Indian Passport Rises Five Spots in Global Henley Passport Index 2026

On January 14, the Henley Passport Index 2026 rankings were released, revealing the world's most powerful passports. There is good news for India, as its passport has climbed five spots compared to last year. Meanwhile, neighboring Pakistan remains behind India in the rankings.

For the second consecutive year, Singapore retains the title of the world's "most powerful" passport. Singaporean passport holders can travel visa-free to 192 countries. Afghanistan remains at the bottom, with its passport holders able to travel to only 24 destinations without prior visas.

Japan and South Korea rank second, providing access to 188 countries. Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland share third place with access to 186 destinations. Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Norway occupy fourth place with access to 185 destinations. Hungary, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and the UAE round out the top five with visa-free access to 184 countries.

In the Henley Passport Index 2026, India has moved up to 80th place, tied with Algeria. Indian passport holders can travel to 55 countries without a visa. In 2025, India had dropped five spots to 85th place. This rise reflects gradual diplomatic progress and increased international travel access.

Neighboring Pakistan has moved slightly up to 98th place, with visa-free access to only 31 countries, keeping it near the bottom along with Yemen, Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan.