Henley Passport Index: Asian countries continue to dominate the race for the world’s most powerful passports. Singapore holds the No. 1 spot for the third consecutive year, with its citizens able to enter 192 countries visa-free. Japan and South Korea share second place.
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Henley Passport Index: Good news for Indian travelers. They can now enter many countries without a visa or pre-filled form. The Indian passport has jumped five places in the Henley Passport Index 2026, released by London-based Henley & Partners. India has now reached 80th place on the list of the world’s most powerful passports. In 2025, India was ranked 85th. With this improvement, Indian citizens can now travel visa-free or visa-on-arrival to 55 countries worldwide.
Singapore Remains No. 1 for the Third Consecutive Year
Asian countries continue to dominate the race for the world’s most powerful passports. Singapore holds the No. 1 spot for the third consecutive year, with its citizens able to enter 192 countries visa-free. Japan and South Korea share second place.
Indians can enjoy visa-free entry to these countries
Indian passport holders can now easily travel visa-free to these countries:
Asia: Bhutan, Nepal, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, and Sri Lanka.
Middle East: Qatar (visa-on-arrival) and Iran.
Africa: Mauritius, Seychelles, Kenya, and Tanzania.
Caribbean and other: Jamaica, Fiji, Barbados, and El Salvador.
What does the improved ranking mean?
According to Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners, passport power reflects a country’s political stability, diplomatic credibility, and economic influence. This improvement in India’s ranking is a positive step towards India’s growing diplomatic relations and ease of international travel globally. However, there remains a significant gap compared to the top countries, which will require more bilateral agreements to bridge.
Top destinations for Indian travellers
Visa-Free options for easy travel
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, Vanuatu
Visa-on-Arrival / ETA options for flexible trips
Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde Islands, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Philippines, Palau Islands, Qatar, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, Zimbabwe
Planning to travel this year? Check out all Visa-Free and VOA countries for your bucket list
- Angola (Visa-Free)
- Barbados (Visa-Free)
- Bhutan (Visa-Free)
- British Virgin Islands (Visa-Free)
- Burundi (VOA)
- Cambodia (VOA)
- Cape Verde Islands (VOA)
- Comoro Islands (VOA)
- Cook Islands (Visa-Free)
- Djibouti (VOA)
- Dominica (Visa-Free)
- Ethiopia (VOA)
- Fiji (Visa-Free)
- Grenada (Visa-Free)
- Guinea-Bissau (VOA)
- Haiti (Visa-Free)
- Indonesia (VOA)
- Jamaica (Visa-Free)
- Jordan (VOA)
- Kazakhstan (Visa-Free)
- Kenya (ETA required)
- Kiribati (Visa-Free)
- Laos (VOA)
- Macao (SAR China, Visa-Free)
- Madagascar (VOA)
- Malaysia (Visa-Free)
- Maldives (VOA)
- Marshall Islands (VOA)
- Mauritius (Visa-Free)
- Micronesia (Visa-Free)
- Mongolia (VOA)
- Montserrat (Visa-Free)
- Mozambique (VOA)
- Myanmar (ETA)
- Nepal (Visa-Free)
- Niue (Visa-Free)
- Philippines (VOA)
- Palau Islands (VOA)
- Qatar (VOA)
- Rwanda (Visa-Free)
- Samoa (VOA)
- Senegal (Visa-Free)
- Seychelles (ETA)
- Sierra Leone (VOA)
- Somalia (VOA)
- Sri Lanka (VOA)
- St. Kitts and Nevis (ETA)
- St. Lucia (VOA)
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines (Visa-Free)
- Tanzania (VOA)
- Thailand (Visa-Free)
- Timor-Leste (VOA)
- Trinidad and Tobago (Visa-Free)
- Tuvalu (VOA)
- Vanuatu (Visa-Free)
- Zimbabwe (VOA)
