Indian passport dips again: What’s Happening?

The strength of a country’s passport is directly dependent on the socio political and economic situation of the nation. But in this context, the strength of Indian passport has been going down gradually for some odd reason.

According to the latest Henley Passport Index 2025 report, India has slipped to the 85th position in the global ranking. The Indian passport now allows visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 57 countries, compared to 62 last year.

This drop shows that India’s travel freedom has slightly decreased, as more countries now require a visa before entry.

The Henley Passport Index ranks countries based on the number of destinations their citizens can visit without a prior visa. A higher ranking means more travel freedom. India’s fall from 80th in 2024 to 85th in 2025 highlights growing travel restrictions for Indian citizens.

Japan, Singapore, France, and Germany continue to hold top positions, offering access to more than 190 destinations without a visa. Meanwhile, countries like Afghanistan, Syria, and Iraq remain at the bottom with very limited travel freedom.

Although India’s ranking dropped early in 2025, it slightly improved later in the year to 77th place as two more countries opened visa-on-arrival access. Experts say India’s passport strength can grow in the future if more nations sign mutual travel agreements. Despite the fall, Indian travelers still enjoy easy entry into many Asian, African, and Caribbean countries.