Henley Passport Index 2025: India Rises To 77th, Visa-Free Entry To Malaysia, Maldives & More

India has significantly improved its standing in the Henley Passport Index 2025, climbing eight spots from last year's rank of 85th to 77th. This improvement comes despite only gaining access to two additional destinations for visa-free travel. Indian passport holders now enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to a total of 59 countries.

Countries offering visa-free access to Indian citizens include Malaysia, Indonesia, Maldives, and Thailand, while destinations such as Sri Lanka, Macau, and Myanmar provide visa-on-arrival options.

The Henley Passport Index ranks passports based on the number of destinations their holders can enter without obtaining a visa in advance. The 2025 rankings reveal a global trend led by Asian countries in terms of travel mobility.

Singapore continues to hold the top position, offering visa-free access to 193 destinations. Japan and South Korea follow closely with access to 190 countries. In third place are seven European nations-Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain-each granting access to 189 destinations. The fourth spot is jointly held by Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden. Meanwhile, New Zealand shares the fifth rank with Greece and Switzerland.

At the bottom of the index, Afghanistan ranks lowest, with its citizens able to travel to just 25 countries without a prior visa.

Both the United Kingdom and the United States have each dropped one position since January. The UK now holds the 6th rank with access to 186 destinations, while the US is in 10th place, granting access to 182 countries. Notably, both had previously topped the list-the UK in 2015 and the US in 2014.

Elsewhere, Saudi Arabia recorded the biggest jump this year, adding four new destinations and reaching 91 countries with visa-free access. China also showed a significant rise, moving up 34 places from 94th to 60th since 2015, although this gain was made without access to Europe's Schengen Area.

Dr. Juerg Steffen, CEO of Henley & Partners, noted that US citizens now lead the global demand for alternative residence and citizenship options, with British nationals also ranking among the top five. "As the US and UK pursue increasingly inward-looking policies, more of their citizens are seeking improved global mobility and security," he said.

He added, "A passport today is more than just a travel document-it reflects a country's diplomatic strength and international alliances. In times of rising inequality and geopolitical tension, strategic citizenship and mobility planning are more vital than ever."