Visa-Free Access to 59 Nations: India climbs 8 spots to 77th on Henley Passport Index

India has made a significant leap in global mobility, climbing eight spots to reach the 77th position in the Henley Passport Index’s mid-year 2025 update. This is the biggest improvement by any country in the past six months—India was ranked 85th earlier this year.

The Henley Passport Index ranks passports based on the number of destinations their holders can visit without needing a prior visa. Thanks to two new additions to the visa-on-arrival list, Indian passport holders now have access to 59 countries without a visa or by obtaining one upon arrival.

More countries open their doors to Indian travellers

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Currently, with the rise in international travel, Indians are able to enjoy visa-free travel to destinations such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Maldives, and Thailand. Many other countries, including Sri Lanka, Macau, and Myanmar, also presently offer visa-on-arrival privileges to Indian nationals, thereby facilitating Indian citizens' travels to Asia and farther away.

The upward trend stands for much larger changes. According to data from IATA, countries such as India, China, UAE, and Saudi Arabia are almost catching up with traditional leaders like the US and the UK in terms of passport power.

Asia-Pacific Airlines leading the travel boom

The shift is also evident in travel industry trends. Asia-Pacific airlines saw the strongest growth in global air travel during the first five months of 2025, recording a 9.5% increase. Meanwhile, air traffic in North America remained mostly flat—signalling a realignment in global travel patterns.

At the top of the passport rankings, Singapore continues to dominate with visa-free access to 193 destinations. Japan and South Korea follow closely, while major EU nations like France, Germany, and Italy round out the top three.

In contrast, the UK and the US—once leaders—have continued their gradual decline. The UK now ranks 6th (186 destinations), while the US sits at 10th (182 destinations).

There have also been standout gains. The UAE surged from 42nd to 8th place over the past decade, adding the most visa-free destinations globally. China, too, made a massive leap—climbing 34 spots in 10 years to now sit at 60th place, driven largely by an increase in diplomatic visa waivers.