India slips to 125th in Global Passport Index 2026, offers visa-free access to 26 destinations

India has slipped one place to 125th in the Global Passport Index 2026, reversing the modest gains it made over the past year and remaining outside the world's top 100 passports.

The Indian passport now provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to just 26 destinations. India had improved to 124th in the 2025 rankings after being placed 127th between 2021 and 2023, but has since lost ground.

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In the latest rankings, India trails countries such as the Philippines, Morocco, Uzbekistan and Namibia, while ranking ahead of Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan.

Indian passport holders can travel without a prior visa, or obtain one on arrival, in destinations including Bhutan, Nepal, Jamaica, Macau, Palestine, Tunisia, Angola and Barbados. However, they still require a visa to enter around 88 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, China and the United Arab Emirates.

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Within the neighbourhood, China emerged as the highest-ranked country at 104th, well ahead of India. However, India continues to outperform several South Asian peers, with Nepal ranked 164th, Bangladesh 166th and Pakistan near the bottom of the list at 188th.

The Global Passport Index 2026 is led overwhelmingly by European countries, highlighting the region's continued dominance in global travel mobility. Both the United States and France narrowly missed the top 10, sharing the 11th position, while Canada ranked 13th, reinforcing the strength of North American passports alongside Europe's leading performers.