India recorded one of its biggest gains in recent years, improving from 85th rank in 2025, with Indians now able to travel to 56 countries without a prior visa application.
India has climbed to the 75th position in the Henley Passport Index 2026, rising ten places from its 85th rank in 2025, according to data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). This marks a significant improvement in India’s global passport power. India’s best-ever ranking was 71st in 2006.
With this improvement, Indian passport holders can now access 56 countries without requiring a prior visa application, either through visa-free entry, visa on arrival, electronic travel authorisation (ETA), or e-visa facilities.
Countries Offering Visa on Arrival to Indians
Indian travellers can avail visa on arrival in the following countries:
Thailand, Maldives, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Jamaica, Qatar, Jordan, Ethiopia, Bhutan, Barbados, Angola, British Virgin Islands, Cambodia, Burundi, Cape Verde Islands, Comoro Islands, Cook Islands, Djibouti, Dominica, Fiji, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Laos, Macao, Madagascar, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niue, Palau Islands, Rwanda, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Tanzania, The Gambia, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Zimbabwe.
Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) Countries
Indians can travel with ETA approval to:
Senegal, Seychelles, and St. Kitts and Nevis.
Countries Offering E-Visa to Indians
Indian passport holders can also travel using e-visa facilities to:
Albania, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Colombia, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Georgia, Guinea, Hong Kong, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Mauritania, Moldova, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Oman, Russian Federation, São Tomé and Príncipe, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, St. Helena, Suriname, Syria, Tajikistan, The Bahamas, Togo, Türkiye, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Zambia, and others.
What This Means for Indian Travellers
The rise in ranking reflects improving diplomatic relations, bilateral agreements, and global mobility trends for Indian citizens. While the Indian passport still trails top-ranked countries such as Singapore, Japan, and European nations, the upward movement signals growing international acceptance and travel flexibility.