The Indian passport has made a remarkable leap in the Henley Passport Index 2025, climbing eight places from 85th to 77th, despite adding only two destinations to its visa-free tally, now totaling 59 countries. This surge follows a five-spot drop last year, signaling improved global mobility for Indian travelers, according to data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) compiled by Henley & Partners.

Indian passport holders can now enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 59 destinations, including popular spots like Malaysia, Indonesia, Maldives, and Thailand for visa-free entry, and Sri Lanka, Macau, and Myanmar for visa-on-arrival. The index ranks 199 passports based on the number of destinations accessible without a prior visa, highlighting India’s growing diplomatic reach.

Globally, Singapore leads with visa-free access to 193 destinations, followed by Japan and South Korea at 190. Seven European nations—Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain—share third place with 189 destinations. Meanwhile, Afghanistan remains at the bottom with access to only 25 destinations. Notable climbers include China, which rose from 94th to 60th since 2015, and Saudi Arabia, gaining four destinations this year.

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Dr. Juerg Steffen, CEO of Henley & Partners, emphasized the growing importance of passports as tools of diplomatic influence, noting a rising demand for alternative citizenship options among Americans and British nationals amid geopolitical shifts.

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