India Climbs To 77th Rank In Henley Passport Index 2025, Visa-Free Entry To 59 Countries Now
The two new countries that have become visa-free destinations for Indians are: Sri Lanka and the Philippines.
India’s passport ranking has improved, rising to the 77th spot, up from 80th in 2024, according to the Henley Passport Index 2025, released on July 18. India’s best position on the global passport list so far has been 71st rank, achieved in 2006.
London-based global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley and Partners released the index, positioning India ahead of its neighbours, such as Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal.
Indian passport holders can now travel to 59 countries without needing a visa in advance. These countries allow Indians to travel visa-free or provide visa-on-arrival service. Earlier, this figure stood at 57. This means Indian citizens have greater freedom to travel abroad now.
Some of the most popular Asian travel destinations offer easy, visa-free access to Indians. These include Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Maldives. On the other hand, Macau and Myanmar offer visas on arrival.
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The two new countries that have become visa-free destinations for Indians are: Sri Lanka and the Philippines. In October 2024, Sri Lanka announced the move to offer visa-free access to Indians, while the Philippines announced a similar move in May.
India shares 77th rank with three other nations: Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire and Senegal. Meanwhile, Bhutan is at 81st spot, Myanmar at 88th, Sri Lanka 91st and Bangladesh 94th. Nepal is at 95th rank, while Pakistan is at 96th spot.
According to the Henley Passport Index 2025, Singapore has replaced France as the most powerful passport globally, with access to 193 nations. Japan and South Korea are sharing the second spot, while Denmark and Finland are third.
A total of 36 countries share the top 10 positions on the index, with several tied at the same rank. Canada holds the 8th position, while the United States is ranked 10th. Afghanistan came in last in Henley Passport Index 2025 with access to just 25 countries.
