Indian passport rises to 84th rank in Henley Passport Index 2026; visa-free access to 55 destinations

India has moved up one place to 84th in the October 2026 Henley Passport Index, despite a decline in the number of destinations accessible to Indian passport holders without a prior visa. The latest ranking places India alongside Algeria and Mauritania, with a score of 55 destinations. In the October 2025 edition, India ranked 85th with access to 57 destinations, according to the index.

The Henley Passport Index ranks 199 passports against 227 travel destinations based on the number of places their holders can access without obtaining a visa beforehand. It uses data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Singapore leads the October 2026 ranking, with access to 193 destinations, followed by Japan, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates, which share second place with 188 destinations each.


Where can Indians travel without a prior visa?

The index's score includes destinations offering visa-free entry, visa-on-arrival facilities and electronic travel authorisations. These categories have different requirements, and a score of 55 does not mean Indians can enter all 55 destinations without any formalities.

A few destinations listed as visa-free for Indian passport holders include: Angola, Barbados, Bhutan, British Virgin Islands, Cook Islands, Dominica, Fiji, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Macao (SAR China), Malaysia, Mauritius, Micronesia, Montserrat, Nepal, Niue, Rwanda, Senegal, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vanuatu.

Entry conditions, permitted stays and passport-validity requirements vary by destination. Travellers should check official immigration guidance before departure.

What India's ranking means

The improvement from 85th to 84th does not indicate an increase in travel access. India's score fell from 57 to 55 destinations between the two October editions, demonstrating that a country's rank can improve even when its score declines, depending on changes in other countries' scores. For Indian travellers, visa requirements remain an important consideration when planning overseas holidays, business trips and family visits. The ranking measures travel access, however, and does not determine eligibility for work visas, student visas or permanent residency abroad.