India’s passport has dropped to 81st place in the latest edition of the Henley Passport Index, down from 75th earlier this year.
The index ranks passports based on the number of destinations their holders can visit without obtaining a visa in advance. According to the latest rankings, Indian passport holders currently have visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 55 destinations.
India’s ranking has fluctuated throughout the year. It began 2026 in 85th place, climbed to 75th in February, slipped to 78th in May, and has now fallen to 81st.
The Henley Passport Index is compiled using data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and compares 199 passports across 227 travel destinations. It is one of the world’s most widely used measures of passport strength.
At the top of the rankings, Singapore retained the number one position, with its passport offering visa-free access to 192 destinations. Japan, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates jointly secured second place, with access to 188 destinations. The UAE was also the biggest climber in the latest rankings.
Meanwhile, the United States slipped to 10th place, with visa-free access to 180 destinations.
A passport’s ranking reflects the number of countries its holders can enter without applying for a visa beforehand. It does not measure the overall quality of a country’s passport or the ease of obtaining one. Rankings can change over time as countries sign or revise visa agreements with one another.
While India’s position has declined since February, passport rankings are updated regularly and often change as international travel agreements evolve.
