India has improved its global passport ranking in 2026, moving up to 75th place in the Henley Passport Index. The rise, however, contrasts with a slight reduction in travel access for Indian passport holders, who now have visa-free entry to 56 countries, down from 57 in 2025.
The Henley Passport Index, which ranks 199 passports against 227 global destinations based on travel freedom, shows that India’s position strengthened despite a drop in visa-free destinations. The country’s ranking advanced from 85th in 2025 to 80th in January 2026, before reaching 75th in the latest update—a 10-place year-on-year improvement.
Reduction in Visa-Free Access
While India’s ranking improved, the number of countries offering visa-free access fell due to policy changes in Iran and Bolivia. Iran suspended visa-free entry for ordinary Indian passport holders in November 2025 following reports of fraud and trafficking involving Indian nationals. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, some individuals were reportedly lured with false job offers and subsequently abducted for ransom.
Bolivia, which previously granted Indian citizens visa-on-arrival, transitioned to a pre-approved e-visa system. Under Henley’s methodology, destinations requiring prior approval before departure do not count as visa-free or visa-on-arrival, resulting in Bolivia no longer contributing to India’s visa-free total.
Global Ranking Context
The Henley Passport Index calculates rankings using data from the International Air Transport Association. Each passport is awarded one point per destination that allows entry without a pre-departure visa, including visa-free travel, visa-on-arrival, and certain electronic travel authorisations. Rankings are relative: a country’s position depends not only on its own score but also on the performance of other passports.
India now sits alongside peers with similar scores, such as Algeria and Niger, while the top 74 positions are held by countries offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to more than 56 destinations. The Gambia was added to India’s list of visa-free countries in February 2026, contributing to the overall tally.
The data underscores the nuanced nature of global travel freedom: while India has made notable progress in global ranking, ongoing changes in visa policies abroad continue to shape the practical mobility of its citizens.
