Henley Passport Index 2026: Singapore Ranked First, India at 84th With 55 Destinations

Singapore has retained the first position in the October 2026 edition of the Henley Passport Index 2026 with visa-free access to 193 destinations. Japan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and South Korea share the second position with access to 188 destinations each, followed by Sweden in third place with 187 destinations. India is ranked 84th on the index with access to 55 destinations, sharing the rank with Algeria and Mauritania.

What Is the Henley Passport Index?

The Henley Passport Index is a global ranking of all the passports of the world based on the number of destinations their holders can enter without taking a visa in advance. The October 2026 edition covers 199 passports and 227 travel destinations, which makes it one of the most complete measures of travel freedom and global mobility.

The index is published by Henley and Partners, a global advisory firm working in the area of residence and citizenship planning and headquartered in London. The firm created the ranking in 2005 as the Visa Restrictions Index through its chairman Dr Christian Kaelin. The name was changed to Henley Passport Index in January 2018. With twenty years of data, the index is now widely used as a standard reference for governments and travellers to compare passport strength.

The score of a passport is called its mobility score or visa-free score. It counts every destination where the holder can enter without a prior visa. A higher score means wider travel freedom. A lower score means the holder must apply for visas for most foreign trips.

How Is the Henley Passport Index Calculated?

The Henley Passport Index is calculated using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and detailed research by Henley and Partners. The research team checks each of the 199 passports against each of the 227 possible destinations using the IATA Timatic database, which is the largest database of travel document information.

A passport gets one point for every destination it can enter without a prior visa. This includes full visa-free entry, visa on arrival, a visitor permit on arrival and an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). An ETA is an online permission taken before travel that does not need government approval through an embassy. If a prior visa or an e-Visa needing pre-departure approval is required, the passport gets zero for that destination. The total points form the final score.

The index is updated every month to capture changes in visa rules. It ignores temporary travel bans or airspace closures. When two or more passports have the same score, Henley and Partners gives them the same rank and assigns the next rank in serial order. This method avoids artificial gaps and keeps the list easy to compare over time.

Which Country Passport Is Most Powerful in 2026?

The Singapore passport is the most powerful passport in the world in 2026 with visa-free access to 193 destinations. Japan, the UAE and South Korea share the second position with 188 destinations each, while Sweden holds the third position with 187 destinations.

Singapore has held the top position for three years in a row. Its score rose from 192 destinations in January 2026 to 193 destinations in October 2026. The rise shows the strength of its wide network of visa waiver agreements across Asia, Europe and the Americas.

The most notable long term story is that of the UAE. Henley and Partners notes that the UAE has added about 153 destinations in the last twenty years. This is the largest improvement recorded by any passport since the index began. The UAE moved from the middle ranks in 2006 to joint second place in 2026 through active diplomacy and trade linked visa deals.

Top 10 Strongest Passports in October 2026

The table shows how closely packed the top ranks are. In many cases, a difference of only one destination separates one rank from the next. The United States, which stood first in 2006, is now placed tenth. The United Kingdom, which stood third in 2006, is now placed sixth. This shift points to the growing role of Asian and Gulf countries in shaping global mobility.

What Is India Rank and Score in Henley Passport Index 2026?

India is ranked 84th in the October 2026 Henley Passport Index with visa-free access to 55 destinations. The Indian passport shares the 84th rank with Algeria and Mauritania, which have the same score of 55 destinations.

India has moved up by one place from 85th in October 2025. Yet the mobility score has fallen from 57 destinations to 55 destinations during the same period. This is possible because ranks depend on relative performance. If other passports lose access at a faster rate, India can move up even when its own score falls. The index was updated several times during 2026. India stood at 80th in January 2026 with 55 destinations and near 80th in July 2026 with 56 destinations, before settling at 84th in October 2026. Such small shifts are normal because a change of one or two visa agreements can move many countries up or down.

Visa Free Countries for Indian Passport Holders

The score of 55 does not mean that Indians can board a flight to all 55 places with only a passport. The score groups three types of easy entry. These are full visa-free entry, visa on arrival and Electronic Travel Authorisation. Visa on arrival is a visa given at the airport after landing. An Electronic Travel Authorisation is a simple online permission taken before departure.

Popular destinations counted in the Indian score include Bhutan, Nepal, Mauritius, Thailand, Malaysia, Maldives, Indonesia, Fiji, Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Vanuatu, Senegal, Rwanda, Kenya, Kazakhstan, Macao (SAR China), Sri Lanka and Cook Islands. The exact entry period, fee and conditions differ for each place. Travellers must check the official immigration rules of the destination before booking.

Is Indian Passport Powerful and Why Is India Ranking Low?

The Indian passport is not among the powerful passports of the world at present. It gives access to only 55 of the 227 destinations, which is less than one fourth of the global list. By contrast, Singapore gives access to 193 destinations.

Passport strength depends on bilateral visa waiver deals, readmission agreements, low overstay risk, strong travel document security and the confidence that other countries have in border controls. Large population size or economic size alone does not raise the score. India lost two destinations in 2026 after some countries tightened rules. Iran ended its visa waiver for ordinary Indian passport holders in late 2025, while Bolivia, Cape Verde and Nicaragua moved India from visa on arrival to prior visa or e-Visa routes. These changes reduced the total from 57 to 55.

How Does India Compare With Neighbours and Other Major Countries?

India performs better than most South Asian neighbours except Maldives, but it stays far behind East Asian leaders. The Maldives holds the strongest passport in South Asia with access to about 93 destinations. China is placed near 62nd with access to 83 destinations, well ahead of India. The United States is placed 10th with 180 destinations and the United Kingdom is placed 6th with 184 destinations.

Pakistan gives a useful contrast. Holders of the Pakistan passport can enter only about 29 destinations without a prior visa. That is nearly half of the Indian figure. Nepal and Bangladesh also stay below 40 destinations. At the bottom of the global list, Afghanistan remains the weakest passport with access to only 22 destinations. It is followed by Syria with about 25 destinations and Iraq with about 28 destinations. The gap between Singapore at the top and Afghanistan at the bottom is about 170 destinations. Henley and Partners notes that this is the widest mobility gap recorded in the twenty year history of the index.

Why Passport Rankings Matter for India

Passport strength affects daily life. It decides how easily students can reach foreign universities, how quickly business visitors can attend meetings and how freely tourists can plan holidays. A weak passport raises cost and time because applicants must pay visa fees, submit bank records and wait for interviews.

For India, a large overseas population and growing outbound travel make mobility important. Easier access supports software services, business travel, medical travel and education links. It also reflects the depth of bilateral trust. When another country offers visa-free entry, it signals confidence in the travel document, in return arrangements and in low risk of overstay.

The wider trend also matters. Henley and Partners finds that the average passport now gives access to 108 destinations, compared with only 58 destinations in 2006. Global travel has become easier overall. At the same time, peace and passport power move together. Peaceful and diplomatically active countries tend to rank higher. The creator of the index has noted that strong passports belong to countries that others wish to partner with for trade, investment and security. For India, steady visa waiver pacts, secure biometric passports and faster return cooperation can help add destinations over time.

Key Takeaways

• Singapore is ranked first in the October 2026 Henley Passport Index with visa-free access to 193 destinations.
• Japan, the UAE and South Korea share the second rank with 188 destinations each, while Sweden is third with 187 destinations.
• India is ranked 84th with access to 55 destinations, sharing the rank with Algeria and Mauritania.
• The index covers 199 passports and 227 destinations and uses data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
• Afghanistan remains the weakest passport with access to only 22 destinations, creating a mobility gap of about 170 destinations with Singapore.