Henley Passport Index: India rises to 75th, visa-free destination

India has recorded the 75th most powerful passport in the world’s most powerful passport list, providing visa-free travel access to 56 countries, according to Henley and Partners’ latest report on the Global Passport Index. The Indian passport has gained momentum, rising to 10th place compared to 85th place in 2025. Despite the growth, India will see a decline in visa-free travel this year.

It is noteworthy that India’s ranking is shared by four countries including Ivory Coast, Gabon, Madagascar and Mauritania.

The passport index reflects a country’s power in foreign policy as well as its order in global politics. Since the Henley Passport Index began in the mid-2000s, Singapore, Japan, Germany and Western European countries including France, Italy and Spain have dominated the rankings.

In an interesting twist, countries such as the US and the UK are no longer top contenders in the Henley Passport Index, leaving room for Western European countries and Scandinavian countries such as Finland, Sweden and the Netherlands to join the elite club.

Last year, India’s ranking was at 85, allowing visa-free travel to 57 countries.

What is the Henley Passport Index?

Prepared by Henley and Partners, the Henley Passport Index lists 199 passports and 227 travel destinations, giving users a clear view of how many countries they can travel to without obtaining a passport. The ranking was finalized based on proprietary data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Number of visa free countries in Indian Passport

According to the Henley Passport Index, an Indian citizen can travel to 56 countries without obtaining a passport. The same will require a visa to travel to 170 destinations.

Also Read | Passport power: India’s ranking in the Henley passport index

Here are the number of countries an Indian can visit without a visa:

1. Barbados

2. Butane

3. British Virgin Islands

4. Burundi

5. Cambodia

6. Cape Verde

7. Comoros

8. Cook Islands

9. Djibouti

10. Dominica

11. Ethiopia

12. Fiji

13. Grenada

14. Guinea-Bissau

15. Haiti

16. Indonesia

17. Jamaica

18. Jordan

19. Kazakhstan

20. Kenya

21. Kiribati

22. Laos

23. Macau (SAR China)

24. Madagascar

25. Malawi

26. Malaysia

27. maldives

28. Marshall Islands

29. Mauritius

30. micronesia

31. Mongolia

32. mozambique

33. Myanmar

34. Nepal

35. Niue

36. Palau Islands

37. Philippines

38. rwanda

39. Samoa

40. Senegal

41. Seychelles

42. Sierra Leone

43. Sri Lanka

44. St. Kitts and Nevis

45. St. Lucia

46. St.Vincent and the Grenadines

47. Tanzania

48. Thailand

49. Gambia

50. East Timor

51. Trinidad and Tobago

52. tuvalu

53. Vanuatu

54. zimbabwe

55. montserrat

56. Malaysia

India vs Neighbors: Who is leading in South Asia?

Maldives ranked 49th among India’s neighbors, gaining the privilege of visa-free travel to more than 93 destinations. This point was followed by China, which ranked 56th in the global index and facilitated visa-free travel access to 82 countries.

Bhutan ranked 83rd by gaining visa-free entry to 48 countries. This is followed by Myanmar, which ranked 88th by providing visa-free travel access to 43 destinations. Additionally, Srilanka, Bangladesh and Nepal ranked 91st, 93rd and 95th respectively. The three countries had visa-free travel access to 39, 37 and 35 countries respectively.

The worst performers were Pakistan and Afghanistan, ranked 97th and 101st, providing visa-free access to 32 and 24 countries respectively.

Also Read | Rich Indians seek the safety of foreign shores

The most powerful passport in the world?

Singapore has reinforced its position as the world’s most powerful passport with visa-free access to 192 countries. This was followed by Japan and South Korea, which provide visa-free access to 187 countries. Sweden and the United Arab Emirates, which provide them with visa-free access to 186 countries, ranked third.

In the February 2026 rankings, the United States ranked tenth, allowing visa-free access to 179 countries. Developed economies such as England, France, Germany and Canada ranked 7th, 4th and 8th, respectively. It is noteworthy that these countries provide visa-free access to 182, 185 and 181 countries, respectively.

It was published – 14 February 2026 12:07 IST