🔗 Share this article

Earlier this year, an online clip from a popular travel content creator expressing frustration over India's weak passport gained massive traction across digital platforms.

The influencer stated that while neighbouring countries like Bhutan and Sri Lanka were more welcoming to Indian tourists, obtaining visas for visiting most Western and European countries continued to be difficult.

Such concerns with India's poor passport strength was reflected in recent Henley Passport Index, which placed India at position eighty-five out of 199 countries, five spots lower than last year.

The Indian government have not issued a statement regarding these findings yet.

Nations including Ghana, Rwanda and Azerbaijan despite smaller economic size than India – a nation that is the world's fifth biggest economy – hold better positions in the ranking in the seventies range, respectively.

In fact, the country's position in the past decade has remained in the 80s, even dipping to the 90th spot in 2021. These rankings are dismal compared to Asian nations such as Japan, South Korea and Singapore, all maintaining leading ranks.

Global Passport Power Measures

The power of a passport reflects a nation's soft power and global influence. This leads to better mobility for passport holders, improving commercial and learning opportunities. A weak passport results in additional documentation, increased visa expenses, reduced travel benefits and longer waiting times for travel.

However, even with the decline in the rank, the count of nations offering visa-free access for Indian citizens has actually increased in the past decade or so.

For example, eight years ago – the year the current administration's ruling party assumed office – 52 countries offered visa-free travel to Indians with the passport ranked 76th in the ranking.

The following year, it fell to the 85th position, then rose to eightieth in 2023 and 2024, dropping again to the 85th position this year. Meanwhile, visa-free destinations to Indian citizens grew from fifty-two eight years ago to sixty last year and 62 in 2024.

Increasing Worldwide Travel Competition

The number of nations allowing visa-free entry this year (fifty-seven) is higher than what it was in 2015 (52), yet India's rank during both periods remains at eighty-fifth. So, why is that?

Analysts note that a major reason is the increasingly competitive landscape in global mobility – indicating that countries are entering into additional travel agreements to benefit their citizens and their economies. As per recent analysis, the worldwide mean number of destinations travellers are able to access visa-free has nearly doubled from 58 in 2006 to 109 in 2025.

For example, China has increased the number of visa-free destinations available to its citizens from fifty to eighty-two over the last ten years. As a result, its rank on the index has improved from ninety-fourth to sixtieth in that same duration.

In comparison, The Indian passport – which was ranked at seventy-seventh place during summer – fell to eighty-fifth place in October after losing access of two nations.

Additional Factors Affecting Passport Strength

An ex-diplomat from India notes there are other factors influencing a nation's passport power, like economic and political conditions as well as its receptiveness to welcoming citizens from other countries.

For instance, the US passport has fallen from the top ten and now occupies twelfth place – its lowest ever – because of its more inward-looking approach in global affairs.

The former ambassador recalls how in the 1970s, Indian citizens had visa-free access to numerous European and Western nations, though this shifted following Sikh separatist movement in the 1980s. Subsequent political upheavals have continued to damage the country's reputation as a stable, democratic country.

"Numerous nations are growing increasingly wary of immigrants," the diplomat added. "India has a high number of people migrating to other countries or remaining beyond visa limits and that interferes with the national image."

Factors like how secure of a national passport and immigration processes also play a role to obtaining visa-free entry to other countries.

Security and Technological Improvements

India's passport remains vulnerable to security threats. In 2024, authorities arrested 203 people for alleged passport and visa irregularities. India is also known for cumbersome immigration procedures and a slow pace of visa processing.

The diplomat says that technological advances, such as the newly introduced digital passport or e-passport, can improve security and streamline immigration. The e-passport includes a small chip holding biometric data, making it harder to forge or tamper with the document.

But, increased diplomatic efforts and travel agreements continue essential to boosting international travel freedom for Indian citizens and consequently, the Indian passport's global position.