Top 10 most powerful passports in 2025: Here’s where India ranks

Asian countries continue to lead the global mobility race, with Japan and South Korea tied for second place, offering their citizens visa-free access to 190 destinations.

Nonetheless, European countries occupy the top five rankings for the strongest passports, with New Zealand being the only country to challenge regional dominance, tying for fifth place with Greece and Switzerland.

The UK and US passports, which were formerly among the most powerful in the world over the last decade, are now ranked 6th and 10th, respectively, in 2025, with the US on the verge of dropping out of the top ten for the first time in the index’s two-decade history.

The UAE remains a standout among the top risers, advancing 34 places over the previous decade from 42nd to 8th position, thereby becoming the only significant climber to climb into the Top 10 in the list.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, Afghanistan holds the title for the weakest passports in the world, with only being able to travel to 25 destinations without needing to obtain a visa in advance, thereby resulting in a striking mobility disparity of 168 destinations between the highest and lowest ranked passports.

Henley Passport Index: Top 10 most powerful passports in the world 2025

Where does the Indian passport rank?

Notably, India has witnessed the biggest jump in its passport rankings over the past six months. It has moved up eight positions from 85th to 77th in 2025, adding two more destinations to its list of visa-free travel, now allowing visa-free access to 59 countries.

The ranking of the Indian passport has fluctuated significantly over the years, reflecting changes in global travel policies and India’s diplomatic relations. (Source: Henley Global)

Historically, India’s ranking reached its lowest rank at 90th in 2021, while it performed best in 2006, when it was ranked 71st.

📢 Stay updated with the latest – Click here to read more Top 10 exclusive reports!