India’s Passport Climbs 10 Ranks in 2026 – But Why Did Visa-Free Access Drop?

The Henley & Partners Henley Passport Index 2026 has delivered a surprising update for Indian travellers. While India’s passport dropped slightly in total visa-free access, it still climbed 10 places in global rankings. This shift highlights how passport power is measured relatively, not absolutely. Even small global visa policy changes can significantly impact rankings, reshaping how countries compare in worldwide mobility and travel freedom.

What Is the Henley Passport Index?

The Henley & Partners Henley Passport Index ranks 199 passports based on access to 227 destinations worldwide.

The ranking is based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and includes,

• Visa-free entry
• Visa on arrival
• Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)

If prior approval is required before departure (such as a full e-visa application), the destination scores zero.

India’s 2026 Passport Ranking Explained

Here’s how India performed,

• 2025: Rank 85 | 57 visa-free destinations
• January 2026: Rank 80 | 55 destinations
• February 2026: Rank 75 | 56 destinations

India gained one destination (The Gambia) but lost two (Iran and Bolivia), resulting in a net drop compared to 2025.

Which Two Countries Did India Lose?

Iran

• Iran suspended visa-free entry for ordinary Indian passport holders in November 2025.
• The decision followed fraud and trafficking cases where Indian nationals were allegedly misled with false job offers and later kidnapped for ransom.
• As advance visa approval became mandatory, Iran no longer counted under the “visa-free” category.

Bolivia

• In 2025, Bolivia offered visa on arrival, which qualified under the index scoring system.
• In 2026, Bolivia shifted to an e-visa system requiring prior approval before travel. Since travellers must apply in advance, Bolivia no longer qualifies as visa-free under the Henley methodology.

The Gambia Addition – Partial Recovery

• In February 2026, The Gambia was added back to India’s accessible list, raising the count from 55 to 56.
• However, it still falls short of the 2025 total of 57 destinations.

Why Did India’s Rank Improve Despite Fewer Countries?

The Henley Passport Index is a relative ranking system, not absolute.

Think of it like a classroom,

• Even if your score drops slightly,
• If others lose more marks,
• Your rank can improve.

Many countries experienced visa policy shifts in 2026. Some lost more access than India. As a result, India climbed to 75th place even with a slightly lower visa-free count.

India shares its position with countries that have similar mobility scores.

Current Visa-Free Access Snapshot (2026)

Indian passport holders can currently travel to,

• 56 destinations without prior visa approval
• Includes visa-on-arrival and limited ETAs
• Does not include full pre-approved e-visa destinations
• This mobility score determines India’s global passport ranking.

Rank-Wise List (by Visa-Free Score)

1. Singapore – 192
2. Japan, South Korea – 187
3. Sweden, United Arab Emirates – 186
4. Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Switzerland – 185
5. Austria, Greece, Malta, Portugal – 184
6. Hungary, Malaysia, New Zealand, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia – 183
7. Australia, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Latvia, United Kingdom – 182
8. Canada, Liechtenstein, Lithuania – 181
9. Iceland – 180
10. United States – 179

Lowest Passport Visa-Free Ranks (91-101)

101. Afghanistan – 24

• 100. Syria – 26
• 99. Iraq – 29
• 98. Yemen – 31
• 97. Pakistan – 32
• 96. Somalia – 33
• 95. Nepal – 35
• 94. North Korea – 36
• 93. Bangladesh – 37
• 92. Eritrea – 38
• 91. Libya, Palestinian Territory, Sri Lanka – 39

Background: How Passport Power Is Calculated

Each destination counts as 1 point if,

• No visa required
• Visa on arrival available
• Border permit issued
• Basic ETA (without embassy approval)
• If embassy approval is needed before departure to 0 points.

Total points determine the mobility score, which determines the global rank.

Question

Q. India’s rank in the Henley Passport Index 2026 is,

A. 65
B. 70
C. 75
D. 80