Henley Passport Index 2026: Indian passport climbs five places to gain 80th spot

India’s passport has moved up the global mobility ladder, climbing five places to rank 80th in the latest Henley Passport Index. Indian passport holders can now travel visa-free or obtain a visa on arrival in 55 destinations, reflecting a modest improvement in international access.

The ranking marks a recovery from 2025, when India had slipped to 85th place, even though passport holders then had visa-free or e-visa access to 57 destinations. In 2024, India had also ranked 80th, indicating a return to that position after last year’s decline. This year, India shares the 80th spot with Niger and Algeria.

The Henley Passport Index 2026 reveals that Asia continues to dominate the top of the table. Singapore retains the number one position, with its citizens enjoying visa-free access to 192 of the 227 countries and territories tracked by the index. Japan and South Korea are tied for second place, each offering visa-free travel to 188 destinations.

A group of European countries, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain and Luxembourg, share third place, with access to 186 destinations. The index evaluates 199 passports worldwide and is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association, measuring how many destinations can be entered without a prior visa.

One of the strongest long-term performers has been the United Arab Emirates. The UAE climbed five places this year to reach fifth position and has recorded the biggest rise in the index’s 20-year history. Since 2006, it has gained visa-free access to 149 destinations and moved up 57 places overall.

The United States, which fell out of the top 10 for the first time last year and dropped to 12th, has returned to the top tier, ranking 10th in the latest index.

At the other end of the scale, Afghanistan remains at the bottom, ranked 101st, with visa-free access to just 24 destinations. Pakistan is close behind, placed 98th in the global rankings.