Passport rank of India
India’s passport stands around 85th rank in global passport lists (like Henley Passport Index 2025).
Not the worst, not the best – basically sitting in the middle tier.
Indian passport holders can travel to around 57 countries without needing a visa in advance (either visa-free, visa-on-arrival, or eTA).
So yeah, not super powerful, but definitely better than what many people assume.
Why the Passport Rank of India Matters
Look, passport rank isn’t just some “fancy global list.”
It directly affects how easily you can travel, how much paperwork you deal with, and how much money you end up wasting on visa fees.
Higher passport rank =
✔ fewer visa headaches
✔ faster travel planning
✔ less documentation
✔ cheaper trips
Lower rank =
❌ more visa interviews
❌ more forms
❌ more chances of rejection
So yeah, this stuff actually matters.
How Passport Power Is Measured
These rankings aren’t random. They mainly look at one thing:
How many countries can you enter without getting a visa beforehand?
They divide it like this:
Visa-Free → Just take passport, hop on flight. No drama.
Visa-on-Arrival → Visa mil jaayega airport pe.
eTA / eVisa → Online approval needed, but easy.
Visa Required → Full documents, bank statements, interviews… basically the headache package.
More visa-free access = stronger passport.
India’s Current Passport Rank & Access (2025)
Here’s the clean breakdown:
| Category | Number of Countries | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-Free | ~20 | Direct entry. |
| Visa-on-Arrival | ~28 | Visa mil jaayega landing ke baad. |
| eVisa/eTA | ~9 | Online approval. |
| Visa Required | 140+ | Full process. |
Total accessible without advance visa: about 57 countries.
That’s the number people look at the most.
Visa-Free Countries for Indian Passport (2025)
Not listing all 20 here, but examples:
Nepal
Bhutan
Barbados
Indonesia
Serbia
Jamaica
These places let you enter straight with your passport.
Visa-on-Arrival / eVisa Countries (2025)
Sample countries:
Maldives
Thailand
Cambodia
Mauritius
Seychelles
Qatar (depending on updated rules)
Again, easy access – no embassy stress.
Historical Trend: India’s Passport Rank (2000–2025)
Let’s be honest – India’s passport rank has been up and down like a roller coaster.
Early 2000s: Very weak mobility
2010-2015: Slight improvement
2017-2020: Slow growth
2024-2025: Dropped again (80 → 85 rank)
Why the ups and downs?
Global politics, visa changes, diplomatic relations, and security rules – these all mess with the numbers.
Regional Comparison: Where India Stands vs Others
This is where things get interesting (or embarrassing, depends how you see it).
| Country | Rank | Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | Top 5 | Super strong |
| Singapore | Rank 1 | Best passport in the world |
| China | Better than India | Growing influence |
| Sri Lanka | Behind India | Weak mobility |
| Pakistan | Very low | Bottom 5 globally |
India is basically in the mid-tier, stronger than some neighbors but nowhere close to global leaders.
Why India’s Passport Rank Changes
A few reasons – none surprising:
Countries change their visa rules
Geopolitics (global tension, security issues)
Diplomatic deals (or lack of them)
Tourism strategy of different nations
India’s own immigration policies
Basically, jab duniya badalti hai, passport ranking bhi badalta hai.
What This Means for Indian Citizens
Here’s the real-life impact:
- Some countries are easy to travel now
- Budget trips become possible without visa stress
- Students/business travellers still face heavy visa requirements for Europe/US/UK
- Rank improving = more travel freedom for future generations
But for now, you still need to plan early for major destinations like USA, Schengen, Australia, etc.
Limitations of Passport Rankings
These rankings aren’t perfect.
They don’t consider:
length of stay allowed
financial barriers
security checks
temporary bans
real-time political tensions
So don’t treat rankings like gospel truth – they’re just a general guide.
How to Check Real-Time Passport Rank of India
You can check updates on:
Henley Passport Index
PassportIndex.org
Government travel advisories
These update faster than news sites.