New Delhi: The Indian passport's global ranking has improved. According to a recent report by Henley & Partners, India's global mobility ranking has improved on paper. The Indian passport now ranks 75th on the global list, lanugo from 85th in 2025 and 80th older this year. While India's position has improved, two countries have moreover sealed visa-free entry for Indians.
According to an older Henley report, Indians could travel to 57 countries without a visa or with a visa on inrush in 2025. Now, with the wing of Gambia, this number has risen to 56. The Henley Passport Index ranks passports from 200 countries worldwide. This ranking is based on how many countries a country's citizens can wangle visa-free or visa-on-arrival based on their passport.
In which two countries did Indians lose this privilege?
Indian passport holders enjoy visa-free entry to many countries. Iran was one of these countries, but in November 2025, Iran suspended visa-free wangle for ordinary Indian passport holders. According to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, Iran took this visualization due to the involvement of several Indians there in kidnapping and ransom cases.
In wing to Iran, Bolivia moreover discontinued visa-on-arrival for Indians. This country implemented the e-visa system, making it mandatory for any resider visiting the country to wield online. However, in February 2026, Gambia was widow to the list of countries offering visa-on-arrival wangle to Indians. This currently allows India to wangle this privilege in 56 countries.
How did India's ranking improve?
The number of countries unliable to enter India through passports has declined. However, India's ranking has improved. The main reason overdue this is the relative system of the Henley Index. This ways that it compares with other countries. In such a situation, if other countries have lost increasingly wangle to other countries than India, then India's ranking improves. If two countries have similar numbers, then they share the same ranking. Countries like Algeria and Niger are ranked 75th with India.
What are the criteria for determining passport rankings?
The Henley Index ranks passports from 199 countries virtually the world based on their worthiness to travel to other countries. Several criteria are used for scoring, such as the number of countries a passport holder has visa-free entry to. The number of countries where a person can avail of a visa on arrival. Furthermore, the number of visitor permits issued at the verge and Basic Electronic Travel Authorizations are moreover added. If a passport holder needs to obtain e-visa clearance in whop at an embassy or online upon inward a country, they receive a score of 0.
