Passport & Consular Services

What is India Passport Ranking in 2026?

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By Vipul Jain
Updated on: 20 Jan, 2026 | Editorial Standard | 6 min read |

India Passport Ranking in the World

 Currently, India's passport ranking is 76th in the world in 2026, according to the Henley Passport Index, and 84th according to the Global Passport Index. It provides access to over 55 visa-free destinations, including countries that offer a Visa on Arrival and an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). The Indian passport plays a crucial role in facilitating international travel and serving as a primary identity document. 

India Passport Rank in 2026

Indian passport currently ranks 81st in 2026 according to the Henley Passport Index. We have also seen an improvement in the passport rank in the Henley Passport Index.

The Indian passport is essential for secure international travel — whether for personal, business, or medical purposes. However, low passport rankings can limit travel options, increase visa difficulties, and affect travel planning.

Understanding the Henley Passport Index

The Henley Passport Index ranks 199 global passports, helping travelers identify the most and least powerful passports worldwide. It calculates each passport's global mobility score, or travel freedom, based on 27 travel destinations.

How Henley Calculates Passport Rankings:

  • Visa-free access
  • Visa on Arrival (VOA)
  • Visitor's permit
  • ETA (Electronic Travel Authority)

India’s Henley Passport Rankings Over the Years

Year Henley Passport Rank
2026 81
2025 85
2024 80
2023 84
2022 83
2021 90
2020 82
2019 82
2018 81
2017 87
2016 85

What Is the Global Passport Index?

The Global Passport Index (by Arton Capital) is another tool that ranks passports in real time. It calculates rankings using a 3-tier scoring method:

  • Based on the mobility score
  • Visa-on-arrival (VOA) eligibility
  • Integration with the UNDP Human Development Index (HDI 2018)

India’s Global Passport Rankings Over the Years:

Year Rank
2026 84
2025 73
2024 67
2023 67
2022 67
2021 73
2020 61
2019 71
2018 68
2017 72
2016 78

Visa-Free Countries for Indian Passport Holders (2026)

Here is the list of countries that offer visa-free entry to Indian passport holders, where you can visit without a visa.

Visa on Arrival, eTA

  1. Angola
  2. Barbados 
  3. Burundi 
  4. Bolivia (Plurinational State of) 
  5. Bhutan
  6. Cook Islands
  7. Cabo Verde 
  8. Djibouti 
  9. Dominica
  10. Ethiopia 
  11. Fiji
  12. Micronesia (Federated States of)
  13. Grenada
  14. Guinea-Bissau 
  15. Haiti
  16. Indonesia 
  17. Iran (Islamic Republic of)
  18. Jamaica
  19. Jordan
  20. Kenya 
  21. Cambodia
  22. Kiribati
  23. Comoros 
  24. Saint Kitts and Nevis
  25. Kazakhstan
  26. Lao People's Democratic Republic
  27. Saint Lucia
  28. Sri Lanka
  29. Madagascar
  1. Marshall Islands
  2. Myanmar
  3. Macao
  4. Mauritania
  5. Montserrat
  6. Mauritius
  7. Maldives
  8. Malaysia
  9. Mozambique
  10. Nepal
  11. Niue
  12. Palau
  13. Qatar
  14. Rwanda
  15. Seychelles
  16. Sierra Leone
  17. Senegal
  18. Somalia
  19. Thailand
  20. Timor-Leste
  21. Tunisia
  22. Trinidad and Tobago
  23. Tuvalu
  24. Tanzania, United Republic of
  25. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  26. Virgin Islands (British)
  27. Vanuatu
  28. Samoa
  29. Zimbabwe
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Visa Required Countries for Indian Passport Holders

If you plan to travel to the following countries, you will need to obtain a valid visa.

