According to the Henley Passport Index 2025, India’s passport has shown a significant improvement. India now ranks at 77th place in the global list. This means Indian citizens can now travel to 59 countries without a visa or by getting a visa on arrival (VoA). Last year, this number was 58, so this is a small but positive step forward.
What does this mean for travellers?
With this improvement, Indian travellers now have more international travel options. While the passport rankings of many other countries have stayed the same or gone down, India’s ranking has moved up. The Henley Index is based on how many countries a passport holder can visit without applying for a visa in advance.
Travel becomes easier for Indian passport holders
As of 22 July 2025, Indian passport holders can enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 59 countries. These include popular tourist destinations in Asia such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Maldives, and Thailand. Countries like Sri Lanka, Macau, and Myanmar are also offering visa-on-arrival, making travel even more convenient for Indians.
Not just European countries at the top
This year, it’s not just the European countries that lead the list. Some Asian countries are also doing well. For example:
- Singapore is now ranked first, allowing its citizens to travel to 193 countries without a visa.
- Japan and South Korea are in second place with access to 190 countries.
- Seven European countries including Germany, France, and Spain are in third place, giving their citizens access to 189 countries.
- New Zealand, Greece, and Switzerland are in fifth place with visa-free access to 188 countries.
- At the bottom of the list is Afghanistan, whose citizens can only visit 25 countries without a visa.
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US and UK passport rankings fall
In 2014 and 2015, the United States and the United Kingdom had the most powerful passports. However, in 2025, both countries have dropped one position. The UK now ranks sixth with access to 186 countries, while the US is in tenth place with 182 countries. Experts believe that stricter immigration rules may be one of the reasons for this drop.
Surprising countries in the new list
- Saudi Arabia made a big jump in early 2025, gaining visa-free access to four more countries. It now offers its citizens visa-free travel to 91 countries.
- China has improved its rank by 34 places since 2015 and now holds the 60th position. However, Chinese passport holders still cannot travel visa-free to Schengen countries in Europe.
Countries offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry to Indian citizens
Angola, Barbados, Bhutan, Bolivia, British Virgin Islands, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde Islands, Comoro Islands, Cook Islands, Djibouti, Dominica, Ethiopia, Fiji, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Laos, Macau (China), Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia, Mongolia, Montserrat, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niue, Palau Islands, Qatar, Rwanda, Samoa, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Zimbabwe.
This is a good sign for Indian citizens who want to explore the world more freely, whether for holidays, business, or work opportunities.