The Henley Passport Index 2026 shows a widening mobility divide. While Singapore leads, India’s rise to 80th with access to 55 destinations reflects diplomatic gains but persistent gaps. Strengthening passport power needs deeper visa diplomacy, economic leverage, and better security, learning from models like the UAE.
Copyright infringement not intended
Picture Courtesy: LIVEMINT
The Henley Passport Index 2026, released in January 2026, highlights a persistent "global mobility divide" between the most and least powerful passports.
It is a global ranking of countries according to the travel freedom enjoyed by their citizens.
It is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
It ranks 199 passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa.
Key Findings of the 2026 Index
|
Rank Category |
Country/Passport |
Rank |
Visa-Free Access (No. of Destinations) |
|
Top Performer |
Singapore |
1st |
192 |
|
India's Position |
India |
80th |
55 |
|
Bottom Performer |
Afghanistan |
104th (last) |
24 |
Major Observations
India's Improvement: India's passport has climbed five spots to the 80th position, up from 85th in 2025.
Widening Mobility Gap: Difference in travel freedom between the top-ranked Singapore (192 destinations) and the bottom-ranked Afghanistan (24 destinations) is 168 countries, the largest gap since the index began.
Notable Climber: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) climbed 57 places over the last two decades to secure the 5th spot, due to sustained diplomatic efforts.
Economic Opportunities
A stronger passport provides citizens with visa-free access to global markets, which facilitates international business, trade, investment, and talent mobility.
Indicator of Soft Power: Passport strength is a direct measure of a country's diplomatic influence, international trust, and bilateral relationships.
Geopolitical Barometer: Changes in passport rankings reflect shifts in global politics.
Positives and Contributing Factors
Rank Recovery: The jump from 85th to 80th position marks a positive recovery, bringing India back to its 2024 rank.
Proactive Foreign Policy: The improvement is linked to proactive diplomatic engagements, particularly through India's 'Act East' policy.
Case Study (Visa Liberalisation): Recent visa-free arrangements with Southeast Asian countries like Thailand and Malaysia have boosted India's score and are expected to increase tourism and economic ties.
Challenges and Limitations
Lagging Behind Peers: India's visa-free score of 55 is lower than other major emerging economies like China (59th rank, 81 destinations) and South Africa (48th rank, 101 destinations).
Limited Access to Developed Nations: Indian citizens still require complex visa procedures to access major economic zones like the EU, USA, UK, and Canada.
Pursue Strategic Visa Agreements: Negotiate more bilateral and multilateral visa waiver agreements, especially with key economic partners and developed nations.
Leverage Economic Clout: Use India's growing economy and large market size as a bargaining tool in trade negotiations to secure greater travel freedom for its citizens.
Enhance Security and Data Management: Strengthen the security features of Indian passports and improve data management through initiatives like the Passport Seva Project, aligning with standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Learn from Success Stories: India can draw lessons from the UAE model, which focused on a national policy of openness and targeted diplomacy.
India's higher 2026 Henley Passport Index ranking reflects its growing global influence and diplomatic success, vital for economic opportunity and its global power goals.
Source: LIVEMINT
|
PRACTICE QUESTION Q. Consider the following statements about the Henley Passport Index 2026: 1. Indian passport ranks 80th, providing visa-free access or visa-on-arrival to 100 destinations. 2. Singapore holds the top position as the world's most powerful passport. 3. Afghanistan is positioned at the bottom of the index. Which of the statements given above are correct? A) 1 and 2 only B) 2 and 3 only C) 1 and 3 only D) 1, 2 and 3 Answer: B Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect: While the Indian passport ranks 80th, it provides visa-free access or visa-on-arrival to only 55 destinations, not 100. Statement 2 is correct: Singapore holds the top position as the world's most powerful passport, offering access to 192 destinations. Statement 3 is correct: The index ranks Afghanistan at the bottom, with access to the fewest destinations (24). |
The Henley Passport Index is an authoritative ranking of all the world's passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. The ranking is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
In the 2026 index, India is ranked 80th, an improvement of five spots from its 85th position in 2025. Indian passport holders can access 55 destinations visa-free or with a visa-on-arrival.
Singapore holds the top position in the Henley Passport Index 2026 for the third consecutive year, with its citizens enjoying visa-free access to 192 destinations.
© 2026 iasgyan. All right reserved
