The power of Indian passport dropped five spots last year. But this year, it has climbed eight places to the biggest jump – from 85th to 77th – according to the Henley Passport Index 2025, which was unveiled on 22 July.

The report rank all the passports in the world, which can enter without a pre -visa based on the number of destinations of their holders. India has a visa-free or visa-on-back access to 59 destinations in India.

Some places that allow visa-free access to Indian passport holders are: Malaysia, Indonesia, Maldives, Thailand among others. Meanwhile, there are other countries that have visa-on-recession (VOA)-Sri Lanka, Macau, Myanmar and others.

VOA or visa-free access can be time and purpose-specific. Therefore, always check the requirements before planning your journey program.

Asia dominates

The latest insight to the Henley Passport Index reveals a significant change in dynamics worldwide, leading by Asian countries.

Singapore emerges as the forefront, providing visa -free entry into 193 places – evidence of effective diplomacy of the country, travels freedom.

Both Japan and South Korea remain competitive, each allowing travel to 190 destinations, which establishes the prominence of Asia in passport effects.

Passport Index Concept Inventor Dr. Christian H. Kelin explains, “The consolidation we are seeing is seen on the top underscourse that the access is earned – and it must be maintained – through active and strategic diplomacy.”

The Asian nations continue to stand up in global mobility, in which the United Arab Emirates is making a lot of progress. In the last decade, it has jumped 34 positions to secure the 8th position worldwide.

Meanwhile, China has also made adequate progress by increasing visa-free arrangements in more than a dozen new countries since 2015, moving from 94th to 60th, including China, including parts of Gulf and South America, China shows its global journey ambitions.

Other nations

While Asian countries continue to lead, European parties are also getting stronger.

The nations of the seven European Union are in third place, with access to 189 destinations – Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy and Spain.

Another set of seven European Union countries – Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and Sweden – have collectively seized the 4th position in the passport rankings worldwide. They provide visa-free admission to their citizens at 188 places.

At the other end of the global mobility spectrum, the Afghanistan lives at the bottom of the ranking, its citizens are able to use only 25 destinations without a pre-visa- a shocking dynamics of 168 destinations between the top and bottom-ranked passports.

In contrast, the US and UK passes the recession in passport effects, which are now 10th and 6th position respectively. The first prominent in global mobility, these established powers are now assumed by emerging countries, which create strategic partnerships to broaden freedom. This trend has increased citizens as a viable alternative to citizens and lifestyle migration among citizens.