Top visa-free destinations for Indian passport holders: Updated list

The Indian passport may have slipped a few places in the latest rankings, but Indian citizens still have plenty of visa-free destinations to choose from.

These include several scenic island destinations, South-East and Central Asian countries, the Caribbean and many African destinations.

The passport currently ranks 85^th, tied with Mauritania, with visa-free access to 57 countries, according to the Henley Passport Index.

This is a sharp drop from the 77^th spot the document held earlier this year, while granting visa-free access to 59 countries.

Despite the weak rank, the Indian passport is stronger than that of its neighbours. Bangladesh ranks 100^th with visa-free access to 30 countries. Slightly better is Sri Lanka at the 98^th spot (41 visa-free countries). Pakistan ranks 103^rd (31 countries), while Afghanistan sits at the bottom of the table at 106^th rank, with visa-free access to only 24 countries.

Strongest passports

Leading the list are Singapore, South Korea, and Japan. Singapore, ranked No. 1, offers visa-free access to 193 destinations, followed closely by South Korea (190) and Japan (189). Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain and Switzerland rank fourth, with visa-free access to 188 destinations. Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland and the Netherlands rank fifth with 187 destinations accessible visa-free.

Greece, Hungary, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden rank sixth (186 destinations), followed by Australia, Czechia, Malta and Poland (7^th rank, 185 destinations).

The US passport, meanwhile, has hit a historic low. Once ranked No.1 (2014), the passport has now fallen to the 12^th place, tied with Malaysia, with visa-free access to only 180 of 227 destinations worldwide. Similarly, the UK passport has slipped to its lowest-ever position on the index, dropping from 6th to 8th since July, despite also once holding the top spot in 2015.

China surges

In sharp contrast, China has been among the biggest climbers on the Henley Passport Index over the past decade, leaping from 94^th place in 2015 to 64^th in 2025, with its visa-free access score increasing by 37 destinations during that time.

In the past year alone, China has granted visa-free access to an additional 30 countries.

Recent developments, including granting visa free access to Russia, underscore Beijing’s ongoing strategy of increased openness. China’s moves — alongside new agreements with the Gulf states, South America, and several European countries — are cementing its role as a global mobility powerhouse, bolstering the Asia-Pacific region’s dominance in travel freedom.

Visa-free destinations for Indian passport holders

1. Angola

2. Barbados

3. Bhutan

4. Bolivia

5. British Virgin Islands

6. Burundi

7. Cambodia

8. Cape Verde Islands

9. Comoro Islands

10. Cook Islands

11. Djibouti

12. Dominica

13. Ethiopia

14. Fiji

15. Grenada

16. Guinea-Bissau

17. Haiti

18. Indonesia

19. Iran

20. Jamaica

21. Jordan

22. Kazakhstan

23. Kenya

24. Kiribati

25. Laos

26. Macao (SAR China)

27. Madagascar

28. Malaysia

29. Maldives

30. Marshall Islands

31. Mauritius

32. Micronesia

33. Mongolia

34. Montserrat

35. Mozambique

36. Myanmar

37. Nepal

38. Niue

39. Palau Islands

40. Philippines

41. Qatar

42. Rwanda

43. Samoa

44. Senegal

45. Seychelles

46. Sierra Leone

47. Sri Lanka

48. St. Kitts and Nevis

49. St. Lucia

50. St. Vincent and the Grenadines

51. Tanzania

52. Thailand

53. Timor-Leste

54. Trinidad and Tobago

55. Tuvalu

56. Vanuatu

57. Zimbabwe