World’s most powerful passports 2024: Where does India stand?

A country's passport strength is a measure of its soft power, reflecting the ease with which its citizens can travel globally without visa requirements. Having a strong passport enables citizens to travel globally without requiring a visa.

The latest Henley Passport Index ranks India at the 85th position. France gained the top spot, offering visa-free access to 194 countries. India experienced a slight dip in ranking, despite an increase in the number of countries providing visa-free access to its citizens.

Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain are the other countries standing alongside France on the top with visa-free access to 194 nations. India slipped to the 85th position, despite the number of countries providing visa-free access to its citizens rose to 62 in 2024 from 60 in 2023. Meanwhile, crisis-affected Pakistan maintained its 106th position, granting its citizens visa-free access to 34 countries, while Bangladesh dropped from 101st in 2023 to 102nd this year.

In 2023, Japan had topped the charts with visa-free access to 193 nations.

India's maritime neighbour, the Maldives, secured the 58th position, granting its citizens visa-free access to 96 countries, whereas Saudi Arabia’s position improved from 65th to 63rd this year, granting its citizens visa-free access to 89 nations.

China saw a marginal improvement in its ranking, moving from 66th in 2023 to 64th this year, as it extended visa-free access to several European nations, aiming to revitalise its tourism sector in the post-pandemic economy. The United States climbed from 7th to 6th position in the ranking.

Indians can travel visa-free to countries including Ethiopia, the Maldives, Thailand, Bhutan and Myanmar. Out of the 62 countries, Indians require a visa-on-arrival for 10 countries such as Bolivia, Jordan, Burundi, Laos, Cambodia, Madagascar, Cape Verde, Marshall Islands, Comoros, and Guinea-Bissau.