India's passport slips to 84th as visa-free access falls to 55 places

India placed 84th in the October 2026 Henley Passport Index, sharing that position with Algeria and Mauritania, according to the report released on 9 October 2026. While the ranking is one place better than a year ago, the number of destinations Indian passport holders can reach without securing a visa beforehand has dropped.

Key facts

• India's rank: 84th, shared with Algeria and Mauritania
• India's access score: 55 destinations, down from 57
• Comparison points: 85th in October 2025; 81st in July 2026
• Top passport: Singapore, with 193 destinations
• Joint second: Japan, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates, with 188 destinations each
• Index coverage: 199 passports and 227 destinations

What changed for Indian passport holders?

India moved up one place compared with October 2025, when it stood at 85th, but slipped three places from its July 2026 position of 81st. More importantly for travellers, the number of destinations reachable without a traditional visa obtained in advance fell from 57 to 55.

The report partly attributes the drop in accessible destinations to changes in entry arrangements involving Iran and Bolivia. Changes in visa agreements, diplomatic relations and immigration policies can all affect a passport's access score.

Why can rank and travel access move in different directions?

The index measures passports against one another, so a country's position can improve even when its own access score falls. India's annual rise from 85th to 84th came alongside a smaller travel-access score, showing that rank and access are separate measures.

The report also notes that passport rankings reflect short-term entry access only, not the right to live, work or study permanently in another country.

What does the index count as visa-free access?

The score combines several forms of entry permission:

• Visa-free entry — eligible travellers can enter without a visa beforehand, subject to local entry conditions
• Visa on arrival — permission or a visa is issued after reaching the destination
• Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) — an authorisation that eligible visitors must obtain before travelling
• Electronic visa (e-Visa) — a visa applied for and generally approved electronically before departure

These categories are not the same: an e-Visa usually needs advance approval, while visa-free entry does not involve a conventional visa. A score of 55 therefore does not mean travellers can enter every destination with no documentation or conditions.

What this means for travellers

Indian passport holders should confirm the exact entry requirement for each destination before booking, since a qualifying entry could still involve an eTA, an e-Visa or a visa issued on arrival. The index is associated with Henley & Partners and compares passports using international air-travel information.

The October 2026 edition covers 199 passports and 227 destinations. No further editions or update dates are mentioned in the report.