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In recent months, a video from a popular travel content creator complaining about the limited power of the Indian passport gained massive traction on social media.

He mentioned although nearby nations like Bhutan and Sri Lanka were more welcoming to travelers from India, securing travel permits to travel to most Western and European countries remained a challenge.

Such concerns with India's poor passport strength was reflected in the latest global passport ranking, which placed India in the 85th spot among nearly two hundred nations, a decline of five positions compared to the previous year.

The Indian government has not commented on the report yet.

Countries like Rwanda, Ghana and Azerbaijan despite smaller economic size than India – which is the world's fifth biggest economy – are ranked higher in the ranking in the seventies range, in that order.

In fact, India's rank over the last ten years has hovered in the 80s, falling to the 90th spot two years ago. Such standings appear poor compared to other Asian countries such as Japan, South Korea and Singapore, all maintaining top positions.

What Passport Strength Measures

The power of a passport indicates a country's global influence and international standing. It also translates into enhanced travel freedom for passport holders, boosting business and educational prospects. Limited passport power results in more paperwork, increased visa expenses, reduced travel benefits and extended processing periods for travel.

However, even with the drop in position, the count of nations offering visa-free access for Indian citizens has grown in the past decade or so.

As an instance, eight years ago – when Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) assumed office – fifty-two nations offered visa-free travel to Indians and its passport ranked 76th in the ranking.

A year later, it tumbled to the 85th position, then rose to eightieth in 2023 and 2024, dropping again to the 85th position currently. Meanwhile, countries allowing visa-free travel for Indians grew from 52 in 2015 to 60 in 2023 and 62 in 2024.

Increasing Worldwide Travel Competition

The number of nations allowing visa-free entry this year (fifty-seven) is higher than what it was in 2015 (52), yet India's rank for both these years remains at eighty-fifth. So, why is that?

Analysts note that a primary factor is the increasingly competitive landscape in international travel – indicating that countries are entering into additional travel agreements for their populations' advantage and their economies. As per a 2025 report, the worldwide mean number of destinations travellers are able to access visa-free has almost doubled from fifty-eight nineteen years ago to 109 in 2025.

For example, China has expanded the number of visa-free countries available to its citizens from fifty to eighty-two in the past decade. As a result, its position on the index has enhanced from 94th to 60th during the same time period.

In comparison, India – which was ranked 77th on the index in July – dropped to eighty-fifth place in October following the loss to two countries.

Other Influences Affecting Passport Strength

A former Indian ambassador notes there are other factors that affect a nation's passport power, including its economic and political stability plus its receptiveness to welcoming citizens from other countries.

For instance, the US passport has dropped out from the top ten and now occupies the 12th position – its lowest ever – because of its more inward-looking approach in world politics.

The former ambassador mentioned how in the 1970s, Indians enjoyed visa-free access to numerous European and Western nations, though this shifted following Khalistan movement in the 1980s. Later political disturbances have further chipped away the country's reputation as a stable, democratic country.

"Numerous nations are growing increasingly wary of immigrants," the diplomat added. "India has a high number of people migrating to other countries or overstaying their visas affecting the country's reputation."

Factors such as how secure of a national passport and immigration processes also contribute to obtaining visa-free access to foreign nations.

Security and Technological Improvements

India's passport faces ongoing security threats. In 2024, authorities arrested over two hundred individuals for suspected passport and visa irregularities. The country also has cumbersome immigration procedures with lengthy timelines for visa approvals.

The diplomat indicated that technological advances, such as the newly introduced electronic passport or e-passport, can improve security and streamline immigration. This electronic document contains a small chip holding biometric data, making it harder to counterfeit or alter the passport.

However, more diplomatic outreach and travel agreements continue essential to boosting international travel freedom for Indian citizens and, by extension, India's passport ranking.