Singapore now has the most powerful passport in the world; India gains two spots
Singapore leads as the world's most powerful passport, offering visa-free entry to 195 destinations. US slides to eighth place, while Afghanistan holds the weakest passport. India moves up to 83rd position, enhancing accessibility for its passport...
By ET Online | Updated:
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Singapore has reclaimed its position as the holder of the world’s most powerful passport, surpassing European countries like France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. According to the Henley Passport Index, a Singaporean passport now allows visa-free entry to 195 global destinations, the highest of any country. This achievement puts Singapore at the top of the index, displacing the four European nations, which now share the second spot alongside Japan.
For the first time, seven countries occupy the third position on the index. Citizens of Austria, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, South Korea, and Sweden can access 191 destinations without a visa. These rankings, compiled by London-based immigration consultancy Henley & Partners, use data from the International Air Transport Association to evaluate 199 passports’ access to 227 travel destinations.
“The ability to travel visa-free to a wide array of destinations is no longer merely a convenience,” said Henley’s Chief Executive Officer, Juerg Steffen. “It’s a powerful economic tool that can drive growth, foster international cooperation, and attract foreign investment.”
The United States has continued its decline on the Henley Passport Index, dropping one spot to eighth place. This extends its decade-long slide; the US was a joint first with the UK a decade ago. The UK now ranks fourth. At the other end of the spectrum, Afghanistan’s passport remains the world’s weakest, allowing visa-free entry to only 26 destinations.
India has improved its ranking on the Henley Passport Index, moving up to the 82nd position, with visa-free access to 58 countries. India had previously reached the 80th position in January when the 2024 rankings were first announced. This progress reflects increasing accessibility for Indian passport holders, who can now travel to several countries without a visa.
Here is what not to miss in each country, and how much a one week long holiday will cost you.
*flight fares not included
Here is a complete list of places Indians can visit without obtaining a visa beforehand:
For the first time, seven countries occupy the third position on the index. Citizens of Austria, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, South Korea, and Sweden can access 191 destinations without a visa. These rankings, compiled by London-based immigration consultancy Henley & Partners, use data from the International Air Transport Association to evaluate 199 passports’ access to 227 travel destinations.
“The ability to travel visa-free to a wide array of destinations is no longer merely a convenience,” said Henley’s Chief Executive Officer, Juerg Steffen. “It’s a powerful economic tool that can drive growth, foster international cooperation, and attract foreign investment.”
The United States has continued its decline on the Henley Passport Index, dropping one spot to eighth place. This extends its decade-long slide; the US was a joint first with the UK a decade ago. The UK now ranks fourth. At the other end of the spectrum, Afghanistan’s passport remains the world’s weakest, allowing visa-free entry to only 26 destinations.
India has improved its ranking on the Henley Passport Index, moving up to the 82nd position, with visa-free access to 58 countries. India had previously reached the 80th position in January when the 2024 rankings were first announced. This progress reflects increasing accessibility for Indian passport holders, who can now travel to several countries without a visa.
India's passport has advanced to the 80th position in the latest Henley Passport Index. This new ranking permits Indian citizens to travel to 62 countries without needing a prior visa.
Here is what not to miss in each country, and how much a one week long holiday will cost you.
*flight fares not included
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Here is a complete list of places Indians can visit without obtaining a visa beforehand:
- Angola
- Barbados
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- British Virgin Islands
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cape Verde Islands
- Comoro Islands
- Cook Islands
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- El Salvador
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- Gabon
- Grenada
- Guinea-Bissau
- Haiti
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Jamaica
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Laos
- Macao (SAR China)
- Madagascar
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Micronesia
- Montserrat
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Nepal
- Niue
- Oman
- Palau Islands
- Qatar
- Rwanda
- Samoa
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- Sri Lanka
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Togo
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Tuvalu
- Vanuatu
- Zimbabwe
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