In a notable development for Indian travellers, the Henley Passport Index 2024 has elevated the Indian passport to the 82nd position, enabling visa-free access to 58 foreign destinations.
Among these are popular tourist spots such as Indonesia, Maldives, and Thailand, making international travel more accessible for Indian citizens. This ranking places India on par with Senegal and Tajikistan.
Global Passport Rankings
Singapore Leads the Way
Singapore has secured the top spot in the Henley Passport Index, providing its citizens visa-free entry to an impressive 195 countries. Following closely, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Japan occupy the second position with visa-free access to 192 destinations each.
Strong European Presence
Austria, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, South Korea, and Sweden share the third rank, offering visa-free travel to 191 countries.
The United Kingdom, alongside New Zealand, Norway, Belgium, Denmark, and Switzerland, holds the fourth position, with passports granting access to 190 destinations without a visa. Australia and Portugal come in fifth, allowing travel to 189 countries visa-free.
United States Slips to Eighth
Interestingly, the United States has dropped to the eighth position, with its passport holders able to visit 186 countries without needing a visa.
Overall, the top 10 most powerful passports comprise 34 countries.
India’s Improved Ranking
India’s ascent to the 82nd rank signifies greater travel freedom for its citizens. Indian passport holders can now visit 58 countries without a visa, including Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
In contrast, neighbouring Pakistan is ranked 100th, with visa-free access to 33 countries, while Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the list with just 26 destinations.
Visa-Free Countries for Indian Passport Holders
Here’s a glimpse into the exciting possibilities of visa-free travel to 58 countries with an Indian passport (as of July 24, 2024);
- Angola
- Barbados
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- British Virgin Islands
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cape Verde Islands
- Comoro Islands
- Cook Islands
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- Grenada
- Guinea-Bissau
- Haiti
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Jamaica
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Laos
- Macao (SAR China)
- Madagascar
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Micronesia
- Montserrat
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Nepal
- Niue
- Palau Islands
- Qatar
- Rwanda
- Samoa
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- Sri Lanka
- St. Kitts and Nevis
- St. Lucia
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Tuvalu
- Vanuatu
- Zimbabwe
The Henley Passport Index Methodology
The Henley Passport Index bases its rankings on data from the International Air Transport Authority (IATA). The index considers adult citizens travelling alone for tourism or business purposes on short stays, excluding diplomatic travel, emergency passports, and transit stays.
About the Henley Passport Index
For the past 19 years, the Henley Passport Index has tracked global freedoms across 227 countries and territories, using exclusive data from the IATA. It has become the most popular interactive online tool for displaying, sorting, and ranking the world’s passports, with real-time updates reflecting changes in visa policies.
The Future of Indian Travel
With an improved passport ranking, Indian travellers can look forward to a world of possibilities. This paves the way for more convenient and hassle-free international journeys.
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