The Indian passport has slipped in the latest edition of the Henley Passport Index, falling to 81st place from 75th in the February 2026 rankings, according to NDTV. The latest report reflects a gradual decline in India's global passport strength after a brief period of improvement earlier this year.
As reported by NDTV, Indian passport holders currently enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 55 destinationsaround the world. The Henley Passport Index, one of the most widely recognised measures of global mobility, ranks passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without obtaining a visa in advance.
According to NDTV, India began 2026 in 85th position before climbing to 75th place in February, marking its strongest performance in recent editions of the index. However, the country's ranking later slipped to 78th in May and has now declined further to 81st in the latest report released on July 21.
NDTV reported that the Henley Passport Index is compiled using data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and evaluates 199 passports against 227 travel destinations worldwide. The 2026 edition also marks the 20th anniversary of the index.
According to NDTV, over the past two decades, the average passport's visa-free access has nearly doubled, increasing from 58 destinations in 2006 to 108 destinations today, highlighting the steady expansion of global travel mobility.
Singapore Continues To Lead Global Passport Rankings
Singapore has once again secured the top position in the latest Henley Passport Index, with its passport offering visa-free access to 192 destinations, NDTV reported.
Japan and South Korea continue to hold the second position, and this year they are joined by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). According to NDTV, the UAE recorded the biggest improvement since the January edition of the index, climbing three places to share second rank with 188 visa-free destinations.
Meanwhile, the United States has dropped to 10th place, with American passport holders enjoying visa-free access to 180 destinations, as reported by NDTV.
The latest rankings are as follows:
| Rank | Country/Countries | Visa-Free Destinations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore | 192 |
| 2 | Japan, South Korea, United Arab Emirates | 188 |
| 3 | Sweden | 187 |
| 4 | Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Spain | 186 |
| 5 | Austria, Greece, Malta, Portugal, Switzerland | 185 |
| 6 | Hungary, Poland, United Kingdom | 184 |
| 7 | Australia, Canada, Czechia, Latvia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Slovakia, Slovenia | 183 |
| 8 | Croatia, Estonia | 182 |
| 9 | Liechtenstein, Lithuania | 181 |
| 10 | Iceland, United States | 180 |
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