India’s passport has moved up the global mobility ladder, climbing five places to rank 80th in the Henley Passport Index 2026. Indian passport holders can now travel visa-free or obtain a visa on arrival in 55 destinations, marking a modest improvement in international travel access.
The latest ranking represents a recovery from 2025, when India slipped to 85th position despite having visa-free or e-visa access to 57 destinations. India had previously ranked 80th in 2024, making this year’s placement a return to that level. India shares the 80th spot with Niger and Algeria.
According to the index, Asia continues to dominate global passport power. Singapore retains the top position, offering its citizens visa-free access to 192 of the 227 destinations tracked. Japan and South Korea are tied for second place, each allowing access to 188 destinations without a prior visa.
Several European nations — Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain and Luxembourg — jointly occupy third place, with visa-free access to 186 destinations. The Henley Passport Index evaluates 199 passports worldwide and is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), measuring how many destinations can be entered without obtaining a visa in advance.
Among the strongest long-term performers is the United Arab Emirates. The UAE climbed five places this year to reach fifth position and has recorded the biggest rise in the index’s 20-year history. Since 2006, it has gained visa-free access to 149 additional destinations and surged 57 places overall.
The United States, which fell out of the top 10 for the first time last year and dropped to 12th place, has returned to the top tier, ranking 10th in the 2026 index.
At the bottom of the rankings, Afghanistan remains last at 101st place, with visa-free access to just 24 destinations. Pakistan is also near the bottom, ranked 98th globally.
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