Henley Passport Index India Ranking: India Climbs 10 Spots But Loses Visa-Free Access To Two Countries
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A 10-place jump on the global passport index comes with a surprising drop in travel access
Henley Passport Index India Ranking: India Climbs 10 Spots But Loses Visa-Free Access To Two Countries
India’s global passport standing has improved in 2026 but the numbers behind that rise tell a more complicated story.
According to the latest Henley Passport Index, India now ranks 75th in the world, a notable jump from 85th place in 2025. Even more striking, the country climbed from 80th position in January 2026 to 75th in just a month.
On the surface, that sounds like a major win for travel mobility. But here’s the twist: Indian passport holders can currently access fewer destinations without prior visa approval than they could last year.
In 2025, Indians could enter 57 destinations without applying for a visa beforehand (including visa-on-arrival and certain electronic travel authorisations). That number dropped to 55 in January 2026 and now stands at 56 destinations as of February.
So how can a passport become stronger in ranking while losing access? The answer lies in how global mobility is measured.
What The Henley Passport Index Actually Measures
The Henley Passport Index compares 199 passports across 227 destinations worldwide, using data from the International Air Transport Association. Each passport earns points based on how many destinations its holders can access without obtaining a visa in advance. That includes:
- Visa-free entry
- Visa on arrival
- Entry permits issued at the border
- Simple electronic travel authorisations
If travellers must apply for approval before departure, whether through an embassy or a full e-visa process, the destination does not count.
Importantly, rankings are relative. Countries are compared against one another, not just against their own previous performance. That means a country can climb the rankings even if its access barely improves, or even declines, as long as others lose more ground.
The Two Countries India Lost
India’s reduced access in 2026 is primarily due to changes in visa policy from Iran and Bolivia.
Iran suspended visa-free entry for ordinary Indian passport holders in late 2025 following reported cases of fraud and trafficking involving Indian nationals. Travellers must now obtain a visa before departure, removing Iran from India’s visa-free list.
Bolivia’s change was procedural rather than political. The country moved Indian travellers from visa-on-arrival to an e-visa system requiring prior online approval. Because this involves advance authorisation, Bolivia no longer qualifies as visa-free in index calculations.
Together, these changes reduced India’s accessible destinations.
The Small Recovery And The Bigger Picture
There was some recovery within 2026. The inclusion of The Gambia raised India’s count from 55 in January to 56 in February. But that still falls short of the 57 destinations available in 2025.
Despite this dip, India’s ranking improved because global visa policies shifted for many countries at once. Several passports lost more access than India did, allowing it to move higher on the leaderboard.
Think of it like a race where everyone slows down, but some slow down more than others.
February 14, 2026, 11:26 IST
