Here are 10 key points 26 Countries Offer Visa-Free Entry to Indians, 40 Provide Visa on Arrival: Government:
- Visa-Free and Visa-on-Arrival Access – 26 countries offer visa-free entry, 40 provide visa-on-arrival, and 58 allow e-visas for Indian passport holders.
- Parliamentary Discussion – The information was shared in a written reply by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh in Lok Sabha.
- Indian Passport Ranking Drop – The Indian passport has dropped five spots to the 85th position in the Henley Passport Index 2025.
- Past Rankings – The passport ranking fell from 80th in 2024 and has declined significantly from 71st in 2006.
- Government’s Stand on Rankings – The minister stated that passport rankings are based on private institutions’ criteria and are not universally recognized.
- Efforts to Expand Travel Privileges – The government is working to increase the number of countries offering visa-free, visa-on-arrival, and e-visa facilities.
- Official Website for Updates – The Ministry of External Affairs regularly updates the list of visa-free countries on its website.
- Challenges in Passport Ranking Improvement – Visa policies are determined by individual nations based on diplomatic relations and reciprocity.
- Comparison with Global Passports – Singaporean passport holders can travel visa-free to 195 destinations, whereas Indian passport holders have access to only 57 visa-free countries.
- Diplomatic Strategy – The government continues to engage with foreign nations to enhance travel ease for Indian citizens through strategic negotiations.
26 Countries Offer Visa-Free Entry to Indians, 40 Provide Visa-on-Arrival: Government
New Delhi, Feb 7: The Indian government has informed the Parliament that as of now, 26 countries offer visa-free entry, 40 countries provide visa-on-arrival facilities, and 58 nations allow Indian passport holders to apply for e-visas. This update was shared during a session in the Lok Sabha on Friday.
Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, in a written reply, addressed queries regarding the status of the Indian passport in global rankings but refrained from commenting on its recent decline in the Henley Passport Index 2025, where it fell five spots to the 85th position.
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Government’s Response to Indian Passport Ranking Drop
TDP MP Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy raised concerns about India’s passport ranking, noting that it had slipped from the 80th position in 2024 and had fallen significantly from 71st in 2006. He sought clarification on whether the government was taking steps to address this decline.
Responding to this, MoS Kirti Vardhan Singh stated that several private institutions publish such rankings based on their own parameters, which are not universally accepted. He emphasized that there is no globally recognized standard for ranking passports due to the absence of an agreed-upon set of criteria.
Government Efforts to Expand Travel Privileges
The minister highlighted that the government has been actively working to enhance travel ease for Indian passport holders by increasing the number of countries that offer visa-free, visa-on-arrival, and e-visa options. These efforts are aimed at simplifying international travel for Indian citizens and strengthening diplomatic relations with various nations.
“As of today, 26 countries grant visa-free entry, 40 nations provide visa-on-arrival, and 58 countries extend e-visa facilities to Indian passport holders. The Ministry regularly updates these details on its official website.
Challenges in Improving Passport Ranking
Reddy further questioned whether the government had any remedial measures in place to improve India’s passport ranking. In response, Singh clarified that visa policies are determined by sovereign nations and are influenced by various factors, including bilateral relations, security considerations, and the principle of reciprocity.
“The decision to grant visa-free entry or visa-on-arrival facilities to Indian passport holders depends on multiple factors, including diplomatic ties between nations. The formulation of visa policies remains at the discretion of the respective countries,” Singh added.
Comparing Indian Passport to Global Rankings
Referring to the Henley Passport Index 2025, Reddy pointed out that the lower ranking of the Indian passport restricts Indian travelers to visa-free access in only 57 countries, whereas Singaporean passport holders can travel visa-free to 195 out of 227 destinations worldwide. This disparity highlights the challenges faced by Indian travelers in comparison to passport holders from nations with higher global mobility.
While the government continues its diplomatic efforts to expand travel privileges for Indian citizens, Singh’s response indicates that passport rankings are influenced by a complex set of geopolitical factors that may not always be within direct control. However, India remains committed to improving travel ease for its citizens through strategic international engagements and policy negotiations.
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