Outlook Business Desk
India is ranked 80th in 2026, according to the Henley Passport Index, offering access to 55 destinations without a prior visa. The country shares its position with Algeria and Niger, keeping Indian passports in the lower half globally.
The Henley Passport Index 2026 ranks 199 passports using real-time International Air Transport Association visa data, showing how many destinations travellers can access visa-free, via visa-on-arrival or electronic travel authorisation.
With visa-free access to just 55 destinations, Indian passport holders must still secure advance visas for Europe, the UK, the US, Canada and large parts of East Asia, making short-notice leisure and business travel difficult despite some regional access.
Lower passport mobility continues to shape how Indians travel globally, leading to longer planning cycles, higher costs and extensive paperwork, especially for work travel, conferences, education and short-notice international trips.
Singapore remains the world’s strongest passport in 2026 with access to 192 destinations, followed by Japan and South Korea jointly at second, each offering visa-free entry to 188 destinations.
China is ranked 59th with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 81 destinations, while Saudi Arabia stands at 54th with entry to 88 countries. South Africa ranks higher at 48th, offering access to 101 destinations without a prior visa.
European passports continue to dominate the top tier, with Denmark, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Luxembourg ranking third, while ten European nations share fourth place globally.
On the other hand, the US re-enters the top ten in 2026, but both the US and UK record their steepest annual losses, reflecting longer-term declines linked to uncertain geopolitics and visa policies.