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Henley Passport Index 2025
Context:
India’s ranking in the Henley Passport Index for 2025 dropped by five points to 85th, down from 80th in 2024. India’s consistent fluctuations in the index highlight the challenges it faces in enhancing its global mobility through visa-free or visa-on-arrival agreements.
Key Highlights:
- Top-Ranking Countries:
- Singapore retains the top spot in 2025, providing visa-free access to 195 destinations.
- Japan follows in second place with access to 193 countries.
- Finland, France, Germany, Italy, South Korea, and Spain share third place, each granting access to 192 destinations.
- Countries at the Bottom:
- Pakistan and Yemen share the 103rd position, with access to only 33 countries.
- Other bottom-ranked countries include Iraq (31 countries), Syria (27 countries), and Afghanistan (26 countries).
- Notable Climbers:
- China was one of the biggest climbers, rising from 94th in 2015 to 60th in 2025, gaining access to 40 more destinations.
- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has made significant progress, climbing 32 spots since 2015, now ranked 10th globally with access to 185 destinations.
About the Henley Passport Index:
- The Henley Passport Index, developed by Henley & Partners, evaluates global passports based on their visa-free and visa-on-arrival access to 227 travel destinations.
- Drawing on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Authority (IATA), the index has become the leading global benchmark for passport mobility.
- The index analyses 199 passports globally.
- Over the past decade, only 22 passports have experienced a decline in their rankings.
- The U.S. was the second-biggest faller, dropping 7 places from 2nd to 9th. Other notable fallers include Vanuatu (dropped 6 places) and the UK (dropped from 1st to 5th).
Factors Influencing India’s Ranking:
India’s Performance Over the Years
- 2025 Rank: 85th
- 2024 Rank: 80th
- Lowest Rank: 90th in 2021
- Best Rank: 71st in 2006
- Within the Henley Passport Index, a passport’s effectiveness is measured by the number of destinations one can visit visa-free, or with visa-on-arrival.
- India’s current ranking allows its citizens visa-free access to 57 destinations. Not a small number, but there’s plenty of room for improvement compared to powerhouses like Singapore, whose passport offers travel to 195 countries without the need for a prior visa.
Key Trends and Migration Insights:
- According to Henley & Partners, the demand for alternative citizenship and residency options has grown significantly, driven by geopolitical volatility and jurisdictional risks.
- In 2024, U.S. nationals accounted for 21% of all investment migration applications, surpassing Turkish, Filipino, Indian, and British applicants combined.
- Countries like China have emerged as significant gainers, while Venezuela, the U.S., and Vanuatu have experienced notable declines.
The Path Forward for India:
- One of the most crucial factors affecting passport strength is diplomatic relationships, which shape the access levels for citizens.
Strengthening these relationships, establishing new visa agreements, and improving internal security measures could enhance India’s passport ranking in the future.
