It seems like the Indian passport has become slightly weaker. As per the latest global ranking of passport power, the 2025 Henley Passport Index, the Indian passport slipped by five places. This has placed India at the 85th position in the list. Meanwhile, the US has fallen out of the top 10. Keep reading for more details.
Indian Passport In 2025 Henley Passport Index
The Henley Passport Index, launched in 2005, features a total of 199 countries and shows how many destinations their citizens can travel to without a visa. Compared to the 2024 report, the Indian passport’s ranking has dropped from 80th to 85th position in the index. India’s passport ranking has fluctuated over time — in 2006, it was relatively strong at 71st, but by 2021, it had fallen to 90th, reported Hindustan Times.
Indian citizens enjoy visa relaxation across 57 countries in the world. Indians can travel visa-free to countries like Bhutan, Indonesia, Mauritius, Nepal, and Trinidad and Tobago. They enjoy visa on arrival in countries like Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Jordan, Qatar, Bolivia, Cambodia, and Ethiopia, among others.
Also Read: India Launches E-Passports: How To Apply. Eligibility, Benefits, And All You Need To Know
Strongest Passports In The World
Singapore continues to hold the top spot in 2025 Henley Passport Index, with visa-free access to 193 destinations, followed by South Korea and Japan. European countries such as Germany, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland also remain strong in the top 10, per Hindustan Times report.
1. Singapore
2. South Korea
3. Japan
4. Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, and Switzerland
5. Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, and the Netherlands
6. Greece, Hungary, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden
7. Australia, Czechia, Malta, Poland
8. Croatia, Estonia, Slovakia, Slovenia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom
9. Canada
10. Latvia
Coming to India’s neighbouring countries, Bhutan ranks in the 92nd place in the Henley Passport Index, with visa-free access to 50 destinations. Bangladesh is placed on the 100th position, enjoying visa-free access to 38 countries; Nepal is on 101st place with access to 36 countries; and Pakistan ranks 103rd, offering access to 31 countries.
Amid all this, the USA, which held the number 1 position in 2014, has now dropped to 12th in 2025. While Americans can travel to 180 countries without a visa, the US allows entry to citizens from only 46 nations without a visa. At the bottom of the 2025 index is Afghanistan, whose citizens can travel visa-free to just 24 destinations, followed by Syria with 26 and Iraq with 29.
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