India slips to 125th in Global Passport Index 2026; Sweden tops rankings

India has been ranked 125th in the fifth edition of the Global Passport Index (GPI) published by residency and citizenship advisory firm Global Citizen Solutions (GCS), slipping one place from last year while improving only marginally over the past five years.

India ranked 125th among 197 countries, down from 124th in 2025 but up from 127th in 2021. Its overall composite score rose to a five-year high of 45.1.

Namibia was placed just above India at 124th, while Azerbaijan ranked 126th.

More than just visa-free travel

Unlike passport rankings that focus primarily on visa-free access, the Global Passport Index evaluates passports across three broad categories: Enhanced Mobility (50%), Investment (25%) and Quality of Living (25%), using 14 indicators to measure their overall value.

According to the report, the Indian passport provides visa-free access to 26 countries.

Indian passport holders can travel visa-free or obtain a visa on arrival in destinations such as Bhutan, Nepal, Jamaica, Macau, Palestine, Tunisia, Angola and Barbados.

However, Indian citizens still require visas to travel to around 88 destinations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, China, Andorra and the United Arab Emirates.

India’s performance across key categories

Enhanced Mobility: 136th

India ranked 136th in the Enhanced Mobility Index, slipping one place from last year. This category measures the international travel freedom offered by a passport while also factoring in the attractiveness of destination countries through quality-of-life indicators.

Quality of Living: 118th

India recorded its biggest improvement in the Quality of Living Index, climbing 11 places from 129th to 118th. The index evaluates factors such as healthcare, education, personal safety and overall living standards.

Investment: 94th

India improved three places to rank 94th in the Investment Index, which assesses a country’s attractiveness for investment and business based on economic strength, growth prospects and personal taxation.

Top 10 passports in the Global Passport Index 2026

Sweden emerged as the world’s strongest passport in this year’s rankings, followed by several European countries.

1. Sweden
2. Switzerland
3. Finland
4. Germany
5. Netherlands (tied)
6. Denmark (tied)
7. Ireland
8. United Kingdom
9. Norway
10. Singapore