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Earlier this year, an online clip by an Indian travel influencer expressing frustration over India's weak passport gained massive traction on social media.

The influencer stated that while nearby nations like Sri Lanka and Bhutan offered easier access to travelers from India, obtaining visas for visiting many nations in Europe and the West continued to be difficult.

This dissatisfaction regarding India's poor passport strength was reflected in the latest global passport ranking, ranking India in the 85th spot among nearly two hundred nations, a decline of five positions than last year.

The Indian government has not commented on the report yet.

Nations including Ghana, Rwanda and Azerbaijan with much smaller economies compared to India – a nation that is the fifth-largest economy globally – are ranked higher in the ranking at the 78th, 74th and 72nd spots, respectively.

In fact, India's rank over the last ten years has hovered around the eighties, even dipping to ninetieth place two years ago. Such standings appear poor when measured against other Asian countries such as Japan, South Korea and Singapore, all maintaining top positions.

What Passport Strength Measures

Passport strength reflects a country's global influence and global influence. This leads to better mobility for passport holders, boosting business and educational prospects. Limited passport power means more paperwork, higher visa costs, reduced travel benefits and longer waiting times when journeying.

But despite the drop in position, the count of nations providing visa-free travel to Indians has actually increased over the last ten years.

For example, in 2014 – the year Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling party assumed office – fifty-two nations offered visa-free travel to Indians with the passport ranked 76th in the ranking.

A year later, it tumbled to eighty-fifth place, then rose to eightieth over the past two years, declining once more to the 85th position currently. Meanwhile, countries allowing visa-free travel for Indians increased from 52 in 2015 to sixty last year and 62 in 2024.

Increasing Worldwide Travel Competition

The count of visa-free destinations in 2025 (fifty-seven) is higher than what it was eight years ago (52), yet India's rank during both periods is 85. So, why is that?

Analysts note that a primary factor involves growing competition in global mobility – meaning nations are entering into additional travel agreements for their populations' advantage and their economies. According to a 2025 report, the global average count of countries travellers are able to access visa-free has almost doubled from fifty-eight nineteen years ago to one hundred nine currently.

As an illustration, China 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 position in the ranking has improved from 94th to 60th in that same duration.

In comparison, India – previously positioned at seventy-seventh place during summer – fell to the 85th position this autumn following the loss to two countries.

Other Influences Affecting Passport Strength

A former Indian ambassador notes there are other factors influencing the strength of a country's passport, including economic and political conditions as well as its openness to accepting travelers from abroad.

For instance, the US passport has fallen from the top ten currently holding twelfth place – a historic low – because of its more inward-looking approach in world politics.

The diplomat recalls how in the 1970s, Indians enjoyed visa-free travel to numerous European and Western nations, though this shifted after the Sikh separatist movement in the 1980s. Subsequent political upheavals have further chipped away the country's reputation as a stable democracy.

"Many countries are growing increasingly wary regarding migrants," the diplomat added. "The country possesses a high number of people migrating to other countries or remaining beyond visa limits affecting the country's reputation."

Factors such as the security level of a national passport and its immigration procedures also play a role in gaining visa-free entry to other countries.

Security and Technological Improvements

India's passport remains vulnerable to security threats. Last year, authorities arrested over two hundred individuals for suspected visa and passport fraud. India is also known for cumbersome immigration procedures with lengthy timelines for visa approvals.

The diplomat says that new technologies, like India's recently-launched digital passport or e-passport, may enhance safety and ease the immigration process. This electronic document includes a small chip holding biometric data, making it harder to forge or tamper with the passport.

However, more diplomatic outreach and travel agreements continue essential for enhancing the global mobility for Indian citizens and, by extension, India's passport ranking.