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In recent months, a video by a popular travel content creator expressing frustration over India's weak passport went viral on social media.

He mentioned although neighbouring countries such as Bhutan and Sri Lanka were more welcoming to Indian tourists, obtaining visas for visiting most Western and European countries remained a challenge.

This dissatisfaction regarding India's poor passport strength found confirmation in the latest global passport ranking, which placed the country at position eighty-five among 199 countries, a decline of five positions than last year.

Officials in India have not issued a statement regarding these findings so far.

Nations like Ghana, Rwanda and Azerbaijan with much smaller economies compared to India – a nation that is the world's fifth biggest economy – hold better positions on the index in the seventies range, respectively.

Actually, the country's position in the past decade has remained around the eighties, falling to the 90th spot in 2021. Such standings are dismal when measured against Asian nations like Singapore, Japan and South Korea, all maintaining top positions.

Global Passport Power Indicates

The power of a passport indicates a country's global influence and global influence. It also translates into better mobility for its citizens, boosting business and learning opportunities. A weak passport results in more paperwork, higher visa costs, reduced travel benefits and extended processing periods for travel.

However, even with the drop in position, the count of nations offering visa-free access to Indians has actually increased over the last ten years.

For example, eight years ago – when Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling party assumed office – fifty-two nations offered visa-free travel for Indian passport holders with the passport at seventy-sixth position on the index.

A year later, it tumbled to eighty-fifth place, then improved to eightieth in 2023 and 2024, dropping again to the 85th position currently. At the same time, visa-free destinations to Indian citizens increased from fifty-two eight years ago to sixty last year and 62 in 2024.

The Competitive Global Mobility Landscape

The count of nations allowing visa-free entry in 2025 (57) exceeds the number eight years ago (fifty-two), but India's rank for both these years remains at eighty-fifth. So, why is that?

Experts say that a primary factor involves growing competition in international travel – indicating that nations are forming additional travel agreements for their populations' advantage and economic growth. According to a 2025 report, the global average count of countries travellers are able to access without visas has almost doubled from fifty-eight nineteen years ago to 109 in 2025.

For example, China has increased its count of visa-free countries available to its citizens from 50 to 82 in the past decade. As a result, its rank on the index has improved from 94th to 60th in that same duration.

Meanwhile, India – previously positioned at seventy-seventh place during summer – fell to the 85th position this autumn after losing access of two nations.

Additional Factors Affecting Passport Strength

A former Indian ambassador notes multiple elements that affect the strength of a country's passport, including economic and political conditions plus its receptiveness to accepting travelers from other countries.

For example, the American passport has fallen from the top ten currently holding the 12th position – a historic low – because of its more inward-looking approach in world politics.

The diplomat recalls that during the seventies, Indians enjoyed visa-free travel to many Western and European countries, though this shifted after the Sikh separatist movement during the eighties. Later political disturbances have continued to damage the country's reputation as a stable democracy.

"Many countries are growing increasingly wary of immigrants," the diplomat added. "India has a high number of citizens emigrating overseas or remaining beyond visa limits and that interferes with the national image."

Factors like the security level a country's passport is and its immigration procedures also contribute in gaining visa-free access to foreign nations.

Security and Technological Improvements

The Indian passport faces ongoing security risks. Last year, law enforcement arrested 203 people for suspected passport and visa irregularities. India is also known for complex immigration processes and a slow pace of visa processing.

The diplomat says that technological advances, like India's recently-launched electronic passport or e-passport, may enhance safety and streamline immigration. This electronic document contains a microchip that stores biometric data, making it harder to forge or tamper with the document.

However, more diplomatic outreach and travel agreements remain key for enhancing international travel freedom of Indians and, by extension, India's passport ranking.