NEW DELHI: India has slipped to 125th in the Global Passport Index 2026, remaining outside the top 100 despite a marginal improvement last year. After climbing to 124th in 2025 from 127th between 2021 and 2023, the country has once again lost ground and now offers visa-free access to just 26 destinations.The Indian passport ranks below Namibia and behind countries such as the Philippines, Morocco and Uzbekistan, while staying ahead of Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan.Indian passport holders can travel visa-free or obtain a visa on arrival in destinations including Bhutan, Nepal, Jamaica, Macau, Palestine, Tunisia, Angola and Barbados. However, they still require a visa to enter around 88 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, China and the United Arab Emirates.Among India's neighbours, China is the highest-ranked at 104th, ahead of India at 125th. India, however, fares better than several other South Asian countries, with Bangladesh ranked 166th, Nepal 164th, and Pakistan near the bottom of the index at 188th.

The top 10 of the Global Passport Index 2026 is dominated by European nations, underlining the continent's continued strength in global travel mobility. Notably, both the United States and France are ranked 11th, narrowly missing out on the top 10, while Canada is placed 13th, making Europe the clear leader among the world's most powerful passports.Also read: Why India, among largest economies, doesn’t rank in top 50 world’s most powerful passports

Countries that rank in top 10: