🔗 Share this article The Reasons Behind India's Indian Passport Is Falling in Global Ranking The Indian passport holds 85th position among 199 countries according to the global passport ranking index In recent months, an online clip from an Indian travel influencer expressing frustration over the limited power of the Indian passport gained massive traction across digital platforms. He mentioned that while nearby nations such as Sri Lanka and Bhutan were more welcoming to Indian tourists, obtaining visas for visiting many nations in Europe and the West remained a challenge. This dissatisfaction regarding the limited global access of Indian passports found confirmation in the latest Henley Passport Index, ranking India at position eighty-five among 199 countries, five spots lower than last year. The Indian government have not issued a statement on the report yet. Nations including Rwanda, Ghana and Azerbaijan despite smaller economic size than India – a nation that is the fifth-largest economy globally – are ranked higher in the ranking at the 78th, 74th and 72nd spots, respectively. In fact, the country's position over the last ten years has remained in the 80s, falling to ninetieth place two years ago. These rankings are dismal when measured against Asian nations like Japan, South Korea and Singapore, which have consistently held top positions. Indian passport holders can enjoy travel without visas in fifty-seven nations What Passport Strength Indicates The power of a passport reflects a nation's soft power and global influence. This leads to enhanced travel freedom for its citizens, improving commercial and educational prospects. Limited passport power means additional documentation, increased visa expenses, reduced travel benefits and longer waiting times when journeying. But despite the decline in the rank, the number of countries offering visa-free access to Indians has actually increased over the last ten years. For example, eight years ago – the year Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling party assumed office – 52 countries offered visa-free travel for Indian passport holders with the passport ranked 76th on the index. A year later, it tumbled to eighty-fifth place, then rose to eightieth over the past two years, dropping again to the eighty-fifth spot this year. Meanwhile, visa-free destinations for Indians grew from fifty-two eight years ago to sixty last year and sixty-two this year. The Competitive Global Mobility Landscape The count of visa-free destinations in 2025 (57) exceeds what it was in 2015 (fifty-two), but India's rank during both periods is 85. What explains this situation? Experts say that a primary factor involves growing competition in global mobility – meaning nations are forming more travel partnerships for their populations' advantage and their economies. As per a 2025 report, the worldwide mean number of destinations travellers are able to access without visas has nearly doubled from fifty-eight nineteen years ago to one hundred nine currently. As an illustration, China has increased the number of visa-free destinations its citizens can travel to from 50 to 82 over the last ten years. As a result, its rank on the index has enhanced from ninety-fourth to sixtieth in that same duration. In comparison, India – previously positioned at seventy-seventh place during summer – fell to the 85th position in October after losing access of two nations. The Singaporean passport holds the top position in the world Additional Factors Affecting Passport Strength A former Indian ambassador notes there are other factors influencing the strength of a country's passport, like its economic and political stability as well as its receptiveness to accepting travelers from abroad. For example, the US passport has dropped out of the top 10 and now occupies the 12th position – a historic low – because of its increasingly insular stance in world politics. The former ambassador recalls that during the seventies, Indian citizens had visa-free travel to many Western and European countries, but that changed after the Khalistan movement in the 1980s. Subsequent political upheavals have further chipped away at India's image as a stable democracy. "Numerous nations are growing increasingly wary of immigrants," he stated. "The country possesses a large quantity of citizens emigrating to other countries or overstaying their visas affecting the national image." Elements like how secure of a national passport and immigration processes also play a role in gaining visa-free access to foreign nations. Security and Technological Improvements India's passport remains vulnerable to security risks. Last year, authorities detained 203 people for alleged passport and visa irregularities. India is also known for complex immigration processes and a slow pace for visa approvals. The diplomat says that new technologies, like India's recently-launched digital passport or e-passport, can improve security and ease the immigration process. This electronic document contains a small chip holding biometric data, making it harder to counterfeit or alter the document. However, more diplomatic outreach and travel partnerships remain key for enhancing the global mobility for Indian citizens and consequently, the Indian passport's global position.