Explained: This article explains the political background, key decisions, and possible outcomes related to Explained : India Rises 10 Places To Rank 75th In Henley Passport Index; Visa-Free Access Expands To 56 Countries and Its Impact and why it matters right now.
The Indian passport has climbed to 75th position in the latest Henley Passport Index, marking a significant recovery with a 10-place jump from last year’s 85th rank.
Indian travellers can now access 56 countries without requiring a prior visa, through visa-free entry, visa-on-arrival or electronic travel authorisation facilities.
The Henley Passport Index, which ranks 199 passports based on visa-free access to 227 destinations using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association, released its 2026 update today.
Despite the notable improvement, India’s current position remains four ranks below its historical peak of 71st, which it achieved in 2006.
The country’s passport performance has fluctuated significantly over two decades, dropping to 80th in 2024 and then to 85th in 2025.
Singapore retained its position as the world’s most powerful passport, offering access to 192 destinations. Japan and South Korea jointly occupy second place with access to 187 countries each, while Sweden and the United Arab Emirates share third place with 186 destinations.
Several European nations, including Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Switzerland, hold the fourth position with visa-free access to 185 countries.
The rise in India’s ranking reflects improving diplomatic relations, bilateral agreements and evolving global mobility trends.
The United Kingdom ranks seventh with access to 182 destinations, whilst the United States holds tenth position with 179 countries.
At the opposite end, Afghanistan ranks last with access to just 24 destinations, illustrating a 168-destination mobility gap between the world’s most and least powerful passports.