than before. India has made a significant leap in the Henley Passport Index, a list of the world's most powerful passports. The Indian passport has now climbed 10 places to 75th position. Last year, India was at 85th position. This significant improvement in the ranking means that Indian citizens have expanded their global reach and will now enjoy greater convenience while travelling abroad.
It is a relief for Indian tourists that many countries around the world are now welcoming them with open arms. According to the latest data, Indian passport holders can now travel to 56 countries without a visa in advance. In these countries, they will either not need a visa or will be granted a visa-on-arrival upon arrival. It is worth noting that the Henley Passport Index ranks countries based on how many countries their citizens can enter without a visa. The higher the ranking, the more powerful and convenient a country’s passport is considered to be for global travel.
The jump in passport rankings this year is certainly a positive sign, but if we look at the past few decades, the performance of the Indian passport has been quite volatile. The current ranking is much stronger than last year, but it is still not at its highest level. The highest ranking ever recorded by the Indian passport was in 2006, when India was at 71st place.
In recent years, especially around 2024, India’s ranking has slipped to 80th and then 85th. This decline suggests that travel access for Indians was becoming more limited, but the recent improvement has raised new hopes.
Globally, Singapore continues to dominate the list. The Singaporean passport has emerged as the world’s most powerful passport, allowing its citizens to travel to 192 destinations without a visa. Japan and South Korea are tied for second place, with access to 187 countries. Sweden and the United Arab Emirates are third, with access to 186 destinations.
European countries also dominate the list; France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland are tied for fourth place. In addition, countries like Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand have also secured their place in the top 10 due to their extensive global reach.