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Earlier this year, an online clip by a popular travel content creator expressing frustration over the limited power of the Indian passport gained massive traction on social media.

He mentioned that while neighbouring countries such as Bhutan and Sri Lanka offered easier access to travelers from India, securing travel permits for visiting many nations in Europe and the West continued to be difficult.

Such concerns regarding India's poor passport strength found confirmation in recent Henley Passport Index, ranking the country in the 85th spot out of 199 countries, a decline of five positions than last year.

The Indian government have not issued a statement on the report so far.

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

Actually, India's rank over the last ten years has hovered in the 80s, falling to ninetieth place two years ago. These rankings appear poor when measured against Asian nations like Japan, South Korea and Singapore, which have consistently held leading ranks.

Global Passport Power Indicates

The power of a passport indicates a country's global influence and global influence. It also translates into enhanced travel freedom for its citizens, improving commercial and learning opportunities. Limited passport power means more paperwork, increased visa expenses, fewer travel privileges and longer waiting times when journeying.

However, even with the decline in the rank, the number of countries offering visa-free access for Indian citizens has actually increased over the last ten years.

For example, eight years ago – when the current administration's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power – 52 countries offered visa-free travel to Indians and its passport at seventy-sixth position on the index.

A year later, it fell to eighty-fifth place, then rose to 80th in 2023 and 2024, declining once more to the eighty-fifth spot this year. Meanwhile, visa-free destinations for Indians grew from fifty-two eight years ago to sixty last year and sixty-two this year.

Increasing Worldwide Travel Competition

The count of nations allowing visa-free entry in 2025 (fifty-seven) is higher than what it was in 2015 (fifty-two), yet India's rank for both these years is 85. What explains this situation?

Analysts note that a primary factor is the increasingly competitive landscape in global mobility – meaning countries are forming more travel partnerships for their populations' advantage and economic growth. According to recent analysis, the worldwide mean count of countries travellers are able to access visa-free has nearly doubled from 58 in 2006 to 109 in 2025.

For example, China has increased the number of visa-free destinations available to its citizens from 50 to 82 over the last ten years. As a result, its position on the index has enhanced from 94th to 60th in that same duration.

Meanwhile, India – which was ranked 77th on the index during summer – fell to eighty-fifth place this autumn after losing access to two countries.

Other Influences Impacting Passport Power

A former Indian ambassador notes multiple elements influencing a nation's passport power, like economic and political conditions as well as its receptiveness to accepting travelers from other countries.

For example, the US passport has fallen from the top ten currently holding the 12th position – its lowest ever – because of its more inward-looking approach in world politics.

The diplomat recalls that during the seventies, Indian citizens had visa-free travel to many Western and European countries, though this shifted following Sikh separatist movement during the eighties. Later political disturbances have continued to damage the country's reputation as a stable democracy.

"Many countries are also becoming more cautious regarding migrants," the diplomat added. "India has a high number of citizens emigrating overseas or remaining beyond visa limits affecting the country's reputation."

Factors like the security level of a national passport and immigration processes also contribute in gaining visa-free entry to foreign nations.

Enhanced Security Measures

The Indian passport remains vulnerable to security risks. Last year, authorities arrested 203 people for alleged passport and visa irregularities. The country also has cumbersome immigration procedures with lengthy timelines of visa processing.

The former ambassador says that technological advances, like India's recently-launched electronic passport or e-passport, can improve security and streamline immigration. This electronic document contains a microchip holding biometric information, making it harder to counterfeit or alter the document.

But, increased diplomatic efforts and travel partnerships remain key to boosting the global mobility of Indians and, by extension, the Indian passport's global position.