Indians Can Now Travel To 55 Countries Without A Visa But Not THESE 4 Nations

Planning an overseas trip this year? If yes, then you should know a few important things before you start planning. India’s passport now offers visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 55 destinations, but four countries have now changed these rules for Indian travellers. Keep reading to know which of these four countries are and how you can plan in advance.

4 Countries Have Changed Their Visa Rules For Indians 

Visa-free entry and visa on arrival have made travel a lot easier. They save time, remove additional paperwork and make it easier to plan last-minute trips. But in 2026, four countries decided to change their rules for Indians. Some have completely stopped visa-free entry, while others have ended visa on arrival for Indian travellers. This means that if you are planning to visit any of these countries, you will have to get approval before leaving India.

According to NDTV, these are the four countries that have updated their rules:

1. Iran: Iran has now changed its rules and suspended its visa-waiver programme for Indian passport holders. This means that it is no longer visa-free.
2. Bolivia: Bolivia has also updated its rules and ended visa on arrival for Indian travellers. This means that you will have to apply online and get your visa approved before travelling.
3. Cape Verde Islands: The Cape Verde Islands have also removed visa on arrival for Indian travellers. Now, arriving without a valid visa could result in entry being denied.
4. Nicaragua: Nicaragua has also scrapped its visa-on-arrival rule. Travellers must now receive prior authorisation from Nicaragua’s immigration authorities before boarding their flight.

Also Read: South Africa Rolls Out 48-Hour ETA Visa For Indian Travellers; Here’s How To Apply

Indian Travellers Can Still Visit 55 Destinations Without A Traditional Visa

 

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But don’t worry. There are still 55 destinations Indians can visit without a traditional visa or with a visa on arrival. According to Gulf News, these are:

Visa-Free Entry

1. Angola
2. Barbados
3. Bhutan
4. British Virgin Islands
5. Cook Islands
6. Dominica
7. Fiji
8. Grenada
9. Haiti
10. Jamaica
11. Kazakhstan
12. Kiribati
13. Macao
14. Malaysia
15. Mauritius
16. Micronesia
17. Montserrat
18. Nepal
19. Philippines
20. Rwanda
21. Senegal
22. St Vincent and the Grenadines
23. Thailand
24. The Gambia
25. Trinidad and Tobago
26. Vanuatu

Visa On Arrival

1. Burundi
2. Cambodia
3. Djibouti
4. Ethiopia
5. Guinea-Bissau
6. Indonesia
7. Jordan
8. Laos
9. Madagascar
10. Maldives
11. Marshall Islands
12. Mongolia
13. Mozambique
14. Myanmar
15. Niue
16. Palau Islands
17. Qatar
18. Samoa
19. Sierra Leone
20. Sri Lanka
21. St Lucia
22. Tanzania
23. Timor-Leste
24. Tuvalu
25. Zimbabwe

Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)

1. Kenya
2. Seychelles
3. St Kitts
4. Nevis

According to the latest Henley Passport Index, India now ranks 81st, down from 75th in February 2026. Indian passport holders now have visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 55 destinations, while last year the number stood at 57. This means visa rules keep changing, and anyone planning an international holiday should always check the latest immigration rules before travelling to avoid any last-minute issues.

Also Read: What Is Destination Gatekeeping & Why Are Travellers Choosing It?

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