🔗 Share this article Why India's Indian Passport Is Falling in Worldwide Standing The Indian passport holds 85th position among one hundred ninety-nine countries according to the Henley Passport Index In recent months, an online clip from a popular travel content creator complaining about India's weak passport went viral across digital platforms. The influencer stated although neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka and Bhutan were more welcoming to travelers from India, obtaining visas to travel to most Western and European countries continued to be difficult. This dissatisfaction regarding India's poor passport strength found confirmation in recent Henley Passport Index, ranking the country 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. Countries like Rwanda, Ghana and Azerbaijan with much smaller economies than India – a nation that is the world's fifth biggest economy – are ranked higher on the index at the 78th, 74th and 72nd spots, respectively. Actually, the country's position over the last ten years has hovered around the eighties, even dipping to the 90th spot in 2021. These rankings appear poor compared to other Asian countries like Singapore, Japan and South Korea, which have consistently held top positions. Indian passport holders have visa-free entry in fifty-seven nations Global Passport Power Measures The power of a passport reflects a country's global influence and international standing. It also translates into enhanced travel freedom for its citizens, boosting business and educational prospects. Limited passport power results in additional documentation, increased visa expenses, reduced travel benefits and extended processing periods when journeying. But despite the decline in the rank, the number of countries providing visa-free travel for Indian citizens has actually increased over the last ten years. For example, eight years ago – the year Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) assumed office – 52 countries provided visa-free travel for Indian passport holders with the passport at seventy-sixth position in the ranking. The following year, it fell to eighty-fifth place, then improved to eightieth in 2023 and 2024, declining once more to the eighty-fifth spot currently. At the same time, countries allowing visa-free travel for Indians grew from 52 in 2015 to 60 in 2023 and 62 in 2024. The Competitive Global Mobility Landscape The number of visa-free destinations in 2025 (57) exceeds the number in 2015 (52), but India's rank for both these years is 85. What explains this situation? Experts say that a major reason involves growing competition in global mobility – indicating that nations are entering into more travel partnerships to benefit their citizens and economic growth. According to a 2025 report, the global average number of destinations travellers are able to access visa-free has nearly doubled from 58 in 2006 to 109 in 2025. As an illustration, The Chinese passport has increased its count of visa-free countries its citizens can travel to from fifty to eighty-two over the last ten years. As a result, its position in the ranking has improved from 94th to 60th during the same time period. In comparison, The Indian passport – which was ranked at seventy-seventh place during summer – dropped to the 85th position in October following the loss of two nations. Singapore's passport is the most powerful in the world Additional Factors Impacting Passport Power A former Indian ambassador says there are other factors influencing a nation's passport power, including economic and political conditions as well as its receptiveness to welcoming citizens from abroad. For instance, the American passport has fallen of the top 10 and now occupies the 12th position – a historic low – due to its increasingly insular stance in world politics. The diplomat recalls how in the 1970s, Indian citizens had visa-free access to many Western and European countries, though this shifted following Khalistan movement during the eighties. Subsequent political upheavals have further chipped away at India's image as a stable, democratic country. "Many countries are also becoming increasingly wary of immigrants," he stated. "India has a large quantity of citizens emigrating to other countries or remaining beyond visa limits affecting the national image." Elements like how secure a country's passport is and immigration processes also play a role to obtaining visa-free access 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 complex immigration processes and a slow pace for visa approvals. The former ambassador indicated that new technologies, such as the newly introduced electronic passport or e-passport, can improve security and streamline immigration. This electronic document contains a small chip holding biometric information, making it harder to counterfeit or alter the passport. But, more diplomatic outreach and travel agreements remain key to boosting the global mobility for Indian citizens and, by extension, the Indian passport's global position.