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Earlier this year, a video by an Indian travel influencer expressing frustration over the limited power of the Indian passport went viral on social media.

He mentioned that while nearby nations like Sri Lanka and Bhutan were more welcoming to Indian tourists, obtaining visas to travel to most Western and European countries continued to be difficult.

Such concerns with the limited global access of Indian passports was reflected in the latest global passport ranking, ranking the country in the 85th spot among nearly two hundred nations, five spots lower than last year.

Officials in India has not commented on the report yet.

Nations including Rwanda, Ghana and Azerbaijan despite smaller economic size than India – which is the fifth-largest economy globally – hold better positions in the ranking in the seventies range, in that order.

In fact, the country's position over the last ten years has hovered around the eighties, falling to the 90th spot two years ago. Such standings are dismal compared to Asian nations like Japan, South Korea and Singapore, all maintaining leading ranks.

Global Passport Power Indicates

Passport strength indicates a country's global influence and international standing. This leads to better mobility for passport holders, boosting business and educational prospects. A weak passport means more paperwork, higher visa costs, reduced travel benefits and extended processing periods when journeying.

But despite the decline in the rank, the number of countries offering visa-free access for Indian citizens has actually increased in the past decade or so.

As an instance, in 2014 – when the current administration's ruling party came to power – 52 countries offered visa-free access to Indians with the passport ranked 76th in the ranking.

The following year, it fell to the 85th position, then improved to 80th over the past two years, declining once more to the 85th position currently. At the same time, countries allowing visa-free travel to Indian citizens grew from 52 in 2015 to sixty last year and 62 in 2024.

Increasing Worldwide Travel Competition

The count of nations allowing visa-free entry in 2025 (57) is higher than the number eight years ago (52), yet the country's position during both periods is 85. What explains this situation?

Experts say that a major reason involves growing competition in international travel – indicating that nations are entering into additional travel agreements to benefit their citizens and their economies. As per recent analysis, the global average number of destinations travellers are able to access without visas has nearly doubled from 58 in 2006 to 109 in 2025.

For example, The Chinese passport has expanded its count of visa-free countries available to its citizens from 50 to 82 in the past decade. As a result, its position on the index has enhanced from ninety-fourth to sixtieth in that same duration.

Meanwhile, The Indian passport – which was ranked at seventy-seventh place in July – dropped to eighty-fifth place this autumn following the loss of two nations.

Additional Factors Affecting Passport Strength

A former Indian ambassador says multiple elements influencing the strength of a country's passport, like its economic and political stability as well as its receptiveness to welcoming citizens from other countries.

For instance, the US passport has fallen of the top 10 currently holding twelfth place – its lowest ever – due to its more inward-looking approach in global affairs.

The former ambassador mentioned how in the 1970s, Indian citizens had visa-free travel to many Western and European countries, but that changed following Khalistan movement in the 1980s. Later political disturbances have further chipped away at India's image as a stable, democratic country.

"Many countries are also becoming more cautious of immigrants," he stated. "India has a high number of people migrating overseas or overstaying their visas affecting the country's reputation."

Factors like the security level of a national passport and immigration processes also contribute to obtaining visa-free access to foreign nations.

Security and Technological Improvements

The Indian passport faces ongoing security threats. In 2024, law enforcement detained over two hundred individuals for suspected passport and visa irregularities. India is also known for cumbersome immigration procedures with lengthy timelines of visa processing.

The diplomat says that technological advances, such as the newly introduced digital passport or e-passport, may enhance safety and ease the immigration process. The e-passport includes a small chip that stores biometric information, increasing difficulty to counterfeit or alter the document.

However, increased diplomatic efforts and travel partnerships remain key for enhancing the global mobility of Indians and, by extension, the Indian passport's global position.