India’s Passport Ranked 78th in Henley Passport Index 2026: Full Details

India’s passport ranked slipped to 78th position in the latest Henley & Partners Passport Index 2026. India’s rank dropped three places from its earlier rank of 75. As per current ranking Indians can travel to 56 visa free destination or simplified processes.

What Is the Henley Passport Index?

The Henley Passport Index is one of the most widely followed global rankings of the passports.

How It Works

• It ranks 199 passports worldwide.
• The data is based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
• It measures the visa-free or visa on arrival access.

A higher rank means that the greater travel freedom while a lower rank indicates more visa restrictions.

India’s Current Passport Ranking

Latest Status

• Rank: 78th (2026)
• Previous Rank: 75th (February 2026)
• Access: 56 destinations

Despite the drop in rankings, India’s passport has improved compared to the,

• 85th rank in 2025
• 90th rank in 2021 (lowest)

This shows the long term upward trend, even with the short-term fluctuations.

What Does This Mean for Indian Travellers?

For most of the travelers, the impact is minimal.

Key Takeaways

• No major change in the travel access
• Also continued entry to 56 countries

Easier travel through the,

• Visa-free access
• Visa-on-arrival
• E-visa options

However compared to top ranked countries Indians may still face the more documentation, longer visa processing times and limited last-minute travel flexibility.

Countries Indians Can Visit Easily

Indian passport holders enjoy the simplified access to several destinations.

Visa-Free Countries (Approx. 30)

• Bhutan
• Nepal
• Fiji
• Malaysia

Visa-on-Arrival Countries (Approx. 23)

• Maldives
• Indonesia
• Sri Lanka
• Cambodia

These options make the travel more convenient and cost-effective.

Which Countries Have the Strongest Passports?

At the top of the latest 2026 rankings.

• Singapore – Rank 1 (192 destinations)
• Japan – Rank 2
• South Korea – Rank 3

At the lower end of the ranking countries like Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq and Pakistan are featured and they will have limited travel access.

Why Passport Rankings Matter

A strong passport strength reflects the diplomatic relations, economic stability and global trust and security perception of the country.

Stronger passport also provide features like easy travel, less paperwork and more spontaneous trips.

Weaker passport leads to strict visa rules, longer processing time and the higher documentation requirements.

India’s Passport Journey Over the Years

India’s passport ranking has seen the fluctuations time by time.

• India’s Best Rank: 71 in the year 2006
• Lowest Rank : 90 in the year 2021

This showcases that India is slowly gaining the better global ranking.