October 24, 2025 | New Delhi, India
In a setback for India's global travel aspirations, the Indian passport has tumbled five spots to rank 85th in the Henley Passport Index 2025, granting holders visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to a mere 57 countries and territories—down from 62 last year. The annual ranking, released this week by Henley & Partners, underscores a reversal from mid-year gains, where India had briefly climbed to 77th in Q2 after adding access to Thailand and Ethiopia, only to slide back amid stalled diplomatic breakthroughs.
Singapore dominates the top spot with access to 195 destinations, followed closely by Japan (193) and a cluster of European powerhouses including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Finland, and South Korea (192 each). At the other end, Afghanistan languishes at 107th with just 26 destinations, while India's neighbors like Pakistan (101st, 33 destinations) and Bangladesh (93rd, 41) fare even worse. Notably, the United States has also slipped out of the top 10 to 9th place (186 destinations), reflecting broader geopolitical strains on mobility.
The decline, the second consecutive drop after a five-place fall in 2024, comes despite India's economic rise and aggressive outreach under the "Act East" and G20 diplomacy. Experts point to bureaucratic hurdles in visa negotiations, regional security concerns, and a post-pandemic tightening of borders as culprits. "India's passport strength lags behind its demographic and economic heft—visa-free access to just 57 spots hampers business travel and tourism, costing billions in opportunity," said Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners, during the index launch in London. The list of accessible destinations includes staples like Nepal, Bhutan, Thailand, and Mauritius, but excludes key markets such as the US, UK, and Schengen Europe, where Indians face stringent e-visa or tourist visa requirements.
Government officials downplayed the dip, emphasizing qualitative gains in bilateral ties. "Rankings fluctuate, but we've secured visa waivers with 10 new countries this year alone, and more are in the pipeline," a Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson told reporters in New Delhi, highlighting recent pacts with Sri Lanka and Kenya. Travel industry voices were less sanguine: "This erosion affects 1.4 billion Indians, from students to CEOs—urgent diplomacy is needed to unlock growth," urged Madhavan Nampoothiri, President of the Travel Agents Association of India.
The Henley Index, compiled using IATA data on 227 destinations, arrives as global mobility rebounds unevenly, with Asia-Pacific passports surging (e.g., UAE at 10th with 185 destinations) while others stagnate. For Indian passport holders eyeing wanderlust, the message is clear: Pack patience alongside your documents. As one social media user quipped on X, "From moon missions to visa missions—time to rank up our diplomacy." With eyes on 2026, New Delhi's passport playbook will be under the microscope.
For More News Updates Follow Us On Www.tconews.in
