Context: India ranked 75th in the Henley Passport Index 2026, improving by 10 positions from 2025, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 56 destinations.
Key Terms
- Visa-Free Access: Travel permitted without obtaining a visa before departure.
- Visa-on-Arrival: Visa issued at destination country’s port of entry.
What is the Henley Passport Index?
- Published by Henley & Partners.
- Based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
- Ranks 199 passports against 227 travel destinations.
- Methodology: 1 point for visa-free/visa-on-arrival access. 0 points where a prior visa is required.
- Reflects a country’s diplomatic strength, foreign policy reach, and global mobility.
India’s Performance (2026)
In 2026, India ranked 75th in the Henley Passport Index with access to 56 visa-free/visa-on-arrival destinations, improving from 85th rank and 57 destinations in 2025.
- Improvement of 10 ranks compared to 2025.
- However, one destination reduction in visa-free access.
- Indian passport holders require visa for 170 destinations.
India vs Neighbours (2026)
- Among South Asian countries, Maldives leads (49)
- India ranks above several regional neighbours but below Maldives and China.
World’s Most Powerful Passports (2026)
| Rank | Country | Visa-free Access |
| 1 | Singapore | 192 |
| 2 | Japan, South Korea | 187 |
| 3 | Sweden, UAE | 186 |
| 10 | United States | 179 |
La Excellence IAS Academy, the best IAS coaching in Hyderabad, known for delivering quality content and conceptual clarity for UPSC 2026 preparation.
FOLLOW US ON:
â—‰ YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@CivilsPrepTeam
â—‰ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaExcellenceIAS
â—‰ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laexcellenceiasacademy/
GET IN TOUCH:
Contact us at info@laex.in, https://laex.in/contact-us/
or Call us @ +91 9052 29 2929, +91 9052 99 2929, +91 9154 24 2140
OUR BRANCHES:
Head Office: H No: 1-10-225A, Beside AEVA Fertility Center, Ashok Nagar Extension, VV Giri Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Hyderabad, 500020
Madhapur: Flat no: 301, survey no 58-60, Guttala begumpet Madhapur metro pillar: 1524, Rangareddy Hyderabad, Telangana 500081
Bangalore: Plot No: 99, 2nd floor, 80 Feet Road, Beside Poorvika Mobiles, Chandra Layout, Attiguppe, Near Vijaya Nagara, Bengaluru, 560040