Henley Passport Index 2026: India Rises

The Henley Passport Index 2026 was released, showing which passports let people travel to the most countries without needing a visa.

Singapore is number one, letting people go to 192 places without a visa.

Japan and South Korea are tied for second, with 188 visa-free places.

India moved up to 80th place, which is better than last year.

The US is now in 10th place.

Some countries like Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan have passports that let people visit the fewest places without a visa.

The list is made using data from the International Air Transport Association.

India's improvement reflects a gradual expansion in travel mobility for its citizens, particularly across Asia, Africa, Oceania, the Caribbean, and parts of the Middle East.

Compared with several South Asian neighbours, Indian travellers now enjoy broader short-term access for tourism, business visits, and limited study or work stints, without lengthy embassy processes.

The UAE is the strongest performer over the past 20 years, adding 149 visa-free destinations since 2006.

China ranked 59th with visa-free access to 81 destinations.