🔗 Share this article The Reasons Behind the Indian Passport Continues to Drop in Global Ranking India's passport ranks the eighty-fifth position out of one hundred ninety-nine countries according to the Henley Passport Index In recent months, an online clip from an Indian travel influencer complaining about India's weak passport gained massive traction on social media. He mentioned that while nearby nations like Bhutan and Sri Lanka were more welcoming of travelers from India, securing travel permits to travel to most Western and European countries continued to be difficult. This dissatisfaction with India's poor passport strength was reflected in the latest Henley Passport Index, ranking India at position eighty-five out of nearly two hundred nations, five spots lower than last year. The Indian government has not commented on the report yet. Nations including Rwanda, Ghana and Azerbaijan despite smaller economic size than India – a nation that is the fifth-largest economy globally – hold better positions on the index at the 78th, 74th and 72nd spots, respectively. Actually, India's rank in the past decade has hovered around the eighties, falling to the 90th spot in 2021. These rankings are dismal when measured against other Asian countries like Japan, South Korea and Singapore, all maintaining top positions. Citizens of India can enjoy travel without visas to 57 countries What Passport Strength Measures The power of a passport reflects a country's global influence and international standing. It also translates into better mobility for its citizens, improving commercial and educational prospects. A weak passport results in more paperwork, higher visa costs, reduced travel benefits and extended processing periods for travel. However, even with the decline in the rank, the count of nations providing visa-free travel to Indians has actually increased in the past decade or so. As an instance, in 2014 – when Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling party came to power – fifty-two nations offered visa-free travel for Indian passport holders with the passport ranked 76th in the ranking. A year later, it fell to eighty-fifth place, then improved to 80th in 2023 and 2024, dropping again to the 85th position currently. Meanwhile, countries allowing visa-free travel to Indian citizens grew from 52 in 2015 to sixty last year and 62 in 2024. The Competitive Global Mobility Landscape The count of visa-free destinations in 2025 (57) exceeds what it was in 2015 (fifty-two), yet India's rank during both periods is 85. What explains this situation? Experts say that a primary factor involves growing competition in international travel – indicating that countries are entering into more travel partnerships to benefit their citizens and their economies. According to a 2025 report, the worldwide mean number of destinations people can visit visa-free has nearly doubled from fifty-eight nineteen years ago to 109 in 2025. For example, China has increased the number of visa-free countries available to its citizens from 50 to 82 over the last ten years. As a result, its position on the index has enhanced from 94th to 60th in that same duration. In comparison, India – previously positioned 77th on the index in July – dropped to eighty-fifth place in October following the loss to two countries. Singapore's passport is the most powerful globally Other Influences Affecting Passport Strength An ex-diplomat from India says multiple elements influencing a nation's passport power, like its economic and political stability plus its receptiveness to accepting travelers from other countries. For instance, the US passport has fallen of the top 10 currently holding twelfth place – its lowest ever – because of its more inward-looking approach in world politics. The diplomat recalls how in the 1970s, Indian citizens had visa-free travel to numerous European and Western nations, but that changed following Sikh separatist movement in the 1980s. Subsequent political upheavals have further chipped away the country's reputation as a stable, democratic country. "Many countries are growing increasingly wary regarding migrants," the diplomat added. "The country possesses a high number of citizens emigrating to other countries or overstaying their visas affecting the national image." Factors like the security level a country's passport is and immigration processes also contribute to obtaining visa-free access to other countries. Security and Technological Improvements India's passport remains vulnerable to security risks. Last year, authorities arrested over two hundred individuals for suspected passport and visa irregularities. India is also known for complex immigration processes with lengthy timelines of visa processing. The diplomat indicated that new technologies, such as the newly introduced digital passport or e-passport, may enhance safety and ease the immigration process. This electronic document includes a microchip holding biometric information, making it harder to forge or tamper with the passport. But, more diplomatic outreach and travel agreements continue essential to boosting international travel freedom for Indian citizens and consequently, the Indian passport's global position.