India’s passport ranking drops to 85 among 199 countries

India has dropped to the 85th position out of 199 countries from 77 in July in a list of the world’s most powerful passports, according to a quarterly report of the 2025 Henley Passport Index released on Wednesday.

The index, published by citizenship and residence consultancy firm Henley and Partners, measures the strength of passports based on how many destinations can be accessed by the citizens of a country without a pre-departure visa.

Indians can travel to 57 countries without a visa, as per the latest index.

Last year, Indian passport holders could travel to 62 countries without a visa, with India ranking 80th on the list.

According to data available on the firm’s website for years between 2006 and 2025, India ranked the lowest at 90 in 2021. Its best ranking was 71 in 2006.

Among India’s neighbours, Pakistan stood at 103, a drop from its rank of 96 in July, and Bangladesh was at 100.

Singapore retained its top rank in the passport index. Citizens of the Southeast Asian city-state can travel to 193 country without a pre-departure visa.

South Korea, with 190 visa free destinations, was the second strongest passport followed by Japan with 189 destinations.

For the first time in the index’s 20-year history, the United States is no longer ranked among the world’s top 10 most powerful...

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