The List of World’s Most Powerful Passports Is Out; India Improves Position

The Indian passport shows a moderate rise in the Henley Passport Index 2026, advancing to 80th position, up five spots from last year. However, the country still lags behind some of the powerful passports. The index is constituted based on the exclusive data compiled by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which tracks 227 global destinations.

Visa-free and visa-on-arrival destinations

According to the latest rankings released by Henley and Partners, a London-based global citizenship advisory, Indian citizens can now enter 55 countries and territories visa-free, with a visa on arrival, or with electronic travel authorisation.

Look at the destinations:
Asia
• Bhutan
• Nepal
• Thailand
• Indonesia
• Malaysia
• Maldives
• Sri Lanka (ETA)
• Iran
• Hong Kong (SAR)
• Macao (SAR)
Africa
• Kenya
• Tanzania
• Zimbabwe
• Senegal
• Mauritius
• Seychelles
• Mozambique
• Rwanda Middle East
• Qatar (visa on arrival)
• Caribbean
• Barbados
• Jamaica
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Grenada
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Dominica
• Haiti
• Montserrat Pacific Islands
• Fiji
• Micronesia
• Vanuatu
• Palau
• Samoa
America's
• Bolivia
• El Salvador

(Visa conditions may vary among visa-free, visa-on-arrival, or electronic travel authorisations and are subject to change.)

Strongest and Weakest Passports

The Singaporean passport remains the most powerful in the world, having visa-free access to 192 destinations, followed by Japan and South Korea with 188 destinations. Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, and Sweden hold the 3rd position, while Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, and Switzerland stand at the 4th spot.

The Afghanistan passport remains the weakest at the 101st position, just preceded by Syria, Iraq, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, Nepal, and Bangladesh. While European passports remained at the top of the list, the UAE became an exception in other countries, improving 57 positions over the last two decades. The UAE passport is at the fifth position with visa-free access to 184 destinations.

Australia, Canada, and Malaysia are spotted among the top 10, with the US regaining the 10th position after briefly slipping for the first time in late 2025.

What it means to India

Although the Indian passport still falls behind the most powerful passports, the progress shown by the Henley Passport Index is significant as far as Indian citizens are concerned, especially for NRIs (Non-Resident Indians), as they have to travel to different countries frequently.

The progress in the list also denotes improvement in India's diplomatic engagements and its international travel access.

Henley & Partners' Comment
Henley & Partners said that accessibility remains unevenly distributed in the world, despite mobility having expanded significantly over the past two decades. Passport strength is essentially evaluated considering the political stability, diplomatic credibility and economic influence of a country.

"Passport privilege plays a decisive role in shaping opportunity, security and economic participation," said Christian H. Kaelin, chairman of Henley & Partners and creator of the index.