Indian Passport Ranking 2026
The Indian passport is your first ticket to unexplored avenues across the world. Under the Henley Passport Index 2026, the Indian passport now ranks 80 out of 99 countries. To learn about the global comparison indices, and global ranking historical trends, read on to learn everything about the ranking of the Indian passport in the world.
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Passport Ranking Indices in the World
The strength of any nation's passport is a pivotal factor in deciding the travel opportunities of its citizens. Here are the two most popular passport indices that assess different passports for their openness, travel freedom and passport strength:
- Henley Passport Index
- Arton Capital's Passport Index
Both indices use different parameters to evaluate a country’s passport ranking every year. For this reason, both have different countries at varying ranks, which is why the Henley passport index ranking for Indian passport differs from the Arton Capital Index 2026 India ranking.
What is the Henley Passport Index?
Henley & Partners is a London-based citizenship and residence advisory firm. The Henley Passport Index ranks about 199 passports depending on the total number of places these passport holders can visit without a prior visa.
This global passpord ranking leaderboard is based on the data provided by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). It has a point-based system that awards points to passports based on their global travel freedom. This considers factors like requirements for visitor permit exemptions, visa on arrival access, and eTA requirements on the Henley Passport Index 2026.
What is the Global Passport Index?
Arton Capital's passport index is an interactive online tool that uses real-time information to determine global passport strength. An initiative by Arton Capital, this Passport Index has become a reputed passport ranking reference since 2014.
It follows a different approach than the Henley passport index, including real-time data as per the latest official information & other publicly available sources. It covers the 193 UN member countries and 6 territories to determine real-time scores.
Evaluation of Passport Strength
The Henley Passport Index evaluates passports of different countries across the world based on global travel freedom, i.e., how many destinations a passport holder can visit visa-free or on a visa-on-arrival on their passport?
Global travel freedom is the most important factors considered in passport ranking 2026 evaluations. As of now, a total number of 199 passports and 227 travel destinations are evaluated over an 18 year dataset.
Different world citizens enjoy different global travel freedoms. When travellers evaluate if Indian passport is strong or weak, the Indian passport falls into a mid-tier category, with significant travel freedom.
On the other hand, many travellers from other countries may be denied a visa even if they apply before their scheduled departure. While reasons for visa denial or visa refusal are many, it helps to have a strong passport.
Indian Passport Ranking in the World 2026
In 2026, the Indian passport ranking 2026 moved to #80 on the Henley Passport Index, a significant improvement from its #85 rank in 2025.
Meanwhile, as per Arton Capital's Global Passport Index, the Indian passport currently ranks #73 in 2026.
Indian passport holders are allowed visa-free and visa-on-arrival entry to 55 countries.
Indian Passport Ranking 2017 to 2026: 10-Year Trends
Let's look at the Indian passport rankings in last 10 years as per both passport ranking indices.
| Year | Henley Passport Index Rank | Global Passport Index Rank |
| 2026 | #80 | #73 |
| 2025 | #85 | #66 |
| 2024 | #82 | #65 |
| 2023 | #80 | #71 |
| 2022 | #87 | #66 |
| 2021 | #90 | #73 |
| 2020 | #82 | #48 |
| 2019 | #82 | #67 |
| 2018 | #81 | #68 |
| 2017 | #87 | #72 |
As shown in the Indian passport ranking trends, the ranking trends have changed significantly over the years.
If you've been considering travelling abroad but feel intimidated by all the visa formalities, check out some of the best countries offering visa-free entry to Indians.
Talking about international trips, you also need to buy travel insurance before starting your trip. It is a great safeguard for many emergencies that you may face outside of India.
