The Indian passport has seen a significant improvement in global mobility, climbing eight places to 77th on the Henley Passport Index 2025, up from 85th last year. This rise is impressive, especially considering that visa-free access has only expanded to two additional countries. Currently, Indian passport holders can travel to 59 destinations either visa-free or with visa-on-arrival privileges.
Among the countries open to Indian travellers are popular destinations like Malaysia, Indonesia, the Maldives, and Thailand, which allow visa-free entry. Other nations such as Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Macau offer visa-on-arrival options.
Meanwhile, Asian countries continue to lead the global mobility rankings. Singapore tops the list with access to 193 destinations, followed closely by Japan and South Korea. Several European countries, including France, Germany, and Italy, also rank highly with extensive visa-free access.
Seven European countries—Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain—are tied for third place, each offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 189 destinations. Just below them, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden share the fourth position.
In fifth place, New Zealand is joined by Greece and Switzerland, all providing extensive global travel freedom. Meanwhile the UK and the US have slipped slightly to sixth and tenth places, respectively. The UK passport now grants access to 186 destinations, and the US to 182, marking a decline from their former top spots in 2015 and 2014.
At the bottom of the index is Afghanistan, with visa-free access to only 25 destinations. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has made the largest gain in 2025, adding four destinations since January and reaching access to 91 countries. China, despite lacking visa-free access to the Schengen Area, has steadily improved its rank from 94th to 60th since 2015.
The Henley Passport Index evaluates passports based on the number of countries accessible without a prior visa. Although India’s ranking has improved, its overall mobility score remains modest when compared to leading countries.
Dr. Juerg Steffen, CEO of Henley & Partners, stated in a press release that Americans are currently leading global demand for alternative residence and citizenship options, with British nationals also ranking among the top five worldwide. He explained that as the US and UK adopt increasingly inward-looking policies, there has been a significant rise in interest from their citizens seeking greater global access and security.
Steffen further emphasized that passports are no longer just travel documents but also reflect a country’s diplomatic influence and international relationships. He noted that in an era marked by growing inequality and geopolitical uncertainty, strategic mobility and citizenship planning have become more important than ever.
According to the Henley Passport Report 2025, Indian passport holders have visa-free access to 30 countries including Angola, Barbados, Bhutan, British Virgin Islands, Cook Islands, Dominica, Fiji, Grenada, Haiti, Iran, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Macao, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Micronesia, Montserrat, Nepal, Niue, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vanuatu.
Additionally, there are 28 countries where Indian travelers can obtain a visa on arrival. These include Bolivia, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde Islands, Comoro Islands, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Jordan, Laos, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Palau Islands, Qatar, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, St. Lucia, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, and Zimbabwe.
There is also one country, Seychelles, that offers an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) — a digital travel permit allowing short-term visa-free visits or transit for Indian passport holders. Travelers are advised to verify visa requirements on official government websites before planning their trips, as rules can differ from country to country.
