The Henley Passport Index, the universal index for citizen mobility, released its new rankings recently. The new index shows India’s rank at 85, with free access to 62 countries, in the 2024 ranking. According to the index, France has topped the list with free access to 194 countries.
The Henley Passport Index ranks 199 countries on the basis of countries providing free visa access to international citizens. India’s passport slipped in rank to 85th place this year, down from last year’s standing, despite an increase in the number of countries offering visa-free access to Indian passport holders, which rose from 60 to 62 in 2023. Meanwhile, Pakistan maintained its position at 106, while Bangladesh dropped from 101 to 102.
The top spots are occupied by France, joined by Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain. Notably, the Maldives, India’s neighbour, secured the 58th position, boasting visa-free access to 96 countries.
Passport strength plays a crucial role in geopolitics, reflecting a nation’s soft power and its citizens’ global mobility. China saw a slight improvement, moving from 66th to 64th place, attributed to visa liberalization efforts targeting European nations. Conversely, the United States climbed to 6th place, despite ongoing debates surrounding its immigration policies ahead of the Presidential elections.
According to the Henley Passport Index, which draws on data from the International Air Transport Authority (IATA), global mobility trends have evolved significantly over the past two decades. In 2006, travellers could access only 58 countries visa-free on average, whereas this number nearly doubled to 111 countries in 2024.