Strongest Passports in the World (Henley Passport Index 2026)
Singapore remains at #1, with its passport-holders access to 195 countries.
| Nation | Passport Ranking | Visa-Free Destinations |
| Singapore | #1 | 195 |
| France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain | #2 | 192 |
| Austria, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, South Korea, Sweden | #3 | 191 |
| Belgium, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, UK | #4 | 190 |
| Australia, Portugal | #5 | 189 |
| Greece, Poland | #6 | 188 |
| Canada, Czechia, Hungary, Malta | #7 | 187 |
| United States | #8 | 186 |
| Estonia, Lithuania | #9 | 185 |
| Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia | #10 | 184 |
Strongest Passports in the World (Arton Capital Passport Index 2025/2026)
Arton Capital considers multiple factors, such as global mobility, simplicity, quality of life, etc., to rank the strongest and weakest passports in the world. Here are the strongest passports of 2025 as per the Global Passport Index:
| Nation | Rank |
| UAE | #1 |
| Spain, Singapore | #2 |
| Belgium, France, Germany, Sweden, Netherlands, Finland, Luxembourg, Italy, Denmark, Portugal, Switzerland, Greece, Austria, Malaysia, Norway, Ireland, South Korea, Japan | #3 |
| Malta, Poland, Hungary, Latvia | #4 |
| Romania, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Croatia, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Estonia | #5 |
| Cyprus, Lithuania | #6 |
| Liechtenstein, New Zealand | #7 |
| Iceland, UK, Canada, Australia | #8 |
| USA, Monaco | #9 |
| Hong Kong | #10 |
You May Also Like to Read: How to Renew Indian Passport
Weakest Passports in the World 2026
Countries with a weak passport get limited global travel freedom. This may be due to their country's geopolitical relationship, conflict or other factors that may limit their international travel. Take a look at some of the least powerful passports in the world:
| Position | Henley Passport Index (Rank & Nations) | Global Passport Index (Rank & Nations) |
| 1 (Worst) | #104 Afghanistan (23) | #94 Afghanistan (38) |
| 2 | #103 Syria (26) | #93 Syria (40) |
| 3 | #102 Iraq (29) | #92 Iraq (42) |
| 4 | #101 Pakistan (30) | #91 Pakistan, Somalia (44) |
| 5 | #100 Yemen (31) | #90 Yemen (45) |
| 6 | #99 Somalia (32) | #89 Bangladesh, Palestinian Territory (46) |
| 7 | #98 Palestinian Territory (33) | #88 North Korea (48) |
| 8 | #97 Nepal, North Korea (35) | #87 Libya, Sudan, Eritrea (49) |
| 9 | #96 Bangladesh (37) | #86 South Sudan, Nepal (50) |
| 10 | #95 Eritrea, Iran (38) | #85 Nigeria, DR Congo (51) |
Indian Passport Rank: FAQs
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Q: Who has the most powerful passport in the world in 2026?
Ans: Singapore holds #1 spot on the Henley Passport Index 2026, while UAE has the strongest passport on the Global Passport Power Rank by Arton Capital. -
Q: Has India's passport ranking improved?
Ans: Yes, India’s rank improved and is currenctly #80 in 2026 on the Henley Passport Index. -
Q: Which is the No. 1 passport?
Ans: Singapore has been ranked #1 among the most powerful passports in the world by Henley & Partners. However, UAE has been ranked #1 per the Arton Capital Global Passport Index. -
Q: Is there any other passport ranking system other than Henley Index?
Ans: Yes, Global Passport Power Rank by Arton Capital also publishes annual rankings. These rankings are different from the Henley Index Passport Rankings. Arton Capital boasts a different method considering real-time updates and recent visa changes across different nations. -
Q. How has the Indian passport ranking in last 10 years evolved?
Ans: The Indian passport ranking in last 10 years has fluctuated between #76 and #90 on the Henley Index. The ranking trends reveal a post-pandemic recovery from #90 (2021) back to #80 in 2026. -
Q. What is included in the India passport ranking 2026 list for visa-free access?
Ans: The Indian passport ranking 2026 list includes 55 destinations offering visa-free, visa-on-arrival, or eTA access, such as Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Nepal, Kenya, and the Maldives.
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