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In recent months, a video by an Indian travel influencer complaining about the limited power of the Indian passport went viral across digital platforms.

The influencer stated that while nearby nations such as Sri Lanka and Bhutan offered easier access to Indian tourists, obtaining visas for visiting most Western and European countries continued to be difficult.

Such concerns with India's poor passport strength was reflected in the latest global passport ranking, ranking India at position eighty-five out of 199 countries, a decline of five positions compared to the previous year.

Officials in India has not commented regarding these findings yet.

Nations including Ghana, Rwanda and Azerbaijan with much smaller economies compared to India – which is the fifth-largest economy globally – hold better positions on the index at the 78th, 74th and 72nd spots, respectively.

Actually, India's rank over the last ten years has remained in the 80s, falling to ninetieth place two years ago. Such standings are dismal compared to other Asian countries such as Singapore, Japan and South Korea, which have consistently held leading ranks.

What Passport Strength Measures

The power of a passport reflects a nation's soft power and global influence. It also translates into better mobility for its citizens, boosting business and learning opportunities. Limited passport power results in more paperwork, increased visa expenses, reduced travel benefits and extended processing periods when journeying.

But despite the decline in the rank, the count of nations offering visa-free access to Indians has actually increased in the past decade or so.

As an instance, eight years ago – the year the current administration's ruling party came to power – 52 countries offered visa-free travel for Indian passport holders and its passport ranked 76th on the index.

A year later, it tumbled to eighty-fifth place, then improved to eightieth in 2023 and 2024, declining once more to the eighty-fifth spot this year. At the same time, countries allowing visa-free travel to Indian citizens increased from 52 in 2015 to 60 in 2023 and sixty-two this year.

Increasing Worldwide Travel Competition

The count of nations allowing visa-free entry this year (fifty-seven) exceeds the number eight years ago (52), yet the country's position during both periods is 85. So, why is that?

Experts say that a major reason is the increasingly competitive landscape in global mobility – indicating that countries are entering into additional travel agreements to benefit their citizens and their economies. According to a 2025 report, the global average number of destinations people can visit visa-free has almost doubled from fifty-eight nineteen years ago to one hundred nine currently.

As an illustration, The Chinese passport has expanded its count of visa-free countries available to its citizens from fifty to eighty-two in the past decade. As a result, its rank on the index has improved from ninety-fourth to sixtieth in that same duration.

Meanwhile, The Indian passport – previously positioned 77th on the index in July – fell to the 85th position this autumn following the loss to two countries.

Other Influences Impacting Passport Power

A former Indian ambassador notes there are other factors influencing the strength of a country's passport, including its economic and political stability as well as its receptiveness to welcoming citizens from abroad.

For instance, the US passport has dropped out of the top 10 currently holding twelfth place – a historic low – because of its increasingly insular stance in global affairs.

The former ambassador recalls how in the 1970s, Indian citizens had visa-free access to numerous European and Western nations, but that changed after the Khalistan movement during the eighties. Later political disturbances have continued to damage the country's reputation as a stable democracy.

"Many countries are growing more cautious regarding migrants," he stated. "India has a large quantity of citizens emigrating to other countries or remaining beyond visa limits and that interferes with the country's reputation."

Factors such as how secure of a national passport and its immigration procedures also play a role to obtaining visa-free entry to foreign nations.

Security and Technological Improvements

The Indian passport remains vulnerable to security threats. Last year, law enforcement arrested 203 people for suspected visa and passport fraud. India is also known for complex immigration processes and a slow pace for visa approvals.

The diplomat indicated that technological advances, such as the newly introduced electronic passport or e-passport, may enhance safety and streamline immigration. The e-passport contains a small chip that stores biometric data, making it harder to forge or tamper with the passport.

However, more diplomatic outreach and travel agreements continue essential to boosting the global mobility for Indian citizens and consequently, the Indian passport's global position.