Global Ranking Shift: Indian Passport Moves up 9 Spots; Visa-free Access Extended to 59 Countries
In a significant leap, India's passport has climbed nine spots to rank 77th globally in the latest Henley Passport Index. This impressive jump, despite adding only two new visa-free destinations, is primarily due to a combination of factors rather than the absolute number of new visa-free countries alone.
The key drivers behind India's rise in the global passport rankings include enhanced diplomatic relations, strategic bilateral agreements, and India's growing global economic and political influence. These factors have positively impacted India's passport power and global mobility standing.
While the number of visa-free or visa-on-arrival destinations for Indian passport holders has modestly increased to 59 countries, the ranking boost reflects the relative position of other countries as well. Rankings are influenced not just by the number of destinations accessible but also by changes in other countries' standings and the collective global mobility landscape.
India's diplomatic outreach has improved its standing amidst a globally uncertain environment, facilitating an overall climb, even for a small numerical increase in visa-free access. The rise is not solely about the quantity of new visa-free countries but reflects broader geopolitical dynamics and relative mobility gains globally.
Meanwhile, global air travel demand has grown by 5.8% in the first five months of 2025, led by Asia-Pacific airlines with a remarkable 9.5% growth. Asia-Pacific airlines have reinforced their dominance in global mobility, with countries like China, Saudi Arabia, and Japan making significant strides.
China, for instance, has improved significantly, moving from 94th to 60th since 2015, and expanding visa-free access to 75 nationalities, including all GCC countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia) and South American nations like Brazil and Argentina. Saudi Arabia has risen four spots to the 54th position, with visa-free access to 91 destinations.
The top spot remains with Singapore, which maintains access to 193 destinations. Japan and South Korea follow closely with access to 190 destinations each. Seven EU countries (Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain) rank third with access to 189 destinations each. New Zealand, Greece, and Switzerland rank fifth with access to 187 destinations each.
Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the index with access to just 25 countries. The gap between the top and bottom passports is a substantial 168 destinations. The UAE has surged 34 places over a decade, now ranking 8th globally.
In conclusion, the global mobility landscape is dynamic, with countries continually working to expand their travel options and improve their standing. India's impressive rise in the passport rankings is a testament to its growing global influence and strategic diplomacy.
- As India's global influence and diplomatic relations strengthen, its lifestyle and general news headlines frequently report on these improvements, with travel being one area that benefits from these strategic agreements.
- Amidst the competitiveness in global politics and travel, news outlets also cover stories about Asian countries such as China and Saudi Arabia, whose passport power continues to grow, influencing global mobility trends and general-news discussions worldwide.
