India climbs eight spots in Henley Passport Index 2025, visa-free entry to 59 nations now
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India has taken a significant leap in the Henley Passport Index 2025, jumping eight places from last year’s position of 85 to rank 77th globally.
This improvement comes despite only gaining visa-free access to two additional destinations, taking the total number of visa-free or visa-on-arrival destinations available to Indian passport holders to 59.
Popular countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Maldives, and Thailand currently allow Indian travelers to enter without a visa.
Others, such as Sri Lanka, Macau, and Myanmar, offer visa-on-arrival facilities.
This boost in ranking reflects an overall strengthening of India’s global mobility, which is based on the number of destinations a country’s passport allows travel to without a prior visa.
In comparison, Asian countries dominate the upper ranks of the index.
Singapore tops the list with visa-free access to 193 destinations, while Japan and South Korea follow closely with access to 190 destinations each.
European nations also perform strongly.
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain share the third position, each offering access to 189 destinations. The fourth rank is held collectively by Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden. Meanwhile, New Zealand ties with Greece and Switzerland for the fifth spot.
At the bottom of the list sits Afghanistan, whose passport allows visa-free travel to just 25 destinations.
Both the United States and the United Kingdom have seen slight declines in their rankings, dropping one place each. The UK now holds the 6th position with access to 186 destinations, while the US ranks 10th with access to 182 destinations. These figures mark a shift from their previous standings when the UK held the top spot in 2015 and the US in 2014.
Among other notable developments, Saudi Arabia has made the most significant gain this year, adding four destinations to its list and increasing visa-free access to 91 countries.
China has also seen substantial progress over the past decade, rising 34 spots from 94th to 60th since 2015. However, it is worth noting that China has achieved this rise without securing visa-free access to the Schengen Area in Europe.
Commenting on the broader trend, Dr Juerg Steffen, CEO of Henley & Partners, remarked, "Americans are now leading the demand worldwide for alternative residence and citizenship options, with British nationals also among the top five globally. As the US and UK adopt increasingly inward-looking policies, we're witnessing a marked rise in interest from their citizens seeking greater global access and security," he said.
"Your passport is no longer just a travel document — it's a reflection of your country's diplomatic influence and international relationships. In an era of growing inequality and mounting geopolitical uncertainty, strategic mobility and citizenship planning are more critical than ever," Dr Steffen added.
