Guwahati: India has slipped one place to 125th in the Global Passport Index 2026, despite recording its highest-ever overall mobility score, underscoring the gap between the country’s growing global influence and the travel freedom enjoyed by its citizens.
According to the latest rankings released by global advisory firm Arton Capital, the Indian passport secured a composite score of 45.1, its best performance in the past five years. However, the improvement was not enough to lift India’s position, as several other countries registered faster gains in global mobility.
The index evaluates passports based on visa-free travel, visa-on-arrival access, electronic travel authorisations (eTA), global mobility and the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI). It ranks 199 passports using data from governments and international organisations.
The report noted that India’s passport has remained largely stagnant in recent editions of the index, hovering between 127th and 125th over the past five years. It described India as an outlier among major global economies, pointing out that while the country has emerged as a significant geopolitical and economic power, its passport continues to rank in the lower tier globally.
The rankings were dominated by European countries, with Ireland securing the top position, followed by Switzerland and Greece. Several other European nations featured prominently in the top 10, reflecting the region’s strong passport mobility.
Among Asian countries, Singapore, Japan, and South Korea continued to rank among the world’s strongest passports, offering extensive visa-free travel access to their citizens.
While India’s passport mobility has improved gradually over the years, experts say broader visa-free agreements and stronger bilateral travel arrangements will be crucial if the country is to significantly improve its standing in future editions of the index.