India has fallen to 125th place in the Global Passport Index 2026. This puts the nation outside the top 100 even after a marginal improvement in the previous cycle.

The latest report, published by Global Citizen Solutions, ranks passports across 197 countries and territories using 14 indicators grouped under three pillars: Enhanced Mobility, Investment, and Quality of Living.

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A brief ascent before the tables turned

India had risen up to 124th in 2025 after being rated 127th between 2021 and 2023 but has now lost momentum again.

The Indian passport currently offers visa-free access to 26 destinations, including Bhutan, Nepal, Jamaica, Macau, Palestine, Tunisia, Angola, and Barbados, while holders still need visas for about 88 countries, among them the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, China, and the United Arab Emirates.

Where India stands in the global pecking order

The index also highlights how far India trails several other countries in the same neighborhood and beyond.

China is ranked 104th, while India sits ahead of Bangladesh at 166th, Nepal at 164th, and Pakistan at 188th. India is behind countries such as the Philippines, Morocco, and Uzbekistan and just ahead of Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan.

The top 10 list is dominated by Europe, with Sweden at number one, followed by Switzerland, Finland, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Norway; Singapore takes the 10th spot.

Not all passport rankings speak the same language

The Global Passport Index is distinct from the Henley Passport Index. Henley uses a different methodology.

Henley placed India at 80th in its latest ranking. That divergence reflects the fact that the two indices measure passport strength differently: Henley focuses on visa-free and visa-on-arrival access, while the Global Passport Index combines travel access with broader measures of investment appeal and quality of living.

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FAQs

Q1: Why did India’s passport rank fall in the Global Passport Index 2026?

Ans: India slipped to 125th in the Global Passport Index 2026 based on the index’s overall methodology, which evaluates mobility, investment and quality of life.

Q2: How many countries can Indian passport holders visit without a visa?

Ans: According to the Global Passport Index 2026, Indian passport holders have visa-free access to 26 destinations.