India falls in Global Passport Index as Europe dominates the top 10
India's passport has been ranked 125th out of 200 countries in the Global Passport Index 2026. Namibia ranked just above India at the 124th spot.
India's passport has been placed 125th out of 200 countries in the Global Passport Index (GPI) 2026, a ranking that measures not just how freely citizens can travel, but also how attractive their country is for investment and quality of life.
Unlike traditional passport rankings that focus almost entirely on visa-free access, the Global Passport Index, compiled by Global Citizen Solutions, takes a more holistic view. Mobility accounts for half of a passport's overall score, while the remaining weight is equally divided between investment opportunities and quality of life.
For India, the report paints a mixed picture. The country's overall rank stands at 125, while it fares even lower on the mobility parameter at around 135th. Its quality-of-life score places it at 118th, suggesting that while India has made gains in several areas, its passport still offers relatively limited global advantages compared to many other nations.
The findings come at a time when the Henley Passport Index has also recorded a decline for India. In its latest July 2026 rankings, the Indian passport slipped to 80th place, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 56 destinations. Most of these countries are in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific, while travellers still need visas for popular destinations such as the United States, the United Kingdom and most of Europe.
The Global Passport Index does not rank passports solely by the number of destinations they unlock. Instead, it combines 14 indicators under three broad categories: Enhanced mobility (50%), Investment opportunities (25%) and Quality of life (25%).
To compile the rankings, Global Citizen Solutions draws on data from organisations including the World Bank, the World Economic Forum and the Sustainable Development Report, making it a broader assessment of what a passport can offer beyond international travel.
The 2026 edition once again underscores Europe's dominance, with nine of the world's top 10 passports belonging to European countries.
The 10 strongest passports in this year's index are:
1. Sweden
2. Switzerland
3. Finland
4. Germany
5. Denmark (joint)
6. Netherlands (joint)
7. Ireland
8. United Kingdom
9. Norway
10. Singapore
Sweden emerged as the world's strongest passport thanks to its consistently high performance across all three pillars. While it ranks 11th globally for mobility, it places ninth for investment and second for quality of life, giving it the highest overall score.
Although Denmark and the Netherlands share fifth place overall, their strengths differ. Denmark scores particularly well on quality of life, while the Netherlands performs better on mobility and investment.
The report suggests that in today's world, the value of a passport extends well beyond border crossings. Increasingly, it also reflects the opportunities it provides to live, work, invest and build a life across borders.
India's passport has been placed 125th out of 200 countries in the Global Passport Index (GPI) 2026, a ranking that measures not just how freely citizens can travel, but also how attractive their country is for investment and quality of life.
Unlike traditional passport rankings that focus almost entirely on visa-free access, the Global Passport Index, compiled by Global Citizen Solutions, takes a more holistic view. Mobility accounts for half of a passport's overall score, while the remaining weight is equally divided between investment opportunities and quality of life.
For India, the report paints a mixed picture. The country's overall rank stands at 125, while it fares even lower on the mobility parameter at around 135th. Its quality-of-life score places it at 118th, suggesting that while India has made gains in several areas, its passport still offers relatively limited global advantages compared to many other nations.
The findings come at a time when the Henley Passport Index has also recorded a decline for India. In its latest July 2026 rankings, the Indian passport slipped to 80th place, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 56 destinations. Most of these countries are in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific, while travellers still need visas for popular destinations such as the United States, the United Kingdom and most of Europe.
The Global Passport Index does not rank passports solely by the number of destinations they unlock. Instead, it combines 14 indicators under three broad categories: Enhanced mobility (50%), Investment opportunities (25%) and Quality of life (25%).
To compile the rankings, Global Citizen Solutions draws on data from organisations including the World Bank, the World Economic Forum and the Sustainable Development Report, making it a broader assessment of what a passport can offer beyond international travel.
The 2026 edition once again underscores Europe's dominance, with nine of the world's top 10 passports belonging to European countries.
The 10 strongest passports in this year's index are:
1. Sweden
2. Switzerland
3. Finland
4. Germany
5. Denmark (joint)
6. Netherlands (joint)
7. Ireland
8. United Kingdom
9. Norway
10. Singapore
Sweden emerged as the world's strongest passport thanks to its consistently high performance across all three pillars. While it ranks 11th globally for mobility, it places ninth for investment and second for quality of life, giving it the highest overall score.
Although Denmark and the Netherlands share fifth place overall, their strengths differ. Denmark scores particularly well on quality of life, while the Netherlands performs better on mobility and investment.
The report suggests that in today's world, the value of a passport extends well beyond border crossings. Increasingly, it also reflects the opportunities it provides to live, work, invest and build a life across borders.
