Global Passport Index

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News: India slipped one place to 125th in the fifth Global Passport Index, while its composite score reached a five-year high.

About Global Passport Index

Global Passport Index
Source – Bharat24
  • Global Passport Index ranks passports based on international travel, investment opportunities and quality of living, unlike the Henley Passport Index, which mainly measures visa-free travel access.
  • Released by: It is published by Global Citizen Solutions (GCS).
  • Coverage: It ranks 197 countries.
  • Data Source: It draws on quantitative data from various international institutions and multilateral organisations, such as the World Bank, the World Economic Forum and the Sustainable Development Report.
  • Criteria: The Global Passport Index evaluates passports on the basis of three criteria.
    • Enhanced Mobility: It carries 50% weight in the overall ranking.
    • Investment: It contributes 25% of the overall score.
    • Quality of Living: It contributes 25% of the overall score and is assessed through 14 indicators.
  • Key Highlights:
    • Global
      • European Dominance: Nine European countries are among the top 10.
      • Top Asian Passport: Singapore is the only Asian passport in the top 20.
    • India:
      • Overall Ranking: India ranked 125th among 197 countries, one place lower than last year, and
        • India is placed between Namibia (124th) and Azerbaijan (126th).
      • Travel Access: The Indian passport provides visa-free access to 26 countries, while visas are still required for around 88 destinations.
      • Quality of Living and Investment: India ranked 118th in the Quality of Living Index after improving 11 places and ranked 94th in the Investment Index after improving three places.
      • Position in Asia: Among Asian countries, India stands at the 29th position.

About Henley Passport Index

  • Published By: It is compiled annually by Henley & Partners, a global citizenship and residence advisory firm.
  • Primary Data Source: It relies on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
  • Coverage: It covers 199 passports against 227 travel destinations.
  • Scoring Criteria: A passport receives one point if its holders can enter a destination visa-free, with a visa-on-arrival, or through an electronic travel authority (eTA) without prior embassy clearance.
  • India’s Rank in 2026: India ranked 80th globally, providing visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 55 destinations.
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