India has recorded its highest-ever leap in the global passport rankings, moving up eight spots to 77th place in the 2025 Henley Passport Index — a significant improvement from last year’s position at 85th. The update was released this week by Henley & Partners, a London-based global citizenship and residence advisory firm.
At the bottom of the list, Afghanistan remains ranked 99th, with access to only 25 destinations — one fewer than earlier this year.
Indian passport holders can now travel to 59 countries either visa-free or with visa-on-arrival, up from 57 destinations last year. This includes popular destinations in Asia such as Malaysia, Indonesia, the Maldives, and Thailand. Macau and Myanmar offer visa-on-arrival access, while the Philippines and Sri Lanka are the latest additions to the list of visa-free destinations.
Though the number of additional countries appears modest, the impact is diplomatically noteworthy. India has now surpassed several neighbouring countries in terms of travel freedom, including Pakistan and Bangladesh, marking a stronger presence in global mobility rankings.
Dr Juerg Steffen, CEO of Henley & Partners, emphasised that a passport today represents more than a travel document. In a press release, he described it as a reflection of a country’s diplomatic strength, global integration, and foreign policy approach.
At the top of the Henley Passport Index, Singapore continues to hold the number one position, granting its citizens visa-free access to 193 destinations. Japan and South Korea are tied in second place, each allowing entry to 190 countries. Seven European nations — Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain — share the third spot with access to 189 destinations.
Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden share fourth place, while New Zealand, Greece, and Switzerland are jointly ranked fifth.
Australia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Malta, and Poland are placed seventh, while Canada, Estonia, and the United Arab Emirates occupy the eighth position.
Meanwhile, traditional powerhouses such as the United Kingdom and the United States have seen their passport rankings fall. The UK has slipped to sixth place with access to 186 destinations, down from fifth earlier this year. The US passport has dropped to 10th, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry to 182 destinations — one less than in the previous quarter. Both nations had previously topped the index, with the UK leading in 2015 and the US in 2014.
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