India's Passport Drops to 125th in Global Passport Index 2026, Remains Outside Top 100

India's passport has slipped to 125th place in the Global Passport Index 2026, remaining outside the world's top 100 passports despite a slight improvement recorded last year. According to the latest rankings, Indian passport holders currently enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 26 destinations, while visas are still required for travel to around 88 countries, including several major economies, as reported by TOI.

India Slips One Place From Last Year

The latest Global Passport Index places India at 125th position, down from 124th in 2025. Earlier, the country had improved from 127th between 2021 and 2023 to 124th, but the latest rankings indicate a marginal decline. India ranks below countries such as Namibia, the Philippines, Morocco and Uzbekistan, while remaining ahead of Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan in the index. How To Apply on Passport Seva Portal via passportindia.gov.in.

Visa-Free Access Limited to 26 Destinations

The report states that Indian passport holders can travel without a prior visa, or obtain one on arrival, in destinations including Bhutan, Nepal, Jamaica, Macau, Palestine, Tunisia, Angola and Barbados. However, travellers still need visas to enter many popular destinations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, China and the United Arab Emirates. India’s New ePassport Explained: What the Chip-Enabled Passport Is, Features, Benefits and How To Apply.

How India Compares With Neighbours

Among neighbouring countries, China is the highest-ranked at 104th position. India performs better than several South Asian nations, with Nepal ranked 164th, Bangladesh 166th and Pakistan 188th in the latest index.

Sweden Tops Global Rankings

The Global Passport Index 2026 is led by European countries, reflecting the region's continued strength in international travel mobility.

The top 10 passports are:

1. Sweden

2. Switzerland

3. Finland

4. Germany

5. Denmark (joint)

6. Netherlands (joint)

7. Ireland

8. United Kingdom

9. Norway

10. Singapore

The United States and France are jointly ranked 11th, narrowly missing a place in the top 10, while Canada is ranked 13th.

What the Rankings Indicate

Passport rankings are based on the level of global travel freedom they offer, including visa-free access, visa-on-arrival facilities and electronic travel authorisations. A higher ranking generally reflects stronger diplomatic ties and broader international mobility for a country's citizens.

India's latest position underscores that, despite gradual improvements over recent years, its passport continues to offer comparatively limited global travel access relative to many developed nations.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 05, 2026 11:31 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).