Henley Passport Index: India's rank slips to 85th as China climbs to 64th

India's passport has dropped to 85th place in the 2025 Henley Passport Index, offering visa-free access to just 57 countries - down from 59 earlier this year

The Indian passport has taken a tumble in the latest global passport rankings, slipping several spots to 85th place, tied with Mauritania. Holders of an Indian passport can now travel visa-free to 57 countries, according to the latest Henley Passport Index released by London-based consultancy Henley & Partners.

 

Earlier this year, India was ranked 77th, with access to 59 destinations without needing a visa. The drop reflects changing global mobility agreements and tightening border policies among several nations.

 

India’s ranking in Henley Passport Index 2025:

 

 2006 – 71st

 2007 – 73rd

 2008 – 75th

 2009 – 75th

 2010 – 77th

 2011 – 78th

 2012 – 82nd

 2013 – 74th

 2014 – 76th

 2015 – 88th

 2016 – 85th

 2017 – 87th

 2018 – 81st

 2019 – 82nd

 2020 – 82nd

 2021 – 90th

 2022 – 83rd

 2023 – 84th

 2024 – 80th

 2025 – 85th 

 

Where Indians can travel without a visa

 

Indians can currently travel visa-free to 12 destinations. These include Bhutan, Indonesia, Mauritius, and Trinidad and Tobago. The full list is:

 

1. Bhutan

2. Dominica

3. Haiti

4. Indonesia

5. Mauritius

6. Micronesia

7. Nepal

8. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

9. Senegal

10. Serbia

11. Trinidad and Tobago

12. Vanuatu

 

Countries offering visa on arrival

 

In 27 countries, Indian citizens can obtain a visa after landing. Popular destinations in this category include Sri Lanka, Maldives, Jordan, and Qatar.

 

1. Bolivia

2. Burundi

3. Cambodia

4. Cape Verde Islands

5. Comoro Islands

6. Djibouti

7. Ethiopia

8. Guinea-Bissau

9. Jordan

10. Laos

11. Madagascar

12. Maldives

13. Marshall Islands

14. Mongolia

15. Mozambique

16. Myanmar

17. Niue

18. Palau Islands

19. Qatar

20. Samoa

21. Sierra Leone

22. Sri Lanka

23. St Lucia

24. Tanzania

25. Timor-Leste

26. Togo

27. Tuvalu 

 

Apply online before travelling

 

Indian travellers can apply for an e-Visa to 44 countries, including Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Vietnam. The application is typically completed online before departure.

 

For instance:

 

1. Albania

2. Armenia

3. Azerbaijan

4. Bahamas

5. Bahrain

6. Bangladesh

7. Georgia

8. Hong Kong (SAR China)

9. Oman

10. Russia

11. Saudi Arabia

12. Singapore

13. South Africa

14. Türkiye

15. Ukraine

16. Uzbekistan

17. Vietnam

18. Zambia

 

A few countries, including Kenya, Seychelles, and St Kitts and Nevis, also require an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) prior to travel.

 

Global leaders in travel freedom

 

At the top of the 2025 ranking are three Asian nations. Singapore holds the first position with visa-free access to 193 destinations, followed by South Korea with 190 and Japan with 189.

 

China climbs steadily

 

Meanwhile, China has seen a major leap in global mobility over the past decade, climbing from 94th in 2015 to 64th in 2025. Its citizens can now visit 37 more destinations visa-free than they could ten years ago.

 

In the past year alone, Beijing has added 30 more visa-free destinations, expanding access through fresh agreements with countries across Europe, South America, and the Gulf.

 

“Recent developments, including granting visa free access to Russia, show Beijing’s ongoing strategy of increased openness. China’s moves — alongside new agreements with the Gulf states, South America, and several European countries — are bolstering the Asia-Pacific region’s dominance in travel freedom,” the Henley report said.