BLOG 23/2025 DATED 22ND OCTOBER 2025
A Passport is a document that gives authenticity, strength and legal status to its holder specially on overseas visits. Anywhere outside the country passport is the only document that is accepted in the eyes of a foreign authority. The passport holder can travel with a Visa from the destination country.
Why this passport discussion is needed as Statista came out with an article dated 16th October on “US drops historic low in powerful passport ranking.” They referred to Henley Passport Index data on passport ranking. Henley Passport Index is a widely accepted index for the ranking of passports of various countries. Some of the strongest passports are listed as under:
| Rank | Countries | No of Visa free countries |
| 1 | Singapore | 193 |
| 2 | South Korea | 190 |
| 3 | Japan | 189 |
| 4 | Germany, Italy, Luxemburg, Switzerland, Spain | 188 |
| 5 | Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Netherlands | 187 |
The ranking has been done on the basis of the number of countries where a passport holder of a country can visit visa free or visa on arrival. Singapore tops the list with 193 countries while South Korea and Japan are other Asian countries on the top of the list. Highlight of the report is that US has gone out of top 10, first time since ranking began. It secures 12th rank with visa free entry to just 180 countries. This reflects a silent depletion in US diplomatic relationships with other countries. Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq are at the bottom of the list in the passport Index. Both sides i.e top 3 and bottom 3 are Asian countries.
Indian Passport:
Surprisingly, Indian passport is found ranking at no 85, too low for a huge country like India as only 57 visa free/visa on arrival countries are available for Indian Passport holders. India has attained its highest Passport ranking at no 71 way-back in the year 2006 and lowest at 90 in 2021.
India’s Passport Ranking
A low passport ranking is result of combination of a few factors viz. uncomfortable diplomatic relations with other countries, not allowing other countries passport holder a visa free entry and lack of confidence by other policy makers in a specific country. Should the Government not make an effort to enable its citizens for an easier movement across the globe. It will happen by allowing visa on arrival permission to various other countries wherever it is possible. This will enable other nations also to allow visa on arrival/visa free entry to our nationals.
China on the other hand, considered a very restrictive country, has improved its Passport ranking from 94 in 2015 to 64 in 2025.
An improvement in ranking will help Indian passport holders to move across the world swiftly in lesser time and that can act as catalyst in improving our foreign trade and also foreign visitors visiting our country. To be truly on an international canvas and be among the top nations of the world, the Indian Passport must move freely on its strength. KIND ATTN; POLICY MAKERS.
https://www.henleyglobal.com/passport-idex/ranking
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It’s true that diplomatic relations play important role in achieving rank in this type of index, but population of a country is also very important as countries with a large population will find it difficult to get a high rank. Hence Singapore, South Korea, Japan and Luxumburg can’t be compared with china, India, USA etc. Nevertheless falling in rank should be a matter of concern for any country
yes population may also be a factor.