Indian Passport Ranking 2025: 57 Visa-Free Countries

India’s passport dipped to 85th in Henley’s 2025 ranking, granting visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 57 countries. For B2B travel professionals, this signals changing mobility landscapes and fresh constraints/opportunities across outbound markets.

India’s Passport Power Wanes in 2025 — What Travel Industry Players Must Know

India’s passport has slipped to 85th place in the Henley Passport Index 2025, down from 77th earlier this year, now affording visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to just 57 destinations. 

This rollback is more than symbolic — among B2B travel agents, consolidators, corporate travel planners and airlines, it reshapes how we forecast demand, package products, and advise clients about route viability and regulatory burdens.

What Caused the Drop?

1. Tightening Visa Policies Globally

Several nations have recently revised entry rules, expanded screening protocols, or rolled back visa-exempt status. These changes reflect growing security sensitivities and shifting diplomatic priorities.

2. Volatile Mobility Diplomacy

Passport strength correlates with bilateral treaties, reciprocity deals, and political trust. As global alliances shift and nations reassess travel reciprocity, countries once open may impose new constraints.

3. Index Methodology & Rebalancing

Henley’s rankings use IATA data and government policies, so even minor entry-rule adjustments or errors in data capture can change ranking positions.

Where Can Indians Travel Without a Pre-Approved Visa?

Below is a curated summary (with caveats) of visa-free, visa-on-arrival, and e-visa / ETA destinations relevant to travel product design and operational planning.

Visa-Free Entry (No Visa Before Travel)

Some key destinations in this category for Indian passport holders include:

• Bhutan

• Malaysia (visa exemption extended through 2026)

• Mauritius

• Thailand

• Nepal

• Trinidad & Tobago

• Caribbean and Pacific islands

• Iran

• Rwanda

• Macao (SAR China)
  
  

Visa-On-Arrival / Airport Visa

These include but are not limited to:

• Cambodia

• Jordan

• Maldives

• Mozambique

• Mongolia

• Madagascar

• Indonesia

• Sri Lanka (some categories)

• Timor-Leste

• Tanzania, etc.
  
  

e-Visas / Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)

A growing number of nations now permit Indian travellers to apply electronically before arrival, such as Kenya, Türkiye, and certain African and Southeast Asian countries.
For instance, the Philippines recently introduced visa-free entry for Indian nationals from 8 June 2025, allowing up to 14 days (extended to 30 days for those holding valid visas or residency in certain advanced countries). 

How This Affects B2B Travel Stakeholders

Let’s unpack implications for industry professionals:

Route Planning & Product Strategy

• Markets with new or stricter visa requirements may see demand suppression.

• Products built around spontaneity (e.g. last-minute holidays) will need more buffer for visa lead times.

• Airlines and consolidators may need to reprice or adjust routing assumptions factoring in visa risk.

Advisory & Risk Management

• Corporate travel teams must embed visa complexity assessments in destination approvals.

• Assist clients with accurate visa timelines — delays in visa issuance could derail itineraries.

• Offer “visa concierge” or fast-track visa services to corporate or premium clients as value add.
  
  

Forecasting & Revenue Impact

• Markets losing visa-free access may see demand drop or shift to competing source markets with higher mobility.

• Conversely, destinations newly relaxing visa rules could see spikes — worth pivoting product calendars.

• Monitor “visa ease” as a forward signal when scouting emerging outbound source markets from India.
  
  
  

Diplomatic and Policy Levers

• B2B players can influence through industry bodies and chambers of commerce by advocating for mobility liberalization.

• Engage with government on policy rationales — travel facilitation is a soft power asset.
  
  

Recent Developments & Strategic Outlook

• Earlier in 2025, India briefly climbed (in some indexing quarters) to 77th place, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 59 countries.

• Several countries are experimenting with reciprocal visa relief or digital visa regimes — for example, Maldives, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand are among those expanding access.

• The Philippines visa-free move for Indians in mid-2025 is a notable case of tourism diplomacy in action.

As India and its diplomatic partners explore new treaties, the next 12–24 months may bring further volatility in mobility scores and travel product viability.

Conclusion & Key Takeaways

India’s 85th rank in Henley 2025, with access to 57 visa-free or visa-on-arrival destinations, is a caution flag — not a terminal decline. (Henley & Partners) For B2B travel agents, consolidators, corporate travel planners, and airlines, the task is to adapt faster than the policy shifts:

• Embed visa friction into product design

• Stay alert to sudden changes in entry rules

• Leverage destinations with liberal access as growth levers

• Advocate for mobility in trade/diplomatic forums
  
  
  

Want more travel updates like this? Follow our updates at blog.agentbazar.in and transform how you support your clients at every stage of travel.