About the Index
The Henley Passport Index is the original and most authoritative ranking of all the world’s passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. The index is published quarterly by Henley & Partners, a global citizenship and residence advisory firm, using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The ranking methodology is straightforward:
- Each passport is scored by the number of destinations its holders can access visa-free or with visa-on-arrival
- 199 passports are assessed against 227 travel destinations
- The index is updated quarterly to reflect changes in visa policies
The Henley Passport Index was first launched in 2006 and has become the global benchmark for passport mobility.
India’s Performance
India ranked 85th in the Henley Passport Index 2025 (Q1), a decline of five positions from 80th in 2024. Indian passport holders accessed 57 destinations visa-free or with visa-on-arrival.
Q1 2026 Update (February 2026): India jumped to 75th rank with 56 destinations (slightly fewer by count but significantly better rank due to recalibration of the index). The 10-place rise was driven by bilateral deals: Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Kazakhstan extended 60-day visa-exemption windows; Kenya and Rwanda scrapped advance visas for Indian tourists; Caribbean states (Barbados, Dominica) formalised visa-on-arrival privileges. [Source: Henley & Partners, Feb 13, 2026]
India’s ranking places it in the lower half of the global mobility spectrum, reflecting its relatively restrictive visa requirements from most high-income countries.
India’s passport power has been gradually improving — in 2015, India was ranked 88th with access to only 44 destinations, compared to 75th today (2026).
Regional / South Asian Comparison
| Country | Rank | Visa-Free Destinations |
|---|---|---|
| India | 85th | 57 |
| Sri Lanka | 99th | 42 |
| Bangladesh | 100th | 41 |
| Nepal | 101st | 39 |
| Pakistan | 103rd | 33 |
| Afghanistan | 104th | 27 |
Top 5 Most Powerful Passports (2025 Q1)
| Rank | Country | Destinations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore | 193 |
| 2 | South Korea | 190 |
| 3 | Japan | 189 |
| 4 | Germany, Spain, Italy, France | 188 |
| 5 | UK, Finland, Austria, others | 187 |
Key Highlights of Latest Edition
- Singapore holds the top spot with visa-free access to 193 of 227 destinations
- The “passport power gap” between the strongest (193 destinations) and weakest (27 destinations) passports is the widest ever at 166 destinations
- European passports dominate the top 10, with Germany, Spain, Italy, and France at 4th (188 destinations)
- Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria remain the weakest passports globally
- The index reflects a growing trend of “mobility apartheid” where citizens of wealthy nations enjoy near-universal travel freedom while others face significant barriers
- UAE has shown the fastest improvement over the past decade, rising from 62nd (2015) to the top 15
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Index publisher (Henley & Partners), data source (IATA), India’s rank and visa-free score, top passport (Singapore), total passports ranked (199) Mains GS-2: India’s foreign policy, bilateral visa agreements, diaspora mobility, passport diplomacy, India’s visa-free agreements with developing countries Interview: “Should India actively pursue more visa-free agreements to improve its passport ranking, or does the ranking not reflect India’s true diplomatic standing?”
