India Ranks 85th In World Most Powerful Passport Index, Here Are Countries You Can Visit Visa-Free
The Henley Passport Index, which periodically measures the world's most travel-friendly passports, has just released its latest report -- and an analysis of what might lie ahead in the post pandemic world.
Placed at the number one in the Henley Passport Index 2021, Japan has the world's most powerful passport for the fourth year in a row.
Citizens of the country can visit 191 countries around the world visa-free. The Singaporean passport remains in second place with 190 countries open for visa-free visit.
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Despite Brexit, the UK passport has moved up the ranking from eighth at the start of 2020, to joint seventh place alongside the US passport, a non-mover.
The Henley Passport Index, which periodically measures the world's most travel-friendly passports has just released its latest report - and an analysis of what might lie ahead in the post-pandemic world.
Also Read: New Zealand's Passport Is Now The Most Powerful In World, Knocks Off Japan From Joint Top Position
The ranking has been produced by the Henley Passport Index, which is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). It analyses how many countries a passport holder can enter visa-free or on a visa-on-arrival basis.
Henley passport Index
For the full list, click here.
They are followed by Austria, which has risen from seventh place; and Denmark - a non-mover - that stands fifth on the list of 186 countries.
Sixth spot is occupied by France, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal and Sweden, with their passports enjoying visa-free access to 186 countries.
And sharing seventh place with the UK and the USA are Belgium, New Zealand, Norway and Switzerland. This year's ranking does not take into account any temporary travel restrictions that may have been brought in as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Reuters
It says: 'Over the index¡¯s 16-year history, the top spots were traditionally held by EU countries, the UK, or the US, and experts suggest that the Apac region¡¯s position of strength will continue as it includes some of the first countries to begin the process of recovering from the pandemic.
'Over the past seven years, the US passport has fallen from the number one spot to seventh place, a position it currently shares with the UK.'
Among the 110 countries in this year's list by the Henley Passport Index, Pakistan has been ranked as the fourth worst performing passports and India's rank stands at 85.
The Mobility Score of passports is decided on the basis of how many countries the passport holder can visit without a visa (visa free) or get a visa on arrival. Indian passport holders can visit 16 countries without a visa, and 33 countries with visa-on-arrival facility which includes Iran, Indonesia and Myanmar.
16 visa-free countries with an Indian passport
1. Barbados
2. Bhutan
3. Dominica
4. Grenada
5. Haiti
6. Hong Kong SAR
7. Maldives
8. Mauritius
9. Montserrat
10. Nepal
11. Niue Island
12. Samoa
13. Senegal
14. Trinidad and Tobago
15. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
16. Serbia
33 countries visa-on-arrival for Indian passport
1. Bahrain
2. Bolivia
3. Cape Verde
4. Comoros
5. Djibouti
6. Ethiopia
7. Gabon
8. Guinea
9. Guinea-Bissau
10. Iran
11. Kenya
12. Lesotho
13. Madagascar
14. Malawi
15. Maldives
16. Mauritania
17. Mozambique
18. Myanmar
19. Nigeria
20. Palau
21. Rwanda
22. Saint Lucia
23. Samoa
24. Seychelles
25. Sierra Leone
26. Somalia
27. Suriname
28. Tanzania
29. Togo
30. Tuvalu
31. Uganda
32. Uzbekistan
33. Zimbabwe
As per a Rajya Sabha comment from Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan, 36 countries offer e-visa facility to Indian passport holders as well, including Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Malaysia.