New Delhi, Jul 23: India has made the sharpest leap in the latest Henley Passport Index, climbing eight positions to rank 77th in 2025. Indian passport holders can now travel visa-free or obtain a visa on arrival in 59 countries, according to the Index released on July 22 and as reported widely by national media. While India added just two new destinations to its visa-free list, analysts say the move reflects growing international mobility and diplomatic outreach.
The Henley Passport Index, compiled using data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), ranks 199 countries based on how many destinations their passport holders can enter without needing a visa in advance. Top Asian countries continue to dominate global mobility.
Singapore tops the 2025 list, with access to 193 countries without a prior visa. Japan and South Korea jointly hold the second position with 190 destinations, followed by seven EU countries, including France, Germany and Spain, with access to 189, reports moneycontrol.com
Meanwhile, U.S. and U.K. have slipped in the rankings. The U.S. passport now ranks 10th, while the U.K. has fallen to sixth place. At the bottom of the index, Afghanistan remains the weakest passport, with visa-free access to just 25 destinations.
For Indian travellers, the rise in rank, albeit incremental in terms of the number of new countries added, is seen as a marker of India’s growing global stature and connectivity in a post-pandemic world.
