National News : Important passport related news for Indians planning to travel abroad. In the latest Henley Passport Index ranking, the Indian passport has moved up one place to 84th position. However, despite the reform, visa-free entry has suffered. The number of destinations accessible to Indian passport holders without prior visa has been reduced from 57 to 55.

Singapore leads the ranking with 193 places

In the Henley Global Passport Index ranking released on October 9, 2026, Singapore leads the ranking with 193 places. Japan, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates are in second place. They will have visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 188 destinations. In the previous ranking released in October 2025, the Indian passport was ranked 85th and provided access to 57 destinations.

Visa-free entry for Indians in these places

Indian passport holders will have visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 55 destinations. However, this does not mean that Indians can travel to all 55 destinations without any formalities. Indian passport holders will enjoy visa-free entry to some destinations in Asia and South Asia, the Caribbean and the Americas, as well as some destinations in Africa.

These include Thailand, Malaysia, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives, Macau, Kazakhstan, Barbados, Jamaica, Grenada, Haiti, Dominica, British Virgin Islands, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago in the Asia and Americas region; Mauritius, Rwanda, Senegal and Angola in Africa; Fiji, Vanuatu, Cook Islands, Micronesia, New Zealand and Kiribati will also get this facility.

Afghanistan passport is the weakest in the ranking

According to Henley Global Passport Ranking, Afghanistan has the weakest passport. It is ranked 106th in the ranking. Afghanistan has access to only 22 destinations. The Henley Passport Index ranks 199 passports based on 227 travel destinations. This ranking measures travel access with separate criteria for work visas and other visas.