India Sees Biggest Jump in Passport Rankings; Visa-Free Access to 59 Nations

Indian Passport Makes Biggest Leap in Global Rankings, Now 59 Countries Visa-Free.

After slipping five spots last year, the Indian passport has staged a strong comeback on the Henley Passport Index 2025, rising eight positions to rank 77th globally. This marks the highest climb by any country this year.

According to the index, released on July 22, Indian passport holders can now travel to 59 destinations either visa-free or with visa-on-arrival (VOA). This includes popular countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Maldives, and Thailand for visa-free entry, and Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Macau for VOA.

Visa-free and VOA permissions are often time- and purpose-specific. Travelers are advised to check entry conditions before planning their trip.

Asia Tightens Grip at the Top
The index, which ranks 199 passports based on access to 227 destinations, reflects shifting trends in global mobility — and Asia is leading the charge.

Singapore tops the list, offering visa-free access to 193 destinations, the highest globally.

Japan and South Korea follow closely, tied at 190 destinations each.

The UAE has also surged, rising 34 places in a decade to reach 8th spot, while China jumped from 94th in 2015 to 60th, following new visa deals with countries in the Gulf and South America.

As Dr. Christian Kaelin, founder of the Henley Passport Index, noted:

“Access is earned — and must be maintained — through active and strategic diplomacy.”

Europe Still Strong, US and UK Slip
While Asia rises, European nations remain strong contenders:

Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and others sit in third place with 189 destinations accessible without prior visas.

Countries like Austria, Belgium, Sweden, and Portugal follow just behind with 188.

In contrast, the US and UK have lost ground, ranking 10th and 6th respectively, as emerging powers build diplomatic ties to expand mobility.

At the bottom of the list, Afghanistan remains the lowest-ranked passport, with access to only 25 countries visa-free, highlighting the world’s deepest mobility divide.