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Earlier this year, an online clip from a popular travel content creator expressing frustration over India's weak passport went viral across digital platforms.

He mentioned although neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka and Bhutan offered easier access to travelers from India, obtaining visas to travel to many nations in Europe and the West remained a challenge.

Such concerns with India's poor passport strength was reflected in recent Henley Passport Index, which placed the country at position eighty-five out of nearly two hundred nations, five spots lower compared to the previous year.

Officials in India have not issued a statement on the report so far.

Nations including Rwanda, Ghana and Azerbaijan with much smaller economies compared to India – a nation that is the world's fifth biggest economy – hold better positions on the index at the 78th, 74th and 72nd spots, in that order.

In fact, India's rank over the last ten years has hovered in the 80s, even dipping to ninetieth place two years ago. Such standings appear poor compared to Asian nations such as Singapore, Japan and South Korea, all maintaining top positions.

Global Passport Power Indicates

Passport strength reflects a country's global influence and global influence. It also translates into enhanced travel freedom for passport holders, improving commercial and educational prospects. A weak passport results in additional documentation, higher visa costs, reduced travel benefits and extended processing periods for travel.

But despite the drop in position, the number of countries offering visa-free access for Indian citizens has actually increased over the last ten years.

For example, eight years ago – when Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling party came to power – fifty-two nations provided visa-free access for Indian passport holders and its passport ranked 76th in the ranking.

A year later, it fell to the 85th position, then rose to 80th over the past two years, declining once more to the eighty-fifth spot currently. At the same time, visa-free destinations to Indian citizens increased from 52 in 2015 to 60 in 2023 and 62 in 2024.

The Competitive Global Mobility Landscape

The number of visa-free destinations this year (fifty-seven) exceeds the number eight years ago (fifty-two), yet the country's position for both these years remains at eighty-fifth. So, why is that?

Analysts note that a primary factor involves growing competition in international travel – meaning nations are entering into more travel partnerships to benefit their citizens and economic growth. As per a 2025 report, the worldwide mean number of destinations travellers are able to access without visas has almost doubled from 58 in 2006 to one hundred nine currently.

For example, The Chinese passport has increased the number of visa-free countries available to its citizens from 50 to 82 over the last ten years. Consequently, its rank in the ranking has enhanced from 94th to 60th in that same duration.

Meanwhile, India – previously positioned at seventy-seventh place in July – dropped to the 85th position this autumn following the loss of two nations.

Additional Factors Impacting Passport Power

An ex-diplomat from India notes multiple elements influencing a nation's passport power, including economic and political conditions as well as its receptiveness to welcoming citizens from other countries.

For instance, the US passport has fallen of the top 10 currently holding the 12th position – a historic low – because of its increasingly insular stance in world politics.

The former ambassador recalls that during the seventies, Indian citizens had visa-free travel to many Western and European countries, though this shifted following Sikh separatist movement in the 1980s. Subsequent political upheavals have further chipped away at India's image as a stable, democratic country.

"Numerous nations are also becoming increasingly wary of immigrants," the diplomat added. "The country possesses a large quantity of citizens emigrating overseas or remaining beyond visa limits and that interferes with the national image."

Factors such as how secure of a national passport and immigration processes also play a role to obtaining visa-free access to foreign nations.

Enhanced Security Measures

The Indian passport faces ongoing security threats. Last year, law enforcement detained 203 people for alleged passport and visa irregularities. The country also has cumbersome immigration procedures with lengthy timelines of visa processing.

The diplomat indicated that technological advances, like India's recently-launched electronic passport or e-passport, may enhance safety and ease the immigration process. This electronic document contains a microchip that stores biometric information, making it harder to counterfeit or alter the document.

However, more diplomatic outreach and travel agreements remain key for enhancing the global mobility for Indian citizens and, by extension, the Indian passport's global position.