Indian passport jumps five places in Henley Passport Index

The Henley Passport Index annually ranks passports worldwide by the number of destinations holders can visit visa-free. Drawing on exclusive International Air Transport Association (IATA) data, the 2026 edition assesses visa-free access for 199 passports across 227 travel destinations.

India climbed to 80th place in the 2026 Henley Passport Index, up from 85th in 2025, with its passport now offering visa-free access to 55 destinations worldwide. Indian passport holders now enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 55 destinations, marking a slight gain in global mobility.

Singapore has held onto its spot as the world’s strongest passport for the third year running in 2026 and shows it grants visa-free access to 192 of the 227 destinations evaluated. Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland tie for third place, with passports offering visa-free access to 186 destinations.

Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Norway share fourth position in the 2026 Henley Passport Index, providing entry to 185 destinations without a visa. Rounding out the top five, Hungary, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and the UAE enable visa-free travel to 184 destinations.

Asia leads the rankings, with Singapore holding the top spot for the third straight year, its citizens can visit 192 of the 227 tracked countries and territories without a visa. Japan and South Korea share second place, each providing access to 188 destinations.

The United Arab Emirates stands out as a top long-term climber, jumping five spots to fifth this year and achieving the index's biggest 20-year gain with 149 new visa-free destinations and a 57-place rise since 2006. 

Meanwhile, the United States has re-entered the top 10 at ninth position after slipping to 12th last year. At the bottom, Afghanistan lingers in 101st place with visa-free entry to only 24 destinations, while Pakistan ranks 98th nearby though it provides entry to only 31 destinations and remains near the bottom alongside Yemen.