Henley Passport Index 2025 update: India has recorded its biggest-ever rise in the ranking of the world’s most powerful passports. In the latest quarterly update of the Henley Passport Index, created by the London-based global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners, India climbed eight spots to rank 77th, up from 85th last year.
The number of destinations Indian passport holders can now visit visa-free or with visa-on-arrival has increased marginally to 59 from 57.
Where can Indian passport holders travel visa-free?
Indian citizens can now travel to 59 destinations without needing to secure a visa beforehand. Popular Asian tourist hotspots such as Malaysia, Indonesia, the Maldives, and Thailand are among the countries offering visa-free entry, while Macau, and Myanmar, provide visa-on-arrival access.
The Philippines and Sri Lanka are the two countries that have been added to the list of visa-free destinations.
While the increase of just two additional countries may seem small, the diplomatic significance is larger: India has overtaken several neighbours in terms of travel freedom and now sits ahead of countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh in global mobility rankings.
Asia leads global mobility
Asian nations dominate the top of the Henley Index: Singapore holds the number one spot, offering visa-free travel to 193 destinations. Japan and South Korea are tied for second, each granting access to 190 countries.
Seven European countries — Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain — share the third spot with 189 destinations.
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Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden share the 4th place, while New Zealand, Greece, and Switzerland are tied for 5th.
Australia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Malta and Poland are tied at No. 7, while Canada, Estonia and the United Arab Emirates are at No. 8.
US, UK lose ground
Traditionally powerful passports like those of the United States and United Kingdom have seen a gradual decline: The UK has dropped to 6th place with access to 186 destinations, down from 5th in January. The US passport has slipped to 10th, offering entry to 182 destinations, a drop from 9th earlier this year.
Both countries have previously topped the index, the UK in 2015 and the US in 2014 but have seen waning influence as other nations increase their bilateral agreements and travel privileges.
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Rising stars: Saudi Arabia, China
Saudi Arabia made the largest gain in the latest update, adding four new visa-free destinations since January and now allowing travel to 91 countries. China has climbed a remarkable 34 places since 2015 — from 94th to 60th — though it still lacks visa-free access to the Schengen Area in Europe.
At the bottom of the Index, Afghanistan remains in last place at rank 99, offering its citizens visa-free access to only 25 destinations — one fewer than at the beginning of the year. Syria follows at 98th with access to 27 countries, and Iraq ranks 97th, with entry to just 30 destinations.
This creates a stark mobility gap of 168 destinations between the world’s most powerful and weakest passports, underscoring the vast inequality in global travel freedom.
Why passport strength matters
According to Dr Juerg Steffen, CEO of Henley & Partners, a passport today is more than a travel document — it reflects a country’s diplomatic influence, global integration, and foreign policy priorities.
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“Your passport is no longer just a travel document — it’s a reflection of your country’s diplomatic influence and international relationships. In an era of growing inequality and mounting geopolitical uncertainty, strategic mobility and citizenship planning are more critical than ever,” Steffen said in a press release.
He also noted the growing interest among American and British nationals in acquiring alternative citizenships, citing increased demand for residence-by-investment and second passport programmes.
The Henley Passport Index is a globally respected ranking of passports based on the number of destinations their holders can travel to without obtaining a visa in advance. The index is compiled using data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and is updated quarterly.
