India Climbing Up The Passport Index Is Not Really About Tourism At All

This year, the Indian passport moved up to the 75th spot in the 2026 Henley Passport index. That's ten places up from the 85th position it held last year, five places up from the 80th spot it held in 2024, and a little off from the highest rank (71) it held way back in 2006.

But what does this all mean? For starters, Henley & Partners publish a periodic ranking that tracks how many destinations a passport can access without securing a visa in advance. The data is sourced from the International Air Transport Association. The more doors that a country's visa can open without paperwork, the stronger the passport.

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So when India jumps ten places, it means its mobility score has improved relative to other countries (keyword being relative, because we'll come back to it later). The improvement may come from new bilateral agreements, revised entry policies, or shifts in how other nations are ranked.

As of early 2026, Indian passport holders can travel to around 56 destinations either visa-free or with visa-on-arrival / simple entry permission, meaning you don’t need to apply weeks in advance.

What did the higher ranking improve for tourists?

The most important question. Remember we said that relative improvement is a keyword? Here’s why. India jumping to the 75th spot does not automatically mean more access to visa-free countries overnight. Rankings shift not only when your access improves, but also when other countries lose access or stagnate. So if other countries fall faster, your country rises.

Which is kind of what happened here. We now have visa-free access to 56 countries, but it’s actually one less than the number we could travel to before. 

Here’s why. Iran withdrew visa-free entry for Indians following policy changes in late 2025. Previously, Indians could enter without a prior visa for short stays. This facility was revoked, reducing the number of countries we can travel without a visa to 56. Additionally, Bolivia also discontinued visa-on-arrival for Indian citizens. Now, Indians must apply for an e-visa before departure. This shift moves Bolivia out of the “easy access” category counted by the index but does not remove it from the country count like Iran.

So why is the upward jump even a good thing? That’s because it's good news diplomatically. For travellers, though, the experience remains mostly the same: Europe still needs paperwork, the US still needs paperwork, and last-minute Schengen dreams still require planning.

If anything, this is a reminder that passport power is fluid. Policies tighten, loosen, and recalibrate based on politics and security. One year you gain access, another year you need an e-visa instead. So, while 75th sounds like progress (and it is) the smarter takeaway is this: always check entry rules before booking, don’t rely on headlines, and treat mobility as something that evolves, not something fixed.