India’s passport strength declines amid global mobility competition

India's passport strength declines amid global mobility competition

India has dropped five places to the 85th rank in the latest Henley Passport Index, which measures global visa-free travel access, despite an increase in the number of destinations Indians can visit without prior approval. The decline, announced in October 2025, comes as smaller economies like Rwanda (78th), Ghana (74th), and Azerbaijan (72nd) outperform the world's fifth-largest economy, raising questions about the factors behind India's stagnant mobility rankings.

Visa-free access grows, but global competition intensifies

While Indian passport holders now enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 57 countries-up from 52 in 2014-their global ranking has worsened. The paradox stems from a broader trend: the global average of visa-free destinations has nearly doubled since 2006, from 58 to 109 in 2025, according to Henley & Partners. As nations expand travel agreements to boost tourism and trade, India's incremental gains have failed to keep pace.

For comparison, China's passport strength surged from 50 to 82 visa-free destinations over the past decade, propelling it from 94th to 60th in the rankings. India, meanwhile, saw its position fluctuate-peaking at 76th in 2014 before sliding to 85th in 2015, briefly recovering to 80th in 2023-24, and now returning to 85th after losing access to two countries in recent months.

Diplomatic and security challenges weigh on mobility

Experts attribute India's stagnation to a mix of diplomatic, economic, and security factors. Achal Malhotra, a former Indian ambassador to Armenia, notes that historical events-such as the 1980s Khalistan movement, which sought an independent Sikh homeland-damaged India's reputation as a stable democracy. "Many Western countries tightened visa policies for Indians after the unrest," he said, adding that persistent concerns over immigration overstays and passport fraud continue to hinder progress.

In 2024 alone, Delhi police arrested 203 individuals for alleged visa and passport fraud, underscoring systemic vulnerabilities. Malhotra also points to India's cumbersome immigration procedures and slow visa processing as deterrents for reciprocal travel agreements. "A country's passport strength reflects not just its economy but its global trustworthiness," he explained.

Technological upgrades offer limited relief

India's recent introduction of biometric e-passports, embedded with chips to store holder data, aims to curb forgery and streamline verification. However, Malhotra cautions that technological fixes alone won't suffice without broader diplomatic efforts. "Visa-free access depends on bilateral trust," he said. "India needs more proactive engagement-negotiating travel pacts and addressing concerns about emigration."

Regional disparities highlight soft power gaps

The index's top tier remains dominated by Asian nations: Singapore (1st, 193 visa-free destinations), South Korea (2nd, 190), and Japan (3rd, 189). Their consistency contrasts sharply with India's decade-long struggle in the 80s-even dipping to 90th in 2021. Meanwhile, the United States, once a top-10 fixture, now ranks 12th, its lowest ever, due to what Henley & Partners calls an "increasingly insular" foreign policy.

India's current visa-free access aligns with Mauritania, another 85th-ranked nation, though its economy dwarfs the African country's. The disparity underscores how soft power-encompassing political stability, security cooperation, and reciprocal trust-often outweighs raw economic might in determining mobility.

Government silence as citizens face hurdles

The Ministry of External Affairs has not responded to requests for comment on the rankings. The decline resonates with public frustration: earlier this year, a viral video by an Indian travel influencer lamented the "humiliating" visa processes for Western nations, noting that even smaller South Asian neighbors like Bhutan and Sri Lanka offered easier entry to Indians than Europe or North America.

With no official strategy announced to address the rankings, analysts warn that without targeted diplomacy, India's passport strength-and its citizens' global mobility-could continue to lag behind peers.

"A weak passport isn't just about travel-it's about lost business opportunities, delayed education, and a shrinking footprint on the world stage."

Achal Malhotra, former Indian ambassador to Armenia