India's passport has notably improved its standing on the Henley Passport Index 2025, climbing three positions from last year to secure the 77th spot globally. The report, evaluates passports based on the number of countries their holders can enter without a prior visa. India now shares this ranking with Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, and Senegal, all offering visa-free travel to 59 destinations worldwide.
This marks the second consecutive year of improvement for the Indian passport on the influential index, which assesses 199 different passports against 227 travel destinations. While the absolute number of countries offering visa-free access to Indians was slightly higher at 62 last year, the overall improvement in ranking reflects a relative strengthening of the Indian passport compared to others globally. Indian citizens can now travel visa-free to 19 nations in Africa, 18 in Asia, 10 in North America, 10 across Oceania, and one in South America.
Globally, Singapore has retained its top position for another year, facilitating visa-less travel to an impressive 194 countries. It stands alone at the pinnacle this year, unlike in 2024 when it shared the lead with Japan, Germany, Italy, Spain, and France. Japan and South Korea are tied for the second spot, granting visa-free entry to 190 nations, while Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain jointly hold the third position, offering access to 189 countries. In a comparative note, India's neighbour Pakistan has also seen an improvement, moving to 96th from its 101st rank last year.
The Henley Passport Index, widely regarded as an authoritative ranking, compiles its data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). This latest report underscores a positive trajectory for India’s travel mobility on the international stage.