India slips to 85th spot in 2025 Henley Passport Index; US falls out of global top 10

The Henley Passport Index, which ranks 199 countries by the number of destinations their citizens can visit without a prior visa, reflects the global mobility strength of each nation’s passport.

Singapore continues to hold the world’s most powerful passport, offering access to 193 destinations without a visa. It is followed by South Korea and Japan, reaffirming Asia’s dominance in international travel freedom.

European nations such as Germany, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland also feature prominently in the top 10, backed by stable diplomatic relations and extensive visa-free travel agreements.

India’s ranking has seen considerable fluctuation over the years, from a high of 71st in 2006 to a low of 90th in 2021. In 2024, India was placed 80th.

Currently, Indian passport holders enjoy visa-free travel to 12 destinations, including Bhutan, Indonesia, Mauritius, Nepal, and Trinidad & Tobago.

Additionally, Indians can obtain a visa-on-arrival in 27 countries, such as Sri Lanka, Maldives, Jordan, Qatar, Bolivia, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Mozambique, Myanmar, and Tanzania, among others.

Overall, experts say India’s passport strength remains moderate, though incremental gains are possible with expanded bilateral travel agreements.

Among India’s neighbours, Bhutan ranks 92nd (50 visa-free destinations), Bangladesh ranks 100th (38 destinations), Nepal ranks 101st (36 destinations), and Pakistan sits at 103rd, with only 31 visa-free options.

US sees record decline

In a historic first, the United States has dropped out of the top 10, ranking 12th, its lowest position in two decades.

Once the world’s strongest passport (No. 1 in 2014), the US now allows visa-free entry to 180 destinations, but offers visa-free access to only 46 countries, ranking 77th in openness.

This imbalance has prompted reciprocal restrictions from several countries. Brazil, for instance, reinstated visa requirements for US citizens in 2024, while Vietnam and China excluded the US from their new visa-free lists.

Even Papua New Guinea, Myanmar, and Somalia have tightened entry rules for Americans.

At the bottom of the 2025 Index, Afghanistan remains the world’s least powerful passport, granting visa-free access to just 24 destinations, followed by Syria (26) and Iraq (29).