By TCO News Desk
New Delhi, India – January 18, 2026
In a modest yet meaningful stride for global mobility, India's passport has surged five spots to claim the 80th position in the 2026 Henley Passport Index, unlocking visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 55 destinations worldwide. The annual ranking, compiled by Henley & Partners using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), underscores a subtle thaw in international travel barriers for the world's most populous nation, even as it lags behind regional powerhouses like the UAE.
Singapore continues to dominate the charts, holding the top spot with seamless access to 192 countries and territories—a testament to the city-state's savvy diplomacy and economic clout. Trailing closely are Japan and South Korea, both tied for second with 188 destinations, followed by a cluster of European heavyweights including Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland at third with 185 each. The UAE, a Middle Eastern beacon of passport prowess, vaults to fifth place with 184 destinations, having added a staggering 149 visa-free scores over the past two decades through aggressive bilateral pacts.
India's incremental climb from 85th last year reflects a series of hard-won diplomatic maneuvers, chief among them Germany's recent waiver of the Airport Transit Visa (ATV) for Indian travelers. Announced during German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's January visit to India, the policy—effective immediately—spares passport holders the €90 fee and bureaucratic hurdles for layovers at Frankfurt and Munich airports, streamlining routes to the UK, Canada, and beyond. "This is a game-changer for business travelers and students, cutting red tape and fostering deeper ties," said External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in a briefing, crediting the move to enhanced India-Germany strategic partnerships.
Other contributors to the uptick include visa-on-arrival expansions with Thailand and Sri Lanka, alongside electronic visa simplifications from Indonesia and Kenya, per Henley analysts. Yet, the gains are tempered by persistent challenges: India's score of 55 pales against the global average of 110, hampered by geopolitical frictions and security perceptions in key Western markets. "While every step counts, India's passport still symbolizes a mobility gap for its 1.4 billion citizens," noted Dr. Juerg Steffen, CEO of Henley & Partners, in the report's foreword. "Targeted reforms in labor and tourism visas could propel it further."
The index also spotlights stark regional disparities. While the UAE's ascent—fueled by deals with Russia, China, and the EU—positions it as a mobility magnet for expatriates and investors, neighbors like Pakistan (109th, 34 destinations) and Bangladesh (92nd, 42) trail India, underscoring the subcontinent's uneven diplomatic dividends. Social media buzzed with mixed reactions: X users hailed the progress as "a win for Viksit Bharat," but others lamented, "80th? We're still visa slaves compared to Dubai passports."
As air travel rebounds post-pandemic—with IATA forecasting 5 billion passengers in 2026—the Henley Index serves as a barometer for soft power. For India, aiming for developed-nation status by 2047, bolstering passport strength through multilateral forums like the G20 could accelerate gains. Until then, the 80th rung offers quiet optimism: a reminder that in the passport arena, progress is passport to possibility.
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