India’s passport ranks 73rd in the latest Passport Index, with changes in visa-free and visa-on-arrival access affecting global mobility
India’s passport has slipped seven places in the latest 2026 global passport rankings, with the country now placed 73rd in the Passport Power Rank. The ranking measures the travel mobility available to passport holders based on visa-free and visa-on-arrival access to destinations around the world.
According to NDTV, the latest real-time Global Passport Power Rank places the United Arab Emirates at the top, while India shares the 73rd position with Zimbabwe, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Sao Tome and Principe, and Viet Nam.
The Passport Index, developed and powered by Arton Capital, ranks passports according to their Mobility Score. The score takes into account the number of destinations that passport holders can visit without obtaining a visa in advance, as well as destinations offering visa-on-arrival facilities.
A higher Mobility Score indicates greater international travel mobility for passport holders, NDTV reported.
What Is The Global Passport Power Rank?
The Global Passport Power Rank is an interactive ranking system that compares passports based on their overall mobility. The Passport Index is updated as visa policies, visa waivers and other international travel arrangements change.
The ranking considers visa-free and visa-on-arrival privileges when calculating a passport's Mobility Score. This means that changes in a country's visa agreements with other nations can directly affect its position in the index.
According to NDTV, the latest ranking evaluates passports from 199 countries and territories, with the UAE at the top and Afghanistan at the bottom.
UAE Has The Most Powerful Passport
The United Arab Emirates currently occupies the top position in the Global Passport Power Rank.
According to the ranking cited by NDTV, the UAE has a Mobility Score of 181. UAE passport holders can travel to 138 countries without obtaining a visa in advance, while 43 destinations offer visa-on-arrival access.
Passport holders from the UAE are required to obtain a visa before travelling to 17 countries.
The UAE's position at the top of the Passport Index has also been highlighted by Arton Capital. The organisation has reported that the country has maintained its position as the world's leading passport in the index, reflecting its extensive network of international travel access.
Where Does India Stand?
India is currently ranked 73rd in the latest 2026 ranking, with a Mobility Score of 69, according to NDTV.
India shares the position with Zimbabwe, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Sao Tome and Principe, and Viet Nam.
Indian passport holders currently have visa-free access to 25 countries, while 39 countries provide visa-on-arrival access. For 129 countries, Indian travellers are required to obtain a visa before travelling.
The latest figures represent a change from the previous year's ranking. India's passport was ranked 66th in 2025, when its Mobility Score stood at 73.
According to NDTV, Indian passport holders had visa-free access to 25 countries in the previous ranking, while 44 countries offered visa-on-arrival access. Visas were required for 125 destinations.
The latest figures therefore show a reduction in visa-on-arrival access and an increase in the number of destinations where Indian passport holders need to obtain a visa in advance.
In comparison with 2025, India now requires visas for four additional countries and has lost visa-on-arrival access to five countries, NDTV reported.
For travellers, such changes can have a practical impact, particularly when planning international holidays, business trips or last-minute travel. Visa requirements can influence how much preparation is needed before travelling, including applications, documentation, processing times and associated costs.
Government Questions Global Passport Rankings
The Indian government has previously raised questions about the methodology used by international passport ranking organisations.
NDTV reported that the government responded to questions surrounding India's position in global passport rankings, with Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh addressing the issue in a written response to the Lok Sabha on July 31.
"The government is aware of some such ratings which are published by certain private institutions based on parameters unilaterally decided by them," Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said in a written response to the Lok Sabha on 31 July.
The government also highlighted the absence of a universally accepted methodology for comparing passport strength globally.
"In the absence of universally acceptable criteria to rank passports, there is no ranking system for passports at global level that can be taken as a standard," the government said.
According to NDTV, the government's position means that such rankings should not necessarily be treated as an official or universally accepted measure of a country's passport strength.
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