India's passport is 84th. Why did it move up but open fewer doors?
In the October 2026 Henley Passport Index, India ranks 84th with 55 destinations open without a visa in advance. That is one place higher than a year ago, but two destinations fewer, and the top of the list now belongs to Asia.
- In the Henley Passport Index of October 2026, India is 84th, tied with Algeria and Mauritania 1,2.
- Indians can go to 55 destinations without a visa in advance, down from 57 a year ago 1,2.
- Yet India moved one place up, from 85th. Ranks depend on other countries' scores too 2.
- Singapore is first with 193. Japan, South Korea and the UAE share second with 188 2,3.
What the index counts
The index by Henley & Partners ranks 199 passports by how many of 227 destinations their holders can enter without getting a traditional visa before leaving. It counts visa-free entry, visa on arrival and an eTA, a short online travel permission. It uses data from IATA, the airline association 2.
| Passport | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Singapore (#1) | 193 |
| Japan (#2) | 188 |
| South Korea (#2) | 188 |
| UAE (#2) | 188 |
| Sweden (#3) | 187 |
| India (#84) | 55 |
Source: Henley Passport Index Oct 2026, via Business Today 3 and News24 2
The twist: up a place, down two countries
Two changes cut India's count this year: Iran suspended visa-free entry for Indians, and Bolivia replaced visa on arrival with an e-visa 2. India still climbed one place because the index is comparative: other countries' scores moved too 2. Through 2026, India was 80th in January, 75th in February and 81st in July 2.
Why it matters
- For travellers: Nepal, Bhutan, Thailand, Malaysia and Mauritius are on the list for Indians 2. Rules change, so check before you book.
- For students and job seekers: the index is about short visits. Study, work or settling abroad needs separate permission 2.
- For reading rankings: a rank can rise while access falls. Look at the count, not only the position.
Send them this: where India's passport stands, and five places Indians can go without a visa in advance.
Sources
- Business Today, Henley Passport Index 2026: Indian passport climbs to 84th rank, visa-free countries falls to 55, 14 Oct 2026
- News24, Henley Passport Index 2026: India drops to 84th in global passport rankings, 15 Oct 2026
- Business Today, Top 10 strongest passports in the world 2026: Singapore leads, Japan and UAE rank second, 15 Oct 2026
- NewsBytes, Indian passport climbs to 84th on Henley Passport Index, 14 Oct 2026
How we did this. Every number links to its source. Where sources disagree, we leave the number out and say so. When we work out a number ourselves, we say "our maths".