Global rankings of India’s passports are on an upward trajectory, climbing to the 80th position in 2026 from 85th in 2025. The advance underscores the country’s increased global mobility while implementing diplomatic initiatives to promote visa-free or visa-on-arrival access for Indian citizens. This is included in the annual global passport index, which assesses passports’ attractiveness depending on the number of destinations their holders can enter without previous visas.
India’s improved stance reflects the State’s continued push to improve bilateral relations and conclude travel agreements. A number of nations are relaxing entry barriers to Indian travelers over the past year, and they’re providing for greater freedom of movement. This is very important for students, professionals and vacationers entering foreign destinations that are now travelling in a more serene environment. But even with the sharp rise, India’s passport continues to lag behind many Asian rivals, most notably Japan, Singapore and South Korea, which consistently rank at the top of the list.
These countries enjoy a cheap visa-free trip to as many as 190 destinations versus fewer to Indian passport holders. This gap illustrates the necessary need for India to undertake more forceful diplomacy initiatives for improving worldwide mobility scores. It is a ranking that also reflects broader changes in global geopolitics and travel. The passport strength has emerged as a strong indicator of a country’s international standing since globalization and mobility on an international scale became pervasive.
It will be an essential transition for India, from 85th to 80th, as the world becomes a lot more open to a country, accepting that it is also coming to its own development on the world stage, both economic and political strength. In the years ahead, India will need to do more than riding this wave. Broader visa-free agreements and better consular services will be critical; so will closer links with major parts of the world like Europe, North America and Southeast Asia. If it all succeeds, India’s passport may well reach new heights in the coming years, giving its people an even greater influence on world matters and strengthening its status in world affairs in every aspect of things.
