In the recent report of Henley Passport Index 2025, the Indian passport has made a big jump. Compared to the last time, India has climbed eight places to 77th position. India was ranked 85th in the year 2024, when its ranking was seen to decline. This time the number of visa-free countries of India has increased to 59, which is a positive sign.
Citizens of India can now travel without visa in countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Maldives. At the same time, the facility of ‘Visa on Arrival’ is also available in countries like Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Macau. Overall, Indian passport holders now have visa-free or arrival in 59 countries of the world.
Asian countries have once again shown their strong hold in the field of global mobility. Singapore is at the top position with a visa-free entry for 193 countries. Japan and South Korea are second with 190 destinations. This reflects Asia’s diplomatic strength and strength of international relations.
The third place is seven European countries-Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy and Spain-whose passport holders can travel visa-free in 189 countries. Countries like Austria, Belgium, Netherlands and Sweden are jointly fourth. New Zealand, Greece and Switzerland are jointly occupied in fifth place.
In 2025, both the US and Britain have fallen one place to 10th and sixth position respectively. Although Britain provides visa-free access to 186 countries and the US 182 countries, the decline in their ranking has indicated a change in global policy.
Saudi Arabia has recorded the biggest bounce this year. It has added four new countries and now it is possible to have visa-free access to 91 countries with his passport. China has also improved 34 places in the last decade and has now reached 60th position, although there is still no visa-free access to the Schengen region of Europe.
Dr. Juururg Stephen, CEO of Henley & Partners, believes that today’s passport has become a symbol of the global status and diplomatic influence of a country, but a country. He says that citizens of America and Britain are now looking for more alternative citizenship and global security, as the policies of the two countries are becoming more introverted.