  1. Afghanistan
  2. Albania
  3. Algeria
  4. American Samoa
  5. Andorra
  6. Anguilla
  7. Antigua and Barbuda
  8. Argentina
  9. Armenia
  10. Aruba
  11. Australia
  12. Austria
  13. Azerbaijan
  14. Bahamas
  15. Bahrain
  16. Bangladesh
  17. Barbados
  18. Belarus
  19. Belgium
  20. Belize
  21. Benin
  22. Bermuda
  23. Bhutan
  24. Bolivia
  25. Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba
  26. Bosnia and Herzegovina
  27. Botswana
  28. Brazil
  29. Brunei Darussalam
  30. Bulgaria
  31. Burkina Faso
  32. Burundi
  33. Cabo Verde
  34. Cameroon
  35. Canada
  36. Cayman Islands
  37. Central African Republic
  38. Chile
  39. China
  40. Colombia
  41. Comoros
  42. Congo
  43. Congo, Democratic Republic of the
  44. Costa Rica
  45. Côte d'Ivoire
  46. Croatia
  47. Cuba
  48. Curaçao
  49. Cyprus
  50. Czechia
  51. Denmark
  52. Djibouti
  53. Dominican Republic
  54. Ecuador
  55. Egypt
  56. El Salvador
  57. Equatorial Guinea
  58. Eritrea
  59. Estonia
  60. Eswatini
  61. Ethiopia
  62. Faroe Islands
  63. Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
  64. Fiji
  65. Finland
  66. France
  67. French Guiana
  68. French Polynesia
  69. Gabon
  70. Gambia
  71. Georgia
  72. Germany
  73. Ghana
  74. Gibraltar
  75. Greece
  76. Greenland
  77. Grenada
  78. Guam
  79. Guatemala
  80. Guinea
  81. Guinea-Bissau
  82. Guyana
  83. Haiti
  84. Honduras
  85. Hong Kong
  86. Hungary
  87. Iceland
  88. Iran (Islamic Republic of)
  1. Iraq
  2. Ireland
  3. Israel
  4. Italy
  5. Jamaica
  6. Japan
  7. Jordan
  8. Kazakhstan
  9. Kenya
  10. Kiribati
  11. Korea (Democratic People's Republic of)
  12. Korea, Republic of
  13. Kuwait
  14. Kyrgyzstan
  15. Lao People's Democratic Republic
  16. Latvia
  17. Lebanon
  18. Lesotho
  19. Liberia
  20. Libya
  21. Liechtenstein
  22. Lithuania
  23. Luxembourg
  24. Macao
  25. Madagascar
  26. Malawi
  27. Mali
  28. Malta
  29. Marshall Islands
  30. Martinique
  31. Mauritania
  32. Mauritius
  33. Mayotte
  34. Mexico
  35. Moldova, Republic of
  36. Monaco
  37. Mongolia
  38. Montenegro
  39. Montserrat
  40. Morocco
  41. Mozambique
  42. Myanmar
  43. Namibia
  44. Nauru
  45. Nepal
  46. Netherlands
  47. New Caledonia
  48. New Zealand
  49. Nicaragua
  50. Niger
  51. Nigeria
  52. North Macedonia
  53. Northern Mariana Islands
  54. Norway
  55. Oman
  56. Pakistan
  57. Palau Islands
  58. Palestine, State of
  59. Panama
  60. Papua New Guinea
  61. Paraguay
  62. Peru
  63. Philippines
  64. Poland
  65. Portugal
  66. Puerto Rico
  67. Qatar
  68. Réunion
  69. Romania
  70. Russian Federation
  71. Rwanda
  72. Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
  73. Saint Kitts and Nevis
  74. Saint Lucia
  75. Saint Martin (French part)
  76. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  77. San Marino
  78. Saudi Arabia
  79. Senegal
  80. Serbia
  81. Seychelles
  82. Sierra Leone
  83. Singapore
  84. Slovakia
  85. Slovenia
  86. Solomon Islands
  87. Somalia
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Effects of a Low Passport Rank

What if our Passport ranks low in the Henley Passport Index? Then what are the effects of this on normal Indian passport holders?

  • Difficulty Traveling to Preferred Destinations: If you hold a low-ranking passport or are from a visa-free country. Then you may have a problem choosing your favorite places, which can affect your entire planning.
  • Delays in Visa Processing: If your passport has a low ranking, then your visa application may take a longer processing time, which can directly affect a valid Indian Passport Holder.
  • Higher Travel Costs: A low Passport rank can result in high visa fees or travel costs, which will directly affect travelers and those planning a vacation or trip.

Some effects can be problematic for Indian passport holders if the rank of the Indian passport falls.

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How to Measure Indian Passport Ranking?

What would be the effects of the Indian Passport Ranks if they fall? Now, we will examine how to improve the Passport Index India ranking. Let me be clear: This is not possible with the normal citizen of India. The improvement can only be achieved through a consistent and effective government of India.

  • Strengthen International Relations: By fostering stronger international relations and maintaining good relations with other countries, the government can improve its passport ranking.
  • Increase Global Trade: Engaging in more trade will lead to economic growth, which will directly impact India's passport ranking and contribute to improving its ranking.
  • Participate in Global Activities: This is a good gesture that allows more people to interact with others from different countries. This will directly impact India's passport ranking and help improve the country's global ranking.
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Sustainable Moves for Indian Passport Holders

Some of the key points for Indian passport holders to consider for a sustainable move that can lead to positive factors for the value of the Indian passport.

  • Improving International Relations: This will result in a more straightforward visa application process for Indian passport holders due to the good bonds between India and other countries.
  • Digital Visa Processes: The new era of e-visas and a fast online application process, or digitalization of everything, will make life easier for those who hold an Indian Passport.
  • New Travel Norms and Visa Rules: New visa policies will help Indian passport holders to get a visa-free visa and apply for a visa-free country for Indian passport holders.

Conclusion

In this blog, we have seen India's Passport ranking in the world and how we can improve the ranking of the Indian passport. A passport plays a crucial role in your travel purposes. If you hold an Indian passport, you can visit more than 55 visa-free countries. However, if you don't have a valid visa or wish to apply for one, or an Indian Passport.

Frequently Asked Questions

According to the Henley Passport Index 2025, India ranks at 79. It was improved from the previous Year's Passport Index.

Singapore's passport is the most powerful passport in 2025, according to the Henley Passport Index.

Currently Indian Passport ranks at the 79th position in the world's Passport Index. India ranks according to the Henley Passport Index.

Indian passport holders can visit a total of 57 visa-free countries with an Indian passport. for example, Iran, Nepal, Qatar, and Thailand.

Henley Passport Index is a passport ranking platform which includes 199 countries and rank all the passports according to the number of destinations people arrive.

Yes, if your country has a low-ranked Indian Passport, then you might not be able to get a top favourite place and have to pay a higher visa application fee.

Indian passport position changes every once in year according to the Henley passport Index. The current position of the Indian Passport is 79.

Yes, to improve the Indian passport ranking government has established a good connection with the neighboring countries, doing more trades, and participating in international activities.

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Vipul Jain
Consular & OCI Services Expert

Vipul Jain is the Co-Founder of Visament, a trusted platform dedicated to simplifying Indian immigration, consular, and NRI services for applicants across the globe. With extensive expertise in OCI cards, Indian passport services, visa assistance, apostille and document legalization,... See Full Bio

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