Earlier this year, my family and I were travelling to Jamaica for the first time. The trip was exhilarating, the beauty, the atmosphere, it was one of the best experiences in our lives, and the kids will remember it for times to come.
Not only were the places we saw beautiful, but the process was as smooth as it goes. It was highly convenient to purchase tickets, secure our family by getting travel insurance(of course), pack our bags and go.
After that fantastic trip, when we returned, I saw that the Henley Passport Index released this year’s rankings and was curious about where India stands compared to other countries. After all, Jamaica is a country that offers visa-free entry to people holding Indian passports.
As India inches closer and closer to becoming a developed country, we have reached tremendous heights over the past decades. But what about passports? Where does India stand in the race for the most powerful passports worldwide?
India came in at the 80th position with visa-free access to 62 countries worldwide, sharing its place with Uzbekistan. However, some of them require a visa on arrival or e-visa. This means that the Indian passport technically comes behind around 150 countries that have stronger passports.
Understanding The Rankings
For context, every year, the Henley Passport Index ranks the passports of all countries based on the freedom of travel allowed to them. This means that it ranks countries based on how many other countries a regular citizen who holds a passport to that country can travel to.
The Henleys Index assessed 199 passports and 227 travel destinations in 2024 and gave a point for every country a country’s passport allows for visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry. After tallying the points, the company has clubbed the countries’ passports with the same number of visa-free accesses.
This year, Singapore came out as having the most powerful passport in the world, with the ability to travel visa-free to 193 countries. In comparison, Afghanistan comes at the 107th position with visa-free entry to just 27 countries.
Ironically, there is also a Henley Openness Index, which measures the number of countries a host country allows entry to without a visa. For this, India ranks near the bottom as it provides visa-free access to individuals holding passports from only four countries.
But instead of sulking about the countries we can’t travel to without a visa, let us explore some of the 62 countries that allow individuals with Indian passports visa-free entry or visa on arrival.
What Countries Allow Visa-Free Entry To Indians?
Among the 62 countries, 26 countries offer visa-free entry to Indians while the rest offer visas on arrival. This makes them beautiful places to visit throughout the year, as one would not have to go through the process of getting a visa before going there.
The following table lists the countries based on whether they offer visa-free entry or visa-on-arrival so that you can plan your visit accordingly.
| Visa on arrival | Visa-free |
| Marshall Islands
Palau Islands Samoa Tuvalu Iran Jordan St. Lucia Cambodia Indonesia Laos Maldives Myanmar Sri Lanka Thailand Timor-Leste Bolivia Burundi Cape Verde Islands Comoro Islands Djibouti Gabon Guinea-Bissau Madagascar Mauritania Mozambique Seychelles Sierra Leone Somalia Tanzania Togo Zimbabwe |
Cook Islands
Fiji Micronesia Niue Vanuatu Oman Qatar Barbados British Virgin Islands Dominica Grenada Haiti Jamaica Montserrat St. Kitts and Nevis St. Vincent and the Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago Bhutan Kazakhstan Macao (SAR China) Nepal El Salvador Mauritius Rwanda Senegal Tunisia |
Final Thoughts
In 2024, as more and more countries are securing higher travel freedom for their citizens, It is interesting to see, as India grows in economy, population, and development, where India stands in terms of the power of the passport.
I hope the UK adds India as a visa-free country so we can travel there without worries. Although it doesn’t do anything for 90% of the population, having a strong passport is something we can be proud of and offer unmatched convenience in entering countries that allow visa-free entry for Indians.
For our next vacation, my family and I are considering travelling to Spain, visiting the wondrous beaches and seeing what this wonderful country offers.
And as international travel insurance is mandatory for Indians travelling to Europe, I will get it from Niva Bupa to safeguard my loved ones.
You can also gettravel insurance online by visiting the Niva Bupa travel insurance website and choosing the right plan for your needs with adequate coverage to protect you completely.