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In recent months, an online clip by an Indian travel influencer expressing frustration over India's weak passport went viral across digital platforms.

He mentioned although neighbouring countries such as Sri Lanka and Bhutan were more welcoming of travelers from India, obtaining visas to travel to most Western and European countries continued to be difficult.

This dissatisfaction with the limited global access of Indian passports found confirmation in the latest global passport ranking, which placed India at position eighty-five among nearly two hundred nations, five spots lower compared to the previous year.

The Indian government has not commented on the report yet.

Countries including Rwanda, Ghana and Azerbaijan with much smaller economies compared to India – which is the fifth-largest economy globally – are ranked higher in the ranking at the 78th, 74th and 72nd spots, respectively.

In fact, the country's position in the past decade has hovered around the eighties, even dipping to ninetieth place in 2021. Such standings are dismal compared to Asian nations like Singapore, Japan and South Korea, all maintaining top positions.

What Passport Strength Measures

Passport strength reflects a nation's soft power and global influence. This leads to better mobility for passport holders, improving commercial and educational prospects. A weak passport means more paperwork, increased visa expenses, fewer travel privileges and longer waiting times when journeying.

However, even with the decline in the rank, the count of nations providing visa-free travel for Indian citizens has actually increased over the last ten years.

As an instance, in 2014 – when Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power – 52 countries offered visa-free travel to Indians and its passport at seventy-sixth position in the ranking.

The following year, it fell to eighty-fifth place, then improved to 80th in 2023 and 2024, dropping again to the eighty-fifth spot currently. Meanwhile, countries allowing visa-free travel to Indian citizens increased from 52 in 2015 to sixty last year and sixty-two this year.

The Competitive Global Mobility Landscape

The number of nations allowing visa-free entry in 2025 (fifty-seven) is higher than what it was eight years ago (52), yet India's rank during both periods remains at eighty-fifth. So, why is that?

Analysts note that a major reason involves growing competition in international travel – meaning countries are entering into additional travel agreements to benefit their citizens and economic growth. According to a 2025 report, the global average count of countries people can visit visa-free has almost doubled from 58 in 2006 to one hundred nine currently.

For example, China has expanded the number of visa-free countries available to its citizens from 50 to 82 in the past decade. Consequently, its rank in the ranking has enhanced from 94th to 60th in that same duration.

Meanwhile, India – previously positioned at seventy-seventh place in July – fell to the 85th position this autumn following the loss of two nations.

Additional Factors Impacting Passport Power

A former Indian ambassador notes there are other factors that affect a nation's passport power, including its economic and political stability as well as its receptiveness to accepting travelers from abroad.

For example, the American passport has fallen of the top 10 currently holding the 12th position – its lowest ever – due to its more inward-looking approach in world politics.

The former ambassador recalls that during the seventies, Indians enjoyed visa-free travel to numerous European and Western nations, but that changed following Khalistan movement during the eighties. Subsequent political upheavals have further chipped away the country's reputation as a stable, democratic country.

"Numerous nations are growing increasingly wary regarding migrants," the diplomat added. "The country possesses a high number of citizens emigrating overseas or overstaying their visas affecting the national image."

Factors such as the security level of a national passport and immigration processes also contribute to obtaining visa-free access to foreign nations.

Security and Technological Improvements

India's passport remains vulnerable to security threats. Last year, law enforcement arrested over two hundred individuals for suspected passport and visa irregularities. India is also known for complex immigration processes with lengthy timelines for visa approvals.

The former ambassador says that technological advances, such as the newly introduced electronic passport or e-passport, can improve security and ease the immigration process. This electronic document contains a small chip holding biometric data, making it harder to counterfeit or alter the document.

But, increased diplomatic efforts and travel agreements remain key for enhancing international travel freedom of Indians and, by extension, the Indian passport's global position.