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Earlier this year, an online clip from an Indian travel influencer complaining about the limited power of the Indian passport gained massive traction on social media.

The influencer stated that while neighbouring countries such as Bhutan and Sri Lanka were more welcoming of travelers from India, obtaining visas to travel to most Western and European countries remained a challenge.

This dissatisfaction regarding the limited global access of Indian passports found confirmation in recent Henley Passport Index, which placed India at position eighty-five out of 199 countries, a decline of five positions than last year.

The Indian government has not commented on the report so far.

Countries like Ghana, Rwanda and Azerbaijan despite smaller economic size than India – which is the world's fifth biggest economy – are ranked higher on the index in the seventies range, in that order.

Actually, the country's position over the last ten years has remained in the 80s, falling to ninetieth place two years ago. Such standings appear poor compared to other Asian countries such as Singapore, Japan and South Korea, all maintaining top positions.

What Passport Strength Measures

The power of a passport indicates a country's global influence and global influence. This leads to better mobility for its citizens, improving commercial and learning opportunities. Limited passport power results in additional documentation, increased visa expenses, fewer travel privileges and extended processing periods when journeying.

But despite the decline in the rank, the count of nations providing visa-free travel to Indians has grown over the last ten years.

As an instance, in 2014 – when Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) assumed office – fifty-two nations offered visa-free travel to Indians and its passport at seventy-sixth position in the ranking.

A year later, it fell to eighty-fifth place, then improved to 80th in 2023 and 2024, dropping again to the 85th position currently. At the same time, countries allowing visa-free travel for Indians grew from 52 in 2015 to sixty last year and sixty-two this year.

Increasing Worldwide Travel Competition

The count of visa-free destinations in 2025 (57) is higher than the number eight years ago (52), but India's rank for both these years is 85. What explains this situation?

Experts say that a primary factor involves growing competition in international travel – indicating that nations are entering into more travel partnerships for their populations' advantage and their economies. According to a 2025 report, the global average count of countries travellers are able to access without visas has almost doubled from fifty-eight nineteen years ago to 109 in 2025.

For example, The Chinese passport has increased the number of visa-free destinations its citizens can travel to from 50 to 82 over the last ten years. As a result, its rank on the index has improved from ninety-fourth to sixtieth during the same time period.

Meanwhile, India – which was ranked 77th on the index in July – dropped to eighty-fifth place in October following the loss to two countries.

Additional Factors Affecting Passport Strength

An ex-diplomat from India says there are other factors that affect the strength of a country's passport, like economic and political conditions plus its receptiveness to accepting travelers from other countries.

For example, the US passport has dropped out of the top 10 currently holding twelfth place – a historic low – because of its more inward-looking approach in world politics.

The diplomat recalls how in the 1970s, Indian citizens had visa-free travel to numerous European and Western nations, though this shifted following Sikh separatist movement during the eighties. Subsequent political upheavals have further chipped away at India's image as a stable, democratic country.

"Numerous nations are also becoming increasingly wary regarding migrants," the diplomat added. "The country possesses a high number of people migrating overseas or overstaying their visas affecting the country's reputation."

Factors such as how secure a country's passport is and its immigration procedures also play a role to obtaining visa-free entry to other countries.

Enhanced Security Measures

India's passport faces ongoing security threats. In 2024, authorities detained over two hundred individuals for suspected visa and passport fraud. India is also known for complex immigration processes with lengthy timelines for visa approvals.

The diplomat says that technological advances, like India's recently-launched digital passport or e-passport, can improve security and ease the immigration process. The e-passport includes a microchip that stores biometric data, making it harder to forge or tamper with the passport.

However, more diplomatic outreach and travel agreements remain key to boosting international travel freedom for Indian citizens and, by extension, the Indian passport's global position.