NEW DELHI, INDIA, September 15, 2026: Indian passport holders can travel to 70 destinations without securing a conventional visa before departure, although entry conditions and permitted stays vary widely, according to the September 2026 Passport Reports ranking.
The Indian passport ranks 132nd globally, with a mobility score of 70. The figure includes 25 destinations offering visa-free entry, 40 providing visas on arrival and five allowing entry through an electronic travel authorisation or similar system.
For travellers, the difference between the three categories is significant. Visa-free destinations generally require no visa application before departure, while visa-on-arrival destinations require travellers to complete the relevant process after reaching the country. Electronic travel authorisations, meanwhile, normally require online registration or approval before travel.
Stays range from days to months
The 25 visa-free destinations offer Indian travellers stays ranging from 14 days to as long as 180 days.
Dominica offers one of the longest permitted stays at 180 days, while Fiji and Vanuatu allow stays of up to 120 days. Barbados, Gambia, Grenada, Haiti, Kiribati, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Rwanda and several other destinations allow stays of up to 90 days under the conditions listed in the ranking.
Other destinations impose shorter limits. Bhutan and Kazakhstan, for example, allow 14 days, while the Philippines permits 14 days. Macao allows 30 days.
Thailand allows Indian travellers to stay for up to 60 days under the listed arrangement, while Malaysia requires a Digital Arrival Card.
The visa-free group covers destinations across Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific, giving Indian travellers options ranging from short regional trips to longer stays.
Visa on arrival expands the choice
Another 40 destinations offer Indian passport holders a visa on arrival.
The list includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Jordan, Laos, Madagascar, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Nigeria, Russia, Samoa, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Zimbabwe.
Permitted stays vary considerably. Armenia lists up to 120 days, while Ethiopia, Gabon, Guinea, Madagascar, Nigeria and Vietnam are among destinations allowing stays of up to 90 days under the listed arrangements.
Some destinations have considerably shorter limits. The Democratic Republic of the Congo lists seven days, Togo 15 days and several others 30 days.
Some countries also offer electronic visa applications as an alternative to obtaining a visa on arrival.
Five destinations use electronic authorisation
Indian travellers can access another five destinations through an electronic travel authorisation or similar pre-registration system.
They include Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Seychelles and Sri Lanka.
The listed permitted stays range from 30 days in Sri Lanka to 90 days in Kenya, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Seychelles.
UAE remains the world’s strongest passport
The same September ranking places the UAE passport at the top globally, with a mobility score of 182.
UAE citizens can enter 128 destinations without a visa, while 44 offer visa on arrival and 10 provide access through an electronic travel authorisation. Only 16 destinations require UAE citizens to obtain a visa in advance, according to the ranking.
Singapore ranks second with a mobility score of 175, followed by Spain and Malaysia on 174. Luxembourg ranks fifth with 173.
Check before booking
The figures highlight the growing range of destinations available to Indian travellers without a traditional visa obtained before departure, but simplified entry does not mean unrestricted travel.
Visa requirements, permitted stays, passport-validity rules, arrival cards, registration requirements and supporting documents can differ between countries and can change without notice.
Travellers should therefore check the latest requirements with the destination country’s immigration authority, embassy or official government travel portal before booking flights or beginning their journey.
