Major update for Indian passport holders: See full list of visa-free destinations in May ranking

India’s passport has slipped to 78th position in the latest Henley Passport Index, coming just as Eid holiday travel planning gathers pace across India.

Despite the slight dip from 75th earlier this year, Indian travellers continue to enjoy access to 56 global destinations through visa-free entry, visa-on-arrival (VOA) and electronic travel authorisation (ETA) routes, keeping short-haul festive getaways firmly within reach this season.

The change is linked to ongoing recalibrations in global visa policies, rather than any major alteration in India’s bilateral travel agreements. Earlier in February 2026, India briefly rose to 75th place, underscoring how frequently passport rankings adjust based on international mobility updates.

In the latest standings, India shares the 78th position with Burkina Faso, Cuba and Senegal, highlighting how closely grouped many mid-tier passports are within the global index.

India moves up despite global ranking shifts

The Henley Passport Index shows India gaining 10 places overall, even as the number of accessible destinations fluctuated over recent months.

• 2025: Peak access of 57 destinations

  January 2026: Access to 55 countries

• February 2026: Increased to 56 countries after The Gambia was added

In the May update, India’s visa-access profile remains broadly stable overall, even as rankings fluctuate in the latest Henley Passport Index.

Officials note that such fluctuations often reflect policy changes by partner countries, rather than a structural shift in India’s passport strength.

Despite the minor drop in total destinations compared with last year, India’s ranking improved due to larger declines in other countries’ scores. The index measures relative global mobility, not only absolute visa access.

The variations highlight ongoing global visa policy adjustments rather than a consistent downward trend.

Seasonal travel boost ahead of Eid and holidays

The update comes as Eid holiday travel planning gains momentum, with Indian travellers increasingly focusing on short-haul, visa-friendly international destinations. Demand is rising for quick getaways that offer smooth entry processes and minimal documentation requirements.

With the festive break approaching, interest remains strong in destinations offering visa-on-arrival, visa-free entry or electronic travel authorisation (ETA), supporting easy regional travel across Asia, the Middle East and island destinations.

Where Indian travellers can go now

Indian citizens currently enjoy access to 56 destinations under visa-free, visa-on-arrival (VOA) and electronic travel authorisation (ETA) arrangements.

Access breakdown:

• Visa-free: 30 countries

• Visa-on-arrival: 23 countries

• ETA: 3 destinations

Visa categories explained with full list

Visa-Free

Visa-free travel allows entry without any prior visa requirement, subject to standard immigration checks on arrival.

• Angola, Barbados, Bhutan, British Virgin Islands, Cook Islands, Dominica, Fiji, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Macao (SAR China), Malaysia, Mauritius, Micronesia, Montserrat, Nepal, Niue, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Thailand, The Gambia, Trinidad and Tobago, Vanuatu

VOA (Visa on Arrival)

Visa on Arrival (VOA) is issued at the point of entry without prior application, usually at airports or border checkpoints.

• Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde Islands, Comoro Islands, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Jordan, Laos, Madagascar, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Palau Islands, Qatar, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, St. Lucia, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, Zimbabwe

ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation)

ETA is a pre-travel online approval that must be obtained before departure, without needing a traditional visa stamp.

• Kenya, Seychelles, St. Kitts and Nevis

This provides continued flexibility for short-haul tourism, business travel and festive season trips, particularly across nearby regions.

Planning a trip this year? Here’s a look at all the visa-free and visa-on-arrival (VOA) destinations to add to your bucket list.

1. Angola – Visa-Free

2. Barbados – Visa-Free

3. Bhutan – Visa-Free

4. British Virgin Islands – Visa-Free

5. Burundi – VOA

6. Cambodia – VOA

7. Cape Verde Islands – VOA

8. Comoro Islands – VOA

9. Cook Islands – Visa-Free

10. Djibouti – VOA

11. Dominica – Visa-Free

12. Ethiopia – VOA

13. Fiji – Visa-Free

14. Grenada – Visa-Free

15. Guinea-Bissau – VOA

16. Haiti – Visa-Free

17. Indonesia – VOA

18. Jamaica – Visa-Free

19. Jordan – VOA

20. Kazakhstan – Visa-Free

21. Kenya – ETA

22. Kiribati – Visa-Free

23. Laos – VOA

24. Macao (SAR China) – Visa-Free

25. Madagascar – VOA

26. Malaysia – Visa-Free

27. Maldives – VOA

28. Marshall Islands – VOA

29. Mauritius – Visa-Free

30. Micronesia – Visa-Free

31. Mongolia – VOA

32. Montserrat – Visa-Free

33. Mozambique – VOA

34. Myanmar – VOA

35. Nepal – Visa-Free

36. Niue – Visa-Free

37. Palau Islands – VOA

38. Philippines – Visa-Free

39. Qatar – VOA

40. Rwanda – Visa-Free

41. Samoa – VOA

42. Senegal – Visa-Free

43. Seychelles – Visa-Free (ETA)

44. Sierra Leone - VOA

45. Sri Lanka – VOA

46. St. Kitts and Nevis – Visa-Free (ETA)

47. St. Lucia – VOA

48. St. Vincent and the Grenadines – Visa-Free

49. Tanzania – VOA

50. Thailand – Visa-Free

51. The Gambia – Visa-Free

52. Timor-Leste – VOA

53. Trinidad and Tobago – Visa-Free

54. Tuvalu – VOA

55. Vanuatu – Visa-Free

56. Zimbabwe – VOA

Why rankings move

The Henley Passport Index is based on access to 227 global destinations across 199 passports, using data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Rankings change when countries adjust visa policies, making the system highly dynamic.

Global leaders in passport strength

At the top of the 2026 rankings:

• Singapore leads with access to 192 destinations

• Japan, South Korea and the UAE follow with 187

• Several European countries including Germany, France and Spain remain in the top tier with 185+ destinations

• The United States and United Kingdom continue to rank among the most powerful passports globally

India’s long-term mobility trend

India’s passport reached its peak rank of 71st in 2006. The current rise to 75th reflects a gradual recovery in global mobility, even amid periodic shifts in visa policies worldwide.

While the total number of visa-free destinations has seen small fluctuations, India’s upward movement in global ranking reflects relative improvement in travel strength compared to other countries.

The overall trend signals steady gains in international mobility for Indian travellers, even as global visa rules continue to evolve.