Context:

• According to the Global Passport Index (GPI) 2026 released by Global Citizen Solutions (GCS), India ranks 125th among 197 countries.

Key Highlights:

• Publisher: The report is published by Global Citizen Solutions (GCS).
• It is the 5th edition of the index.
• Coverage: The annual ranking evaluates passports of 197 countries. Unlike traditional passport indices that mainly focus on visa-free travel, this index adopts a more comprehensive approach.
• The index measures 14 indicators under three major pillars.

Three Major Pillars:

• Enhanced Mobility (50%): Measures visa-free access, visa-on-arrival facilities, and overall travel accessibility.
• Investment Opportunities (25%): Assesses investment and business opportunities.
• Quality of Life (25%): Evaluates healthcare, education, personal safety, environmental quality, and overall living standards.
• India's Performance:
• India ranked 125th out of 197 countries, slipping by one position compared to the previous year (124th in 2025).
• Indian passport holders enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 26 countries.
• Overall Score: 45.1, the highest since the inception of the index.
• Quality of Life Index: Improved by 11 places to rank 118th.
• Investment Index: Improved by 3 places to rank 94th.
• Indian passport holders can travel visa-free or obtain visa-on-arrival in countries such as Bhutan, Jamaica, Macau, Nepal, Palestine, Tunisia, Angola, and Barbados.
• Indian citizens require a visa to travel to 88 destinations, including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, China, Andorra, and the UAE.
• India's Visa-Free Mobility Score improved from 18 in 2021 to 23 in 2026.

India's Neighbouring Countries in the Rankings:

• China: 104
• India: 125
• Bhutan: 132
• Sri Lanka: 141
• Nepal: 164
• Bangladesh: 166
• India ranks 29th among Asian countries in the index.
• Comparison: Namibia (124th) is ranked just above India, while Azerbaijan (126th) is just below.
• Lowest Rank: Afghanistan is ranked last (197th).

Top-Ranked Countries:

• Sweden secured the 1st position (Score: 96.05), followed by Switzerland, Finland, Germany, and the Netherlands.
• Nine of the top ten countries are European.
• Singapore is the highest-ranked Asian passport and the only Asian country in the global top 20.

Henley Passport Index vs Global Passport Index :