Winning Bizness Desk
Mumbai.India’s passport has become stronger over the past year, with the country moving up five places to rank 80th in the 2026 Henley Passport Index. Last year, India was ranked 85th. According to the new ranking, Indian citizens can now travel to 55 countries with visa free or visa on arrival access. The index measures how many countries a passport holder can enter without applying for a visa in advance.
Pakistan and Bangladesh remain near the bottom
Pakistan’s passport is now ranked 98th, making it the fifth weakest in the world. Last year, Pakistan was ranked 103rd, which means it has improved by five places. However, Pakistani citizens can travel to only 31 countries without a prior visa, down from 33 last year. Bangladesh is ranked 95th and holds the position of the eighth weakest passport globally. These numbers show that South Asia still faces major travel restrictions.
Singapore stays the strongest passport
Singapore has remained the world’s most powerful passport for the second year in a row. Singapore citizens enjoy visa free access to 192 out of 227 countries. Japan and South Korea are jointly placed second, with their citizens able to travel to 188 countries without a visa. Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland are ranked third, offering visa free access to 186 countries.
India regains earlier position but access dips
India was ranked 80th in 2024, slipped to 85th in 2025, and has now returned to 80th in 2026. While the ranking has improved, the number of visa free destinations has fallen slightly from 57 last year to 55 now. This means Indian passport holders have regained rank but lost access to two countries.
Afghanistan remains at the bottom
Afghanistan continues to have the weakest passport in the world, ranked at 101. Afghan citizens have visa free or visa on arrival access to only a handful of countries, placing them at the bottom of the global mobility list. This highlights the large gap between the strongest and weakest passports worldwide.
How the Henley Passport Index is prepared
The Henley Passport Index is updated twice a year, in January and July, using real time data. The ranking is based on how many countries a passport holder can visit without getting a visa in advance. It also includes countries that offer visa on arrival or visa free entry under specific conditions. Notably, A passport is an official document issued by a government that confirms a person’s identity and nationality and allows them to travel internationally.
