New Delhi: Indian passport holders can now travel to 59 countries without obtaining a visa, according to the latest edition of the Henley Passport Index released on Wednesday.

India has climbed eight spots in the global passport ranking, moving from 85th position last year to 77th place in 2025. The improvement is attributed to increased visa-free access, which now includes the Philippines and Sri Lanka, taking the total number of destinations to 59. Last year, Indian citizens had visa-free access to 57 countries.

Among the countries offering visa-free entry to Indian passport holders are Indonesia, Maldives, Malaysia and Thailand.

Singapore retained the top position on the index, with its passport granting visa-free access to 193 destinations. Japan and South Korea were ranked second. Passports of seven European countries — Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy and Spain — provide visa-free access to 189 countries and share the third spot.

Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and Sweden are placed fourth, while New Zealand, Greece and Switzerland occupy the fifth rank.

Australia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Malta and Poland hold the seventh position, followed by Canada, Estonia and the United Arab Emirates in eighth place.

Henley & Partners CEO Dr. Juerg Steffen said, “Your passport is no longer just a travel document; it is a reflection of your country's diplomatic influence and international relations. In an era of growing inequality and geopolitical uncertainty, citizenship planning has become more important than ever.”

The Henley Passport Index ranks the world's passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa.