India sees biggest jump in passport power index, visa-free entry now in 59 countries

In the past six months, India has made the biggest jump in the Henley Passport Index, going from the 85th to the 77th place.

The index ranks the most powerful passports in the world on the basis of how many countries passport-holders can enter without a visa.

India’s jump is part of a trend in recent years where the traditional powerful countries, the United States and the United Kingdom, have been on a decline and other countries, such as India and Saudi Arabia, have been on a constant upward trajectory.

Dr Juerg Steffen, the CEO of Henley & Partners, said that this is a result of a reshaping of the migration landscape affected by the inward-looking policies of the United States and the UK.

“Americans are now leading the demand worldwide for alternative residence and citizenship options, with British nationals also among the top five globally. As the US and UK adopt increasingly inward-looking policies, we’re witnessing a marked rise in interest from their citizens seeking greater global access and security,” Steffen was quoted as saying in a press release.

Singapore still remains the world’s most powerful passport with visa-free access to 193 of the world’s 227 destinations and Afghanistan remains the world’s worst passport with visa-free access to just 25 destinations 25 countries, according to the index.

India climbs as US & UK slide

India has climbed to the 77th place and has visa-free access to 59 destinations.

Henley CEO Steffen said that the position of a country’s passport reflects its influence in diplomacy and international relations.

“Your passport is no longer just a travel document — it’s a reflection of your country’s diplomatic influence and international relationships. In an era of growing inequality and mounting geopolitical uncertainty, strategic mobility and citizenship planning are more critical than ever,” said Steffen.

Saudi Arabia has made the highest jump in the past six months, adding four more destinations to its visa-free list.

On the other hand, the United States and the UK have each dropped a place — the UK down to the sixth rank and the United States down to the tenth rank.

The United States is at the risk of slipping out of the top 10 nations for the first time, the Henley & Partners said in a release.

Europe dominates but UAE & China catch up

Over the past decade, European nations have maintained their domination in the passport index but the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and China have caught up.

After Singapore, Japan and South Korea share the second place with visa-free access to 190 destinations.

The third place is with seven European Union (EU) passports with visa-free access to 189 destinations: Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain.

The fourth place is with the seven-nation European group with visa-free access to 188 destinations: Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden.

The fifth rank is with New Zealand, Greece, and Switzerland.

The UAE stands at the eighth position, climbing 34 places over the past 10 years and the only country to break into the top 10 in the period.

China has also jumped 34 places from 94th rank in 2015 to 60th rank in 2025.