Henley & Partners’ 2026 Passport Index, released on 18 January, offers a modest but meaningful boost to Indian travellers. India climbed five rungs to 80th place, its best showing since 2019, giving passport holders visa-free, visa-on-arrival or e-TA access to 55 countries and territories—up from 52 a year ago.
The index, compiled using exclusive IATA data, ranks 199 passports by the number of destinations they can enter without a traditional consular visa. Singapore retained the global crown with 192 visa-free destinations, while Afghanistan languishes at the bottom with just 24. India now ties with Nigeria and Algeria, and sits ahead of Bangladesh (94th) and Pakistan (98th) but remains far behind China (62nd) and the UAE (5th).
For travellers and corporates trying to keep pace with these ever-shifting entry requirements, VisaHQ offers an easy way to check the latest rules, obtain e-visas, and outsource tedious paperwork for more than 1,000 destinations worldwide. Indian users can upload documents, track applications in real time and receive live support directly through the platform—saving both time and compliance headaches. Learn more at https://www.visahq.com/india/.
![Indian passport strengthens: Henley Index 2026 lifts India to 80th, allowing visa-free entry to 55 destinations]()
From a mobility-strategy standpoint, the incremental gains translate into tangible savings for businesses: fewer consular appointments, lower fees and reduced lead-times for last-minute travel to popular leisure-cum-MICE spots such as Thailand, the Maldives, Kenya and Mauritius. However, access to the EU, UK, US and Canada still requires full visas—bottlenecks that continue to challenge Indian corporate road-warriors and student cohorts.
Policy analysts credit New Delhi’s targeted diplomacy—most recently a reciprocal transit-visa waiver with Germany and expanded e-Visa partnerships—for the upward trajectory. The government’s goal is to break into the top-60 bracket by 2030, a leap that would demand deeper bilateral negotiations with North Atlantic partners and greater security-document convergence.
Companies should update their global-mobility handbooks to reflect the new 55-country list and educate employees on visa-on-arrival documentation (proof of funds, return tickets and vaccination records) to prevent airport refusals. Travel-management firms likewise stand to redesign fare buckets and insurance products as friction points ease for select routes.
The index, compiled using exclusive IATA data, ranks 199 passports by the number of destinations they can enter without a traditional consular visa. Singapore retained the global crown with 192 visa-free destinations, while Afghanistan languishes at the bottom with just 24. India now ties with Nigeria and Algeria, and sits ahead of Bangladesh (94th) and Pakistan (98th) but remains far behind China (62nd) and the UAE (5th).
For travellers and corporates trying to keep pace with these ever-shifting entry requirements, VisaHQ offers an easy way to check the latest rules, obtain e-visas, and outsource tedious paperwork for more than 1,000 destinations worldwide. Indian users can upload documents, track applications in real time and receive live support directly through the platform—saving both time and compliance headaches. Learn more at https://www.visahq.com/india/.
From a mobility-strategy standpoint, the incremental gains translate into tangible savings for businesses: fewer consular appointments, lower fees and reduced lead-times for last-minute travel to popular leisure-cum-MICE spots such as Thailand, the Maldives, Kenya and Mauritius. However, access to the EU, UK, US and Canada still requires full visas—bottlenecks that continue to challenge Indian corporate road-warriors and student cohorts.
Policy analysts credit New Delhi’s targeted diplomacy—most recently a reciprocal transit-visa waiver with Germany and expanded e-Visa partnerships—for the upward trajectory. The government’s goal is to break into the top-60 bracket by 2030, a leap that would demand deeper bilateral negotiations with North Atlantic partners and greater security-document convergence.
Companies should update their global-mobility handbooks to reflect the new 55-country list and educate employees on visa-on-arrival documentation (proof of funds, return tickets and vaccination records) to prevent airport refusals. Travel-management firms likewise stand to redesign fare buckets and insurance products as friction points ease for select routes.
