London-based professional techie says Indian passport ‘no longer adds value’ to his life

An Indian-origin tech professional based in London has sparked discussion on global mobility with the Indian passport stating that it “no longer adds value” to his life, citing repeated visa hurdles and everyday friction faced while travelling and working internationally.

In a post on X, Kunal Kushwaha wrote, “An Indian passport no longer adds value to my life,” adding that even routine personal travel has become exhausting. Referring to his best friend living in Ireland, he said, “A normal thing would be to book a ticket and surprise him. Instead, I opened visa websites.”

Kushwaha noted that despite recently being in Berlin, he was unable to travel onward to Dublin for Christmas. “That single detail meant I couldn’t join my friends in Dublin for Christmas, not because of money, not because of time, but because I didn’t have enough days left to apply for another visa,” he said.

Describing airport experiences, he wrote, “I’ve stood in long airport queues watching others breeze through while I pull out folders of documents I’ve already submitted multiple times.” 

On Schengen visa procedures, he remarked, “Schengen applications feel like a full-time job: bank statements, cover letters, bookings, explanations for doing… normal human travel.”

Touching upon finances, Kushwaha said, “A few years ago, I invested back home. The returns looked great on paper, until the rupee kept sliding. Suddenly ‘good returns’ didn’t feel good anymore.” 

He also flagged environmental concerns, writing, “Then there’s the air. You step outside and feel it in your lungs. It shows up on global rankings. And somehow, nothing really changes.”

On domestic systems, he added, “Banking and KYC back home still feel stuck in another decade. Endless paperwork. Delays. Follow-ups. Visits. Re-submissions.”

“I’m not angry. I’m tired,” Kushwaha wrote, clarifying that his post was not driven by ideology. “This isn’t about patriotism or hate. It’s about friction. About how much harder life becomes when you work globally but carry a passport that limits time, and mental bandwidth,” he said, concluding, “National pride is not a substitute for global mobility.”

Kushwaha’s X profile lists his location as London, UK, and identifies him as a Senior Developer Advocate working in the EMEA region, as well as the founder of a tech community initiative focused on mentoring developers.