India’s passport has regained momentum on the influential Henley Passport Index, jumping ten spots to 75th in the 2026 ranking published on 13 February 2026. The upgrade means Indian citizens can now travel visa-free, obtain visas-on-arrival or secure electronic travel authorisations for 56 countries—up from 52 last year. Although India remains below its 2006 high-water mark of 71st, the improvement signals steady repair of pandemic-era mobility and growing diplomatic outreach by New Delhi. (m.economictimes.com)
Much of the progress stems from bilateral deals inked over the past 18 months: Thailand, Sri Lanka and Kazakhstan extended 60-day visa-exemption windows; Kenya and Rwanda scrapped advance visas for Indian tourists; and Caribbean states such as Barbados and Dominica formalised visa-on-arrival privileges. Analysts also credit India’s own decision to waive short-term e-tourist-visa fees for key ASEAN markets, prompting reciprocal gestures.
For business travellers, the headline number hides nuance. The majority of India’s new visa-free destinations are leisure-heavy emerging markets, while barriers remain high for traditional corporate hubs such as the United States, China, most of the EU and Japan. Nonetheless, expanded access across Africa and Central Asia supports India’s “Look Africa” and International North–South Transport Corridor trade strategies. Export-oriented SMEs can now dispatch representatives to 15 African states without prior consular paperwork, trimming both time and cost.
![India climbs to 75th place on Henley Passport Index, gaining visa-free access to 56 destinations]()
For companies and individuals navigating these shifting requirements, VisaHQ’s India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) offers a one-stop dashboard that tracks real-time entry rules, processes e-visa applications end-to-end and even consolidates payments for visa-on-arrival fees—helping travellers avoid surprises at the airport.
Travel managers should update mobility dashboards: employees may no longer need single-entry visas for conference trips to Kenya or quick project visits to the Philippines. However, visa-on-arrival regimes still require proof of funds, return tickets and, in some cases, hotel confirmations—non-compliance can lead to costly denials at the border. Corporates are advised to brief staff thoroughly and retain contingency budgets for on-arrival fees that range from US $20 to $100.
Diplomats hint that more upgrades are in the pipeline. Negotiations are under way with Serbia and Oman for reciprocal short-stay waivers, and New Delhi’s yet-to-be-ratified migration and mobility pact with the EU could unlock streamlined Schengen visas for Indian tech professionals. If successful, India’s passport could break into the global top-70 for the first time in two decades.
Much of the progress stems from bilateral deals inked over the past 18 months: Thailand, Sri Lanka and Kazakhstan extended 60-day visa-exemption windows; Kenya and Rwanda scrapped advance visas for Indian tourists; and Caribbean states such as Barbados and Dominica formalised visa-on-arrival privileges. Analysts also credit India’s own decision to waive short-term e-tourist-visa fees for key ASEAN markets, prompting reciprocal gestures.
For business travellers, the headline number hides nuance. The majority of India’s new visa-free destinations are leisure-heavy emerging markets, while barriers remain high for traditional corporate hubs such as the United States, China, most of the EU and Japan. Nonetheless, expanded access across Africa and Central Asia supports India’s “Look Africa” and International North–South Transport Corridor trade strategies. Export-oriented SMEs can now dispatch representatives to 15 African states without prior consular paperwork, trimming both time and cost.
For companies and individuals navigating these shifting requirements, VisaHQ’s India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) offers a one-stop dashboard that tracks real-time entry rules, processes e-visa applications end-to-end and even consolidates payments for visa-on-arrival fees—helping travellers avoid surprises at the airport.
Travel managers should update mobility dashboards: employees may no longer need single-entry visas for conference trips to Kenya or quick project visits to the Philippines. However, visa-on-arrival regimes still require proof of funds, return tickets and, in some cases, hotel confirmations—non-compliance can lead to costly denials at the border. Corporates are advised to brief staff thoroughly and retain contingency budgets for on-arrival fees that range from US $20 to $100.
Diplomats hint that more upgrades are in the pipeline. Negotiations are under way with Serbia and Oman for reciprocal short-stay waivers, and New Delhi’s yet-to-be-ratified migration and mobility pact with the EU could unlock streamlined Schengen visas for Indian tech professionals. If successful, India’s passport could break into the global top-70 for the first time in two decades.
