The latest Henley Passport Index, released on 14 January 2026, shows India moving up to the 80th spot, giving its citizens visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 55 destinations—five more than a year ago. Although the Indian passport still trails far behind top-ranked Singapore (192 destinations), analysts view the rise as evidence of sustained diplomatic outreach and new bilateral facilitation deals such as Germany’s recently announced visa-free airport transit.
The incremental improvement matters for business mobility: each new waiver can shave days off trip-planning for executives and cut hundreds of dollars in processing fees. Popular Asian short-haul markets—Bhutan, Nepal, Thailand and Indonesia—remain visa-free, while Qatar and Iran continue to offer visas on arrival, supporting industries from IT consulting to infrastructure.
For travellers who still need entry permits, VisaHQ can simplify the red tape by providing real-time requirement checks, digital form completion and courier pick-up of documents; Indian passport holders can start applications or verify specific destination rules in minutes at https://www.visahq.com/india/.
![India climbs five places to 80th in 2026 Henley Passport Index]()
Henley & Partners emphasised that passport power is increasingly linked to economic influence; India’s steady climb reflects both higher GDP per capita and its active negotiation of mobility corridors within the Global South.
For corporate mobility teams, the report provides a ready reference when drafting travel-policy exemptions and assessing the need for third-country visas on multi-stop itineraries. HR leaders should nonetheless remind staff that visa-waiver rules can change without notice and that COVID-era entry requirements—health insurance, proof of funds—still apply in several countries.
The Index also serves as a benchmarking tool for expatriate planning: Indian firms deploying staff abroad can estimate relative friction compared with peers carrying Singaporean or Japanese passports, helping them design compensation packages that offset administrative burdens.(moneycontrol.com)
The incremental improvement matters for business mobility: each new waiver can shave days off trip-planning for executives and cut hundreds of dollars in processing fees. Popular Asian short-haul markets—Bhutan, Nepal, Thailand and Indonesia—remain visa-free, while Qatar and Iran continue to offer visas on arrival, supporting industries from IT consulting to infrastructure.
For travellers who still need entry permits, VisaHQ can simplify the red tape by providing real-time requirement checks, digital form completion and courier pick-up of documents; Indian passport holders can start applications or verify specific destination rules in minutes at https://www.visahq.com/india/.
Henley & Partners emphasised that passport power is increasingly linked to economic influence; India’s steady climb reflects both higher GDP per capita and its active negotiation of mobility corridors within the Global South.
For corporate mobility teams, the report provides a ready reference when drafting travel-policy exemptions and assessing the need for third-country visas on multi-stop itineraries. HR leaders should nonetheless remind staff that visa-waiver rules can change without notice and that COVID-era entry requirements—health insurance, proof of funds—still apply in several countries.
The Index also serves as a benchmarking tool for expatriate planning: Indian firms deploying staff abroad can estimate relative friction compared with peers carrying Singaporean or Japanese passports, helping them design compensation packages that offset administrative burdens.(moneycontrol.com)
