In recent months, an online clip from an Indian travel influencer expressing frustration over the limited power of the Indian passport went viral on social media.
The influencer stated that while nearby nations such as Sri Lanka and Bhutan offered easier access to travelers from India, obtaining visas to travel to most Western and European countries continued to be difficult.
This dissatisfaction regarding the limited global access of Indian passports found confirmation in the latest global passport ranking, ranking India at position eighty-five among nearly two hundred nations, five spots lower compared to the previous year.
Officials in India have not issued a statement regarding these findings so far.
Nations like Ghana, Rwanda and Azerbaijan with much smaller economies than India – a nation that is the world's fifth biggest economy – are ranked higher on the index in the seventies range, respectively.
Actually, India's rank over the last ten years has remained around the eighties, even dipping to ninetieth place in 2021. These rankings appear poor when measured against other Asian countries such as Singapore, Japan and South Korea, which have consistently held top positions.
The power of a passport reflects a country's global influence and international standing. It also translates into better mobility for passport holders, improving commercial and educational prospects. Limited passport power means more paperwork, higher visa costs, fewer travel privileges and longer waiting times when journeying.
However, even with the drop in position, the number of countries providing visa-free travel for Indian citizens has actually increased over the last ten years.
As an instance, in 2014 – when the current administration's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) assumed office – fifty-two nations provided visa-free travel for Indian passport holders and its passport at seventy-sixth position on the index.
A year later, it tumbled to eighty-fifth place, then improved to eightieth in 2023 and 2024, dropping again to the 85th position this year. Meanwhile, countries allowing visa-free travel for Indians increased from fifty-two eight years ago to 60 in 2023 and sixty-two this year.
The count of nations allowing visa-free entry in 2025 (fifty-seven) exceeds what it was eight years ago (fifty-two), but the country's position during both periods is 85. So, why is that?
Experts say that a major reason is the increasingly competitive landscape in global mobility – indicating that countries are forming additional travel agreements to benefit their citizens and their economies. According to a 2025 report, the worldwide mean number of destinations travellers are able to access without visas has nearly doubled from 58 in 2006 to one hundred nine currently.
For example, China has expanded its count of visa-free countries available to its citizens from fifty to eighty-two in the past decade. Consequently, its rank in the ranking has improved from 94th to 60th in that same duration.
In comparison, The Indian passport – previously positioned at seventy-seventh place in July – fell to the 85th position this autumn after losing access to two countries.
A former Indian ambassador notes there are other factors influencing the strength of a country's passport, like economic and political conditions plus its receptiveness to accepting travelers from other countries.
For instance, the US passport has dropped out from the top ten and now occupies the 12th position – a historic low – because of its more inward-looking approach in global affairs.
The diplomat mentioned how in the 1970s, Indian citizens had visa-free access to many Western and European countries, but that changed after the Sikh separatist movement in the 1980s. Subsequent political upheavals have further chipped away at India's image as a stable, democratic country.
"Numerous nations are also becoming more cautious regarding migrants," he stated. "The country possesses a large quantity of citizens emigrating to other countries or remaining beyond visa limits and that interferes with the national image."
Elements like the security level of a national passport and immigration processes also play a role in gaining visa-free entry to other countries.
India's passport remains vulnerable to security threats. In 2024, authorities arrested 203 people for suspected passport and visa irregularities. India is also known for complex immigration processes and a slow pace for visa approvals.
The diplomat says that new technologies, such as the newly introduced digital passport or e-passport, can improve security and ease the immigration process. The e-passport includes a microchip holding biometric information, making it harder to forge or tamper with the passport.
However, more diplomatic outreach and travel partnerships continue essential for enhancing the global mobility for Indian citizens and, by extension, the Indian passport's global position.
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