India Rises to 75th in 2026 Henley Passport Index

Indian passport holders have gained ground in global travel mobility, climbing 10 places to the 75th position in the latest Henley Passport Index for 2026, up from 85th the previous year. The ranking, released by Henley and Partners and based on data from the International Air Transport Association, evaluates 199 passports according to access to 227 destinations worldwide without a prior visa.

The improvement comes despite a modest decline in the total number of destinations available to Indian travelers on a visa-free or visa-on-arrival basis. Currently, Indian citizens can visit 56 such locations, down slightly from 57 in 2025 but up from 55 earlier in 2026. This shift reflects changes in reciprocal visa agreements and broader declines in mobility scores for other nations, allowing India to advance relative to its peers. Experts attribute the upward movement to India's expanding diplomatic ties, particularly in Asia and Africa, though the passport remains below its historical high of 71st place achieved in 2006.

Over the past decade, India's ranking has fluctuated amid evolving global travel policies, including restrictions during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The country...