Reasons for India's Declining Passport Ranking and Its Impact on Students

Why Indian Passport Ranking Declining?

As per the latest Henley Passport Index, the Indian passport ranking dropped to the 85th position from 77th. In 2024, India was ranked at the 80th position. One of the highest positions was 71st in 2006, and the lowest at 90th in 2021. Some of the reasons why the ranking for the Indian passport declined are as follows.

• Reduced Visa-Free Access: In the most recent index, India’s visa-free access has dropped from 59 countries earlier in 2025 to 57 in the same year. As two countries took away visa-free or visa-on-arrival privileges for Indian passport holders, it has impacted the ranking.

• Migration Risk and Over-staying: A former Indian ambassador, Achal Malhotra, stated that many international governments are concerned about illegal immigration, visa overstays, and fraudulent visa applications. From the 1980s, after the Khalistani movement, several cases of overstaying increased, leading to stricter visa policies for Indian applicants.

• Economic, Political and Diplomatic Factors: The number of countries that can be travelled to without a visa on a specific passport does not solely define the strength of that passport. The diplomatic relations between the nations, via agreements and the economic stability of the country also reflect the strength of a passport.

• Middle-Income Country: A country’s passport strength often depends on its higher per-capita income. As India is still classified as a middle-income country, it faces challenges in achieving the same level of mobility as compared to other higher-income countries.

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Impact of India’s Declining Passport Ranking on Students Planning to Study Abroad

For Indian students aiming to study abroad, a decline in the global ranking of the Indian passport is going to impact in several ways. Some of the common implications include the following.

• Increased Visa Restrictions: With fewer countries offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access, Indian students might find themselves applying for visas more often. This could mean increased visa fees, more paperwork, longer processing times, and increased restrictions. All of this can make studying abroad more expensive and a time-consuming process.

• Increased Uncertainty: Due to increased visa restrictions, aspiring students are affected due to the increased uncertainty. The sudden change of visa policies, increased restrictions, and changes in post-study work regulations make the visa processing uncertain.

• Higher Costs: The drop in passport rankings is making things challenging as it affects the currency of the country. With the depreciation of India’s currency, the tuition and living costs for Indian students abroad increase.

• Increased Rejection Rate: Students are facing a higher chance of rejection, with some countries like Canada experiencing a significant drop in visa approvals for Indian nationals. This could be due to the decline in the Indian passport’s rankings.

Top 10 Powerful Passports in the World

The table below states the top 10 most powerful passports in the world.

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