India’s passport has, once again, ranked among the weaker ones globally, slipping five places to 85th in the 2025 Henley Passport Index, which measures the strength of passports worldwide based on visa-free access. The
latest edition, released by global investment migration consultancy Henley & Partners, shows that Indian passport holders can travel visa-free to 57 destinations, fewer than last year’s 62, and far behind the top-ranking Asian nations.
The index, compiled using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), evaluates 199 countries and territories by the number of destinations their citizens can enter without obtaining a visa beforehand. It marks the 20th year of the global ranking which has become a barometer of international mobility and soft power.
India’s position—shared with the West African nation Mauritania—reflects a long-running stagnation in its global mobility score. Over the past decade, India’s ranking has oscillated within the 80s, even dipping to 90th in 2021. Despite being the world’s fifth-largest economy, India continues to lag behind smaller nations such as Rwanda (78th), Ghana (74th) and Azerbaijan (72nd), all of which offer their citizens broader travel access.
In contrast, Singapore retained the world’s most powerful passport for a second consecutive year, granting visa-free access to 193 destinations. South Korea and Japan followed closely with 190 and 189 visa-free destinations, respectively. These top positions underscore Asia’s continued dominance in the global mobility landscape.
While India’s visa-free count has improved modestly over the years, from 52 destinations in 2015 to 57 this year, its comparative ranking remains low because other nations have expanded their global access faster.
According to Henley & Partners, the global average number of visa-free destinations has nearly doubled over the past two decades—from 58 in 2006 to 109 in 2025—meaning that countries must expand access continually to maintain or improve their ranking.
The data reveal that although India has marginally increased its visa-free partnerships since prime minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s government took office in 2014, this progress has not translated into a stronger ranking. The passport’s score improved from 52 visa-free destinations in 2015 to 62 in 2024, but the country’s rank has slipped from 76th a decade ago to 85th this year.
A mid-year update in July 2025 had briefly placed India at 77th position, reflecting access to 59 destinations. However, by October, the number had dropped to 57 following the loss of visa-free arrangements with two countries, pulling India back to 85th place.
Beyond bilateral visa agreements, factors such as passport security, biometric verification systems, and immigration efficiency influence how other nations assess Indian travellers. India continues to face scrutiny over document integrity.
In March this year, Delhi police registered a case against several visa and passport agents after the US embassy in New Delhi reported a large-scale fraud involving fake documents and false information used to secure American visas. The complaint, filed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the IT Act, alleged that the agents—operating mainly from Punjab, Haryana and other states—submitted forged paperwork and misrepresented facts in visa applications, deceiving the US government.
While India struggles to climb, neighbouring Asian economies have surged ahead. China, for instance, has improved its rank dramatically, from 94th in 2015 to 64th in 2025, after increasing its visa-free access from 50 to 82 destinations. Beijing’s diplomatic outreach has yielded reciprocal arrangements with Russia, Gulf nations and parts of Europe and South America, reflecting its growing soft power and strategic openness.
Henley & Partners’ chairman Dr Christian H Kaelin, who created the index, says such mobility shifts illustrate changing global dynamics. “The declining strength of some traditional power passports and the rise of Asian ones underscore how global cooperation and openness are reshaping mobility,” he noted. “Nations embracing openness are surging ahead, while those relying on historical privilege are being left behind.”
The 2025 index also records historic declines for once-dominant Western passports. For the first time in two decades, the US has dropped out of the top-10, ranking 12th with visa-free access to 180 destinations, on par with Malaysia. In 2014, the US passport was ranked No1.
This fall has been attributed to a series of access restrictions. The US recently lost visa-free entry to Brazil, Papua New Guinea and Myanmar, while China excluded it from its expanded visa-free list. Meanwhile, the UK slipped to 8th place, its lowest-ever ranking, despite once topping the index in 2015. Geopolitical tensions, protectionist policies, and inward-looking governance have eroded mobility advantages long enjoyed by these nations.
A country’s passport strength often mirrors its diplomatic relationships, economic openness and perceived stability. Stronger passports translate into easier access for citizens to pursue business, education, and employment opportunities abroad. For India, whose global economic and cultural influence is expanding, a persistently weak passport ranking remains at odds with its international aspirations.
Passport power is a reflection of global trust. Despite India’s economic rise, bureaucratic hurdles, security concerns and reciprocal policy gaps prevent it from achieving mobility parity with peers.
Indian citizens often face cumbersome visa processes for Western destinations, including long appointment delays and high application costs. Business travellers say these obstacles hinder cross-border commerce, especially for start-ups and small firms seeking to expand internationally.
India could strengthen its global mobility standing by negotiating more reciprocal visa-waiver agreements, improving passport security, and streamlining outbound visa approvals for visitors from countries where it seeks reciprocal access. Regional cooperation through frameworks such as the G20, BRICS, and BIMSTEC could also be leveraged to enhance travel freedoms within Asia and beyond.
Despite its low position, Henley & Partners notes that India’s steady increase in visa-free access over the past decade is a positive sign. However, with global mobility expanding rapidly elsewhere, incremental progress may not be enough. The government’s focus on security upgrades and e-passport rollout could help improve perception, but meaningful gains will depend on stronger diplomatic outreach.
As of now, Indian travellers can enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access primarily across parts of Southeast Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and Oceania. But for the world’s largest democracy and one of its fastest-growing economies, the aspiration remains clear: to make the Indian passport not just a travel document, but a true symbol of global confidence.
