India has recently been ranked 90th in the ‘Henley Passport Index 2021’. This report is a key indicator of a country’s global accessibility and mobility, allowing for ranking passports based on their travel-friendly nature, that is, the number of destinations a passport holder can access without needing a prior visa. The index, initially launched in 2006, contains data for 199 different passports. Here, we delve deeper into this report to understand more about the rankings, its significance, and the performance of India.
About the Henley Passport Index
The Henley Passport Index is a prestigious compilation of passport rankings around the world. It was originally created by Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners, with the purpose of ranking passports based on their global accessibility. The index, maintained through exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), boasts the world’s largest and most accurate collection of travel information. Since 2006, this index has provided an annually updated snapshot of worldwide passport standings.
2021 Global Rankings
Japan and Singapore took the spotlight in this year’s index, emerging at the top with their passport holders enjoying visa-free travel to 192 countries. The robustness of these passports is impressive, as it enhances the ease of international travel for their holders. South Korea and Germany were trailing closely behind, holding the second position in the chart. Notably, Japan has secured the top position for the third consecutive year. On the other hand, some countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, and Yemen landed at the lower end of the spectrum, labelled as having the least powerful passports in 2021.
India’s Performance in the Passport Index
India’s ranking fell to the 90th position in this year’s report, indicating that Indian passport holders can enjoy visa-free travel to 58 countries. This rank is shared equally by India, Tajikistan, and Burkina Faso. Unfortunately, this represents a drop for India, considering it was placed higher at 85th in January 2021’s index. The rankings of previous years also showed better positions, with the country standing 84th in 2020 and 82nd in 2019.
The Henley Passport Index plays a vital role in understanding global mobility trends and passport power. It provides an insightful perspective on international travel rights and serves as a helpful tool for both governments and their citizens. Despite the downward shift, India’s ranking in the index remains crucial for its international relations and mobility abilities.