The Indian passport has slipped to 85th place in the latest Henley Passport Index, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 57 destinations. This marks a drop from the 77th position earlier this year, when Indian citizens could access 59 countries without a pre-approved visa.
It’s a reminder that global mobility is constantly shifting. Diplomatic changes, new visa rules, and evolving security policies can quickly influence how freely citizens can travel, and India’s latest ranking reflects just that.
Where Indian Citizens Can Travel Without a Traditional Visa
As of the 2025 update, Indian passport holders can enter 57 countries without applying for a pre-approved visa. Depending on the destination, the entry access falls into one of three categories: visa-free entry, visa-on-arrival, or electronic travel authorization (ETA).
Here’s the full list of countries and territories:
1. Visa-Free Entry
- Angola
- Barbados
- Bhutan
- British Virgin Islands
- Cook Islands
- Dominica
- Fiji
- Grenada
- Haiti
- Iran
- Jamaica
- Kazakhstan
- Kiribati
- Macao (SAR China)
- Malaysia
- Mauritius
- Micronesia
- Montserrat
- Nepal
- Philippines
- Rwanda
- Senegal
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Thailand
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Vanuatu
2. Visa-On-Arrival
- Bolivia
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cape Verde Islands
- Comoro Islands
- Djibouti
- Ethiopia
- Guinea-Bissau
- Indonesia
- Jordan
- Laos
- Madagascar
- Maldives
- Marshall Islands
- Mongolia
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Niue
- Palau Islands
- Qatar
- Samoa
- Sierra Leone
- Sri Lanka
- St. Lucia
- Tanzania
- Timor-Leste
- Tuvalu
- Zimbabwe
Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)
Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Kenya also allow entry through Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) systems, offering quicker approvals for short-term visits.
Countries Offering e-Visas to Indian Travellers
Along with visa-free destinations, there are countries that let Indian travellers enter with a visa-on-arrival or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). Beyond that, 42 more countries now offer e-Visas to Indian travellers. Here’s the full list.
- Albania
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Benin
- Botswana
- Burkina Faso
- Cameroon
- Colombia
- Congo (Dem. Rep.)
- Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
- Cuba
- Equatorial Guinea
- Gabon
- Georgia
- Guinea
- Hong Kong (SAR China)
- Kyrgyzstan
- Mauritania
- Moldova
- Morocco
- Namibia
- Nigeria
- Russian Federation
- São Tomé and Principe
- Singapore
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- St. Helena
- Suriname
- Tajikistan
- Togo
- Türkiye
- Uganda
- Ukraine
- Uzbekistan
- Vietnam
- Zambia
Who’s Leading the Passport League in 2025?
At the other end of the scale, Singapore continues to dominate with the world’s most powerful passport, providing visa-free access to 193 destinations. South Korea follows in second place with 190, while Japan secures third with 189.
European heavyweights Germany, Italy, and Spain remain firmly in the top five, reflecting the steady strength of EU travel privileges.
Meanwhile, the United States has slipped to 12th place, underscoring shifting dynamics in global mobility.
A Changing Travel Landscape
For Indian travellers, the latest ranking is both a reminder and an opportunity. While the number of visa-free countries has slightly decreased, more countries are offering streamlined e-visa and on-arrival procedures, narrowing the gap between traditional and digital entry systems.
As international travel policies evolve, keeping track of these shifts is crucial for frequent flyers, business travellers, and holidaymakers alike.
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