🔗 Share this article The Reasons Behind India's Indian Passport Continues to Drop in Global Ranking The Indian passport holds 85th position among one hundred ninety-nine nations on the Henley Passport Index In recent months, a video from an Indian travel influencer complaining about India's weak passport went viral on social media. He mentioned that while nearby nations such as Bhutan and Sri Lanka were more welcoming of travelers from India, obtaining visas to travel to many nations in Europe and the West continued to be difficult. This dissatisfaction regarding the limited global access of Indian passports was reflected in recent global passport ranking, ranking India at position eighty-five out of nearly two hundred nations, five spots lower compared to the previous year. The Indian government have not issued a statement regarding these findings so far. Nations including Ghana, Rwanda and Azerbaijan with much smaller economies than India – which is the fifth-largest economy globally – hold better positions in the ranking in the seventies range, in that order. In fact, India's rank in the past decade has remained around the eighties, falling to ninetieth place two years ago. Such standings appear poor compared to Asian nations like Japan, South Korea and Singapore, all maintaining top positions. Indian passport holders can enjoy travel without visas to 57 countries What Passport Strength Indicates The power of a passport reflects a nation's soft power and global influence. It also translates into enhanced travel freedom for passport holders, boosting business and learning opportunities. A weak passport results in additional documentation, higher visa costs, fewer travel privileges and extended processing periods when journeying. But despite the decline in the rank, the number of countries offering visa-free access to Indians has actually increased in the past decade or so. As an instance, in 2014 – when the current administration's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) assumed office – fifty-two nations provided visa-free travel for Indian passport holders with the passport at seventy-sixth position on the index. The following year, it tumbled to the 85th position, then improved to 80th in 2023 and 2024, dropping again to the 85th position this year. At the same time, countries allowing visa-free travel to Indian citizens grew from 52 in 2015 to sixty last year and 62 in 2024. The Competitive Global Mobility Landscape The count of nations allowing visa-free entry this year (57) exceeds the number eight years ago (52), yet the country's position during both periods remains at eighty-fifth. What explains this situation? Analysts note that a major reason involves growing competition in international travel – indicating that nations are entering into additional travel agreements to benefit their citizens and their economies. According to a 2025 report, the global average count of countries travellers are able to access without visas has almost doubled from 58 in 2006 to 109 in 2025. For example, China has expanded the number of visa-free destinations available to its citizens from fifty to eighty-two in the past decade. As a result, its position on the index has enhanced from ninety-fourth to sixtieth in that same duration. Meanwhile, India – which was ranked at seventy-seventh place during summer – fell to eighty-fifth place this autumn following the loss to two countries. 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 the strength of a country's passport, like economic and political conditions as well as its openness to welcoming citizens from other countries. For instance, the American passport has fallen from the top ten and now occupies the 12th position – its lowest ever – because of its increasingly insular stance in world politics. The former ambassador recalls that during the seventies, Indian citizens had visa-free access to numerous European and Western nations, though this shifted following Khalistan movement during the eighties. Later political disturbances have further chipped away the country's reputation as a stable, democratic country. "Many countries are growing increasingly wary of immigrants," he stated. "India has a large quantity of people migrating overseas or remaining beyond visa limits and that interferes with the country's reputation." Factors such as how secure of a national passport and immigration processes also contribute in gaining visa-free access to other countries. Security and Technological Improvements The Indian passport faces ongoing security risks. In 2024, authorities detained over two hundred individuals for suspected visa and passport fraud. The country also has complex immigration processes with lengthy timelines for visa approvals. The diplomat says that technological advances, like India's recently-launched digital passport or e-passport, may enhance safety and ease the immigration process. The e-passport includes a microchip that stores biometric data, increasing difficulty to counterfeit or alter the document. But, increased diplomatic efforts and travel partnerships remain key for enhancing international travel freedom for Indian citizens and, by extension, India's passport ranking.