According to the Henley Passport Index 2024 Global Ranking released by Henley and Partners, Indian passport is ranked 80th by providing visa-free or visas on arrival access to 62 countries. India shares the 80th rank with Uzbekistan.
- Previously in 2023, India was ranked 83rd and provided visa free entry to 58 countries.
- The top spot is grabbed by 6 countries: France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain with citizens enjoying visa-free access to 194 travel destinations.
Note: Henley Passport Index ranks the world’s most travel-friendly passports.
Highlights:
i.Japan and Singapore have consistently held the top spot for the past five years.
ii.Finland, Sweden, and South Korea are tied in second place, providing visa-free access to 193 destinations.
iii.Austria, Denmark, Ireland, and the Netherlands are third, with access to 192 destinations.
iv.The world’s weakest passports globally is of Afghanistan at 104th rank with access to 28 nations only.
- Syria is at 103rd with access to 29 nations, Iraq at 102nd with access to 31 nations, and Pakistan at 101st with access to 34 nations.
Click Here for Official Henley Passport Index: 2024 Global Ranking
List of Top 3, Bottom 3 Passports
| Top 3 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Countries | Rank | Access to Nations |
| France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Spain | 1 | 194 |
| Finland, South Korea, Sweden | 2 | 193 |
| Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Netherlands | 3 | 192 |
| India’s Rank Tie | ||
| India, Uzbekistan | 80 | 62 |
| Bottom 3 | ||
| Afghanistan | 104 | 28 |
| Syria | 103 | 29 |
| Iraq | 102 | 31 |
Key Points:
i.Indians can travel visa-free to countries including Bhutan, British Virgin Islands, Barbados, Thailand, Jordan, Malaysia, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Mauritius and Indonesia.
ii.Indians can get visa on arrival in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Maldives, Myanmar, Timor-Leste, Iran, Bolivia, Burundi, Cape Verde Islands, Comoro Islands, Djibouti, Gabon, Madagascar, Seychelles, Mauritania, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Samoa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.
iii.However, 164 nations require Visa from Indian travelers.
Assessment:
The Henley Passport Index compares the visa-free access of 199 different passports to 227 travel destinations. The ranking is based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and is evaluated on the basis of the total number of destinations that its holders can travel visa-free.
Recent Related News:
i.The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), an agency of the United Nations, published the 16th edition of the Global Innovation Index (2023). India retains 40th rank among 132 economies. While Switzerland secured the top spot in the rankings, with Sweden and the United States of America (USA) following closely.
ii.According to Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index (August 2023 edition) India is ranked 47th among 145 countries with median download speed of 50.21 Mbps(Megabits per second). India has moved up 72 places, from 119th place in 2022 to the 47th position in 2023.
About Henley & Partners:
Chief Executive Officer– Dr. Juerg Steffen
Headquarters– London, United Kingdom (UK)
Establishment– 1997
