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According to the Henley Passport Index, India has achieved the most substantial upward mobility of any jurisdiction, climbing to 77th place from 85th during the past six months. The Index ranks passports by the number of jurisdictions that will admit their holders without the need for a visa, thereby measuring the relative mobility conferred by national citizenship. India’s ascent continues a broader recalibration observed over the past several years, wherein passports of historically dominant countries—most notably the United States and the United Kingdom—have begun to slip while those of India and Saudi Arabia, among others, gain ground.
Dr. Juerg Steffen, Chief Executive of Henley & Partners, attributes the shift to emergent migration flows that are increasingly shaped by the protective policy orientations now evident in Washington and Westminster. In his words, “Citizens of the United States are now the global leaders in searches for alternative residency and citizenship options, and British passport holders rank among the five largest groups worldwide. As the US and UK governments adopt more insular regulatory regimes, the appetites of their citizens for expanded global mobility and security are correspondingly amplified.” His analysis appeared in a recent public statement from the firm.
As reported by the passport index, Singapore’s passport continues to hold the top global ranking in terms of travel freedom. Bearers of the Singaporean passport can access 193 out of 227 destinations worldwide without the requirement of obtaining a visa in advance. In stark contrast, the Afghan passport ranks at the bottom of the index, offering visa-free travel to only 25 destinations across the globe.
How India’s standing was boosted
India now ranks 77th on the global passport index, granting holders visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry to 59 jurisdictions. This advancement owes, in part, to the relative weakening of both U.S. and U.K. passports. According to Henley’s CEO, Stephen, a passport’s power now mirrors the effectiveness of a nation’s diplomacy and the strength of its international relationships. He remarked, “A passport is no longer simply a ticket to the gate; it is a barometer of national influence on the global stage.”
Saudi climbs; U.S. and U.K. dip
Saudi Arabia recorded the most substantial upward movement on the index over the past half-year, adding four new visa-free territories. Conversely, both the United Kingdom and United States fell one rank, landing in sixth and tenth positions, respectively. Henley & Partners cautioned in a recent statement that the United States could, for the first time, slide below the top ten. The latest update also lists the Philippines and Sri Lanka as new visa-free additions for Indian citizens.
Visa-free travel options for Indian passport holders:
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
St. Lucia
St. Kitts and Nevis
Zimbabwe
Sri Lanka
Vanuatu
Somalia
Sierra Leone
Seychelles
Senegal
Tuvalu
Samoa
Trinidad and Tobago
Qatar
Timor-Leste
Rwanda
Tanzania
Thailand
Philippines
Madagascar
Haiti
Macao (SAR China)
Dominica
Guinea-Bissau
Djibouti
Grenada
Cook Islands
Laos
Kiribati
Kenya
Kazakhstan
Comoro Islands
Jordan
Fiji
Jamaica
Cape Verde Islands
Ethiopia
Cambodia
Iran
Indonesia
Burundi
Angola
Barbados
Bhutan
Bolivia
British Virgin Islands
Malaysia
Maldives
Marshall Islands
Mauritius
Micronesia
Mongolia
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nepal
Niue
Palau Islands
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