The future for travel looks promising. In a recent update, the Henley Passport Index revealed that the Indian passport now sits at number 87 in the world. This gives Indian passport holders visa-free access to 60 countries.
The pandemic left suitcases gathering dust but now that places are opening up to toruists, Indians can travel to 60 countries around the world without a visa. This is based on a report by the Henley Passport Index 2022, which sources exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association and ranks all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. The current rank for India is 87 and it shares this position with Sao Tome and Principe in Central Africa, right behind Rwanda and Uganda.
Indian Passport lands at No 87 on the Henley Passport Index
Last year, the Indian passport sat at number 90, with visa-free access to 58 countries. This year, it has improved its passport power and moved up to being the 87th most powerful document in the world. Over 12.8 million passports were issued in 2019 by the Passport Issuing Authorities (PIA) in India and abroad, making the country the third-largest passport issuer after the USA and China.
These are the countries that Indian passport holders can travel to Visa-free
There are 60 countries that are allowing Indian passport holders to enter the borders without a prior visa. These nations are: –
In Oceania
Cook Islands
Fiji
Marshall Islands
Micronesia
Niue
Palau Islands
Samoa
Tuvalu
Vanuatu
In Middle East
Iran
Jordan
Oman
Qatar
In Europe
Albania
Serbia
In Caribbean
Barbados
British Virgin Islands
Dominica
Grenada
Haiti
Jamaica
Montserrat
St. Kitts and Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
In Asia
Bhutan
Cambodia
Indonesia
Laos
Macao (SAR China)
Maldives
Myanmar
Nepal
Sri Lanka
Thailand
Timor-Leste
In Americas
Bolivia
El Salvador
In Africa
Botswana
Burundi
Cape Verde Islands
Comoro Islands
Ethiopia
Gabon
Guinea-Bissau
Madagascar
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mozambique
Rwanda
Senegal
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Somalia
Tanzania
Togo
Tunisia
Uganda
Zimbabwe
Here’s the complete Henley Passport Index
The results also place Japan at the top, with Singapore and South Korea holding the second spot. In a report by Business Today, the Henley Passport Index stated, “Without taking temporary COVID-related restrictions into account, passport holders of Japan can now enter 192 destinations around the world visa-free.”
Here’s a list of the most powerful passports in 2022 along with the number of countries they can travel to:
1. Japan,
2. Singapore, South Korea
3. Germany, Spain
4. Finland, Italy, Luxembourg
5. Austria, Denmark, Netherland, Sweden
6. France, Ireland, Portugal, United Kingdom
7. Belgium, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, United States
8. Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Greece, Malta
9. Hungary
10. Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia
Passports might soon be digital and have a microchip
India ?? to soon introduce next-gen #ePassport for citizens
– secure #biometric data
– smooth passage through #immigration posts globally
– @icao compliant
– produced at India Security Press, Nashik
– #eGovernance @passportsevamea @MEAIndia #AzadiKaAmritMahotsav pic.twitter.com/tmMjhvvb9W— Sanjay Bhattacharyya (@SecySanjay) January 5, 2022
Another thing to look forward to is the promise of being a little less worried about the safety of your passport when you’re out and about. Although the document is currently printed on booklets, the Indian government has issued 20,000 official and diplomatic e-passports with an implanted electronic microprocessor chip, in a move to prevent passport fraud and make going through immigration a lot easier. The document will be based on secure biometric data and will be compliant with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). In a report by News 18, Prime Minister Modi was quoted saying, “ “Our embassies and consulates are being connected to the Passport Seva Project worldwide.”
To go through with the production, the Indian Security Press (ISP) Nashik has been given permission to purchase electronic contactless inlays. That’s not all, the country plans on implementing fully digital passports that can be saved on smartphones. This task, the government has entrusted to Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), according to a report by Zee News.
Eshita is a food, alcohol, travel, and entertainment writer who spends her days zeroing in on the next big trend to write about. She’s a communication graduate with bylines in Conde Nast Traveller India, GQ India, Deccan Herald, and Girls Buzz. When not at work, you’re likely to find her hunting for a good read or charting out the perfect itinerary for a solo trip across Asia.
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