India Climbs to 80th in Henley Passport Index 2026, Gains Visa-Free Access to 55 Countries

• India improved its ranking by five places to 80th in the Henley Passport Index 2026, offering visa-free access to 55 countries.
• Indian passport holders can now travel to 55 countries and territories without a prior visa, or with visa-on-arrival/electronic travel authorization.
• Key Asian destinations accessible include Bhutan, Nepal, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Iran, Hong Kong SAR, and Macao SAR.
• African nations like Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Senegal, Mauritius, Seychelles, Mozambique, and Rwanda offer simplified entry.
• Singapore leads the 2026 index for the third consecutive year with visa-free access to 192 destinations, followed by Japan and South Korea.

Why It Matters: India's passport ranking improved to 80th, granting visa-free access to 55 countries, though still behind top global passports.