India Passport Ranking Improves to 75th Even as Visa Free Count Falls

India has moved up 10 places in the 2026 edition of the Henley & Partners Passport Index, even as its total number of visa free destinations declined from last year.

According to the latest Henley Passport Index, India now ranks 75th in 2026, up from 85th in 2025. In January 2026, India was placed at 80th.

However, the number of destinations accessible to Indian passport holders without securing a visa in advance currently stands at 56. This is higher than 55 recorded in January 2026, but lower than 57 destinations in 2025.

The two countries that no longer count towards India’s visa free tally are Iran and Bolivia.

Iran suspended its visa waiver facility for ordinary Indian passport holders in November 2025. The decision followed cases involving Indian nationals who were allegedly lured with fake job offers and later kidnapped for ransom.

"Individuals were tricked into journeying to Iran by taking advantage of the visa waiver facility available for ordinary Indian passport holders. On arrival in Iran, many of them were kidnapped for ransom," India's Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement in November last year.

It noted that in view of such incidents, Tehran had suspended the visa waiver facility available to ordinary Indian passport holders visiting Iran.

From late November onwards, Indian travellers were required to obtain a visa in advance. As the index counts only destinations that do not require prior approval, Iran no longer qualified.

Bolivia had allowed Indian citizens visa on arrival in 2025. In 2026, it shifted Indian travellers to an e visa system that requires online application and prior approval before departure. Since this involves advance authorisation, it no longer falls under the index’s visa free category.

In January 2026, after the removal of Iran and Bolivia, India’s total dropped to 55 accessible destinations. By February 2026, The Gambia was added to the list, raising the number to 56.

The index ranks 199 passports against 227 destinations using data from the International Air Transport Association. It awards one point for each destination that offers visa free entry, visa on arrival, a visitor’s permit issued at the border, or a basic electronic travel authorisation that does not require embassy approval. Destinations requiring prior visa approval score zero.

Countries are then ranked according to their total score. If two countries have the same score, they share the same rank.

India’s improved ranking despite a lower visa free count reflects changes in visa policies affecting other countries and the relative nature of the index methodology.