India moves up 10 places in 2026 passport rankings despite visa rule shifts
Destination access rises after January dip
DUBAI – India’s passport ranking has improved to 75th place in the February 2026 Henley Passport Index, reflecting a notable jump in relative global standing. Indian citizens can now travel to 56 destinations without arranging a visa in advance, either visa-free or with visa on arrival.
The update follows a one-destination increase from January’s total of 55 after The Gambia was restored to the access list. The index compares nearly 200 passports across 227 destinations.
The improvement comes despite fluctuations in absolute access numbers over the past year. India recorded 57 accessible destinations in 2025, before policy changes by Iran and Bolivia reduced that figure. Iran suspended visa-free entry for Indian travellers, while Bolivia shifted to an e-visa system requiring pre-approval, which does not count toward the index score.
Top performers
Globally, Singapore leads with 192 destinations, followed by Japan and South Korea with 187 each. Sweden and the UAE share third place with 186 destinations. A broad European group occupies the next tier with scores around 185. The United States stands 10th with 179 destinations after re-entering the top bracket.
India passport in past 20 years
Historical ranking data from the past 20 years shows India’s position has moved within a relatively tight band. The chart indicates 71st in 2006, slipping into the mid-70s by 2008-2009, then trending downward to 82nd by 2012. It briefly improved to 74th in 2013 and 76th in 2014 before falling to 88th in 2015. Rankings fluctuated through the 80s between 2016 and 2020, dropped to 90th in 2021, then recovered gradually: 83rd in 2022, 84th in 2023, 80th in 2024, 85th in 2025, and now 75th in February 2026 — one of its strongest recent positions.
February’s increase to 56 destinations follows the re-addition of The Gambia. January’s drop to 55 came after Iran and Bolivia changed entry rules for Indian travellers. The index awards points only where no prior approval is required, which means technical visa category changes can quickly affect scores even when travel remains possible.
The ranking movement also reflects changes affecting other countries, since positions are calculated comparatively rather than in isolation.