According to the Henley Passport Index 2026, India’s passport ranking improved to 75th from 85th in 2025, reflecting stronger global mobility. However, the number of visa-free destinations decreased slightly to 56, down from 57, due to restrictions by Iran and Bolivia.
Henley Passport Index: India Gains but Loses Access to Iran, Bolivia
New Delhi: The latest edition of the Henley Passport Index 2026 has been released, showing an improvement in India's global mobility status. In terms of ranking, India is ranked 75th this year, compared to 85th in 2025. This is considered a significant improvement of 10 points.
India was ranked 80th in January 2026, and in just one month, its ranking has risen to 75th. The Henley Passport Index is based on 227 different travel destinations and 199 passports. It considers the number of countries passport holders can travel to without a visa or through simplified procedures.
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This ranking includes visa-free, visa-on-arrival, and Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). This means that a passport's mobility score is determined based on the number of countries it can enter without any advance paperwork. The greater the number of visa-free countries available, the stronger the passport is considered.
Although India's ranking has improved, the number of countries with visa-free or easy entry has declined slightly. The number increased from 55 in January 2026 to 56 in February, down from 57 in 2025. Iran and Bolivia are responsible for this decline.
Iran suspended visa-free entry for ordinary Indian passport holders in November 2025, citing fraud and trafficking cases involving Indian citizens. Indians were lured to Iran with false job offers and kidnapped for ransom. Bolivia also made similar changes to its visa-free facility.
Henley Passport Index 2025: Singapore reclaims top spot, India and USA slip in rankings
India's passport ranking improved in 2026, but the decline in the number of visa-free countries indicates continued fluctuations in travel ease. According to the Henley Passport Index, the strength of a passport is determined not only by its ranking, but also by the number of visa-free and easy travel countries. This improvement is a positive sign for India, but restrictions in some countries will continue due to security and international concerns.
