Indian Passport Ranking Improved with Visa-Free Access to 59 Countries In 2023

The 2023 passport ranking index by Henley & Partners has been released, and the Indian passport has moved up two spots to 85th place, as compared to its 87th place ranking in 2022. This improvement grants visa-free access to 59 countries for Indian passport holders.

Despite the improvement in the ranking, visa-free access for Indian citizens remains restricted to 59 countries. In comparison, last year, Indian citizens had the ability to travel visa-free to 60 destinations.

This year, that number has decreased to 59 as a result of Serbia revoking visa-free travel for Indian citizens starting January 01, 2023. It is worth noting that Serbia has withdrawn the agreement that permitted Indians to enter the country without a visa for stays of up to 30 days.

Table of Contents

• Visa-Free Countries For Indian Passport Holders in 2023
• Historical Ranking of Indian Passport
• Most and Least Powerful Passports in 2023
• What is Henley Passport Index?

Visa-Free Countries For Indian Passport Holders in 2023

According to the Henley Passport Index in 2023, Indian passport holders can travel visa-free to 59 countries which include Bhutan, Nepal, Mauritius, Indonesia, Fiji, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Seychelles, Serbia, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Vanuatu, Micronesia, and others.

It is important to note that the visa-free access by the Henley Passport Index includes not only visa-free entry, but also Visa On Arrival (VOA), Electronic Visa On Arrival (eVOA), and Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).

Below is the complete list of 59 courtiers that give access to Indian passport holders without any prior-visa requirements in 2023.

Historical Ranking of Indian Passport

According to the Historical Data of Henley Passport Index, in 2006, the Indian passport ranked 71st on the list of strongest passports in the world. However, after the Covid-19 pandemic, its ranking dropped to its lowest point in 2021. Since then, the ranking of the Indian passport has been improving and is currently at 85th position.

Most and Least Powerful Passports in 2023

According to the most recent Henley Passport Index report, Japan will continue to be the most powerful passport in 2023, with Japanese citizens able to visit 193 visa-free destinations. South Korea and Singapore tied for second place, both having visa-free access to 192 destinations.

While Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, and Yemen continue to have the weakest passports, citizens have limited access to visa-free destinations.

What is Henley Passport Index?

The Henley Passport Index is a globally recognised and respected ranking system that evaluates all of the world’s passports based on the number of visa-free destinations to which their holders can travel.

This ranking is made possible by the use of exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the world’s largest and most reliable travel information database – and is further enhanced by the research team at Henley & Partners.