Indian Passport Ranked 125th In 2026 Global Passport Index

India has been ranked 125th out of 197 countries in the 2026 Global Passport Index (GPI), released by Global Citizen Solutions, reflecting a slight decline of one position compared to the previous year. Despite the drop in ranking, India’s overall score improved to 45.1, which the report notes as its highest level in the past five years, indicating gradual progress in global mobility indicators.

The index shows that Indian passport holders currently enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 26 destinations worldwide. These include countries and territories such as Bhutan, Nepal, Jamaica, Macau, Palestine, Tunisia, Angola, and Barbados. However, access remains limited for several major global destinations, including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, China, and the United Arab Emirates, highlighting continuing restrictions on international travel freedom.

Over the longer term, India has recorded only modest improvements in global passport strength. It moved from 127th position in 2021 to 125th in 2026, reflecting slow but steady gains. The index evaluates passports not only on visa-free access but also on broader indicators, placing India 136th in Enhanced Mobility, which carries the highest weightage and measures travel freedom along with destination attractiveness.

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India performed relatively better in other categories, ranking 118th in the Quality of Living index, an improvement of 11 places driven by factors such as healthcare access, education standards, and personal safety conditions. In the Investment Index, which assesses economic opportunity and tax environment, India ranked 94th, marking a three-position improvement compared to the previous edition.

The 2026 Global Passport Index differs from other rankings like the Henley Passport Index, as it incorporates additional dimensions such as investment potential and quality of life rather than focusing solely on visa-free travel. In contrast, India ranks higher in the Henley index at around 80th place, reflecting differences in methodology between global ranking systems.

At the top of the 2026 rankings, Sweden secured first place, followed by Switzerland and Finland. Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark shared fourth position, while Ireland ranked seventh. The United Kingdom, Norway, and Singapore completed the top ten, with European countries continuing to dominate the list. Afghanistan was ranked last in the index, reflecting the widest global mobility restrictions.

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