New Delhi : Indian passport holders can currently travel to 25 destinations without obtaining a visa in advance, while another 40 destinations offer visas on arrival, according to the September 2026 Passport Reports ranking cited by Gulf News. The Indian passport has a global Mobility Score of 70 and ranks 132nd worldwide.
The ranking measures access based on destinations where travellers can enter visa-free, obtain a visa on arrival or use simplified entry arrangements such as an electronic travel authorisation (eTA). The permitted length of stay and entry conditions vary considerably between destinations.
For Indian travellers planning international holidays, the latest figures highlight a range of options across Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific without the need for a traditional visa application before departure.
25 destinations offer visa-free entry
According to the September 2026 data, Indian passport holders have visa-free access to 25 destinations.
The permitted stay ranges from 14 days to 180 days, depending on the destination. Dominica offers the longest stay listed, at up to 180 days, while Fiji and Vanuatu allow stays of up to 120 days.
The destinations and listed stay periods include:
- Angola: 30 days
- Barbados: 90 days
- Bhutan: 14 days
- Dominica: 180 days
- Fiji: 120 days
- Gambia: 90 days
- Grenada: 90 days
- Haiti: 90 days
- Kazakhstan: 14 days
- Kiribati: 90 days
- Macao: 30 days
- Malaysia: 90 days, with a Digital Arrival Card
- Maldives: 90 days
- Mauritius: 90 days
- Micronesia: 30 days
- Nepal: Visa-free
- Palestinian Territories: Visa-free
- Philippines: 14 days
- Rwanda: 30 days
- Senegal: 90 days
- St Vincent and the Grenadines: 90 days
- Thailand: 60 days, with an arrival card
- Trinidad and Tobago: 90 days
- Vanuatu: 120 days
The list covers a wide geographical spread, giving Indian travellers choices ranging from Himalayan destinations and Southeast Asia to Indian Ocean islands, African countries and Caribbean nations.
40 destinations offer visa on arrival
A further 40 destinations provide Indian passport holders with a visa on arrival.
This means travellers do not necessarily need to obtain a conventional visa before departure, although they may have to complete formalities and pay applicable fees on arrival.
The listed destinations include Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Burundi, Cambodia, Comoros, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Jordan, Laos, Madagascar, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Nigeria, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Russia, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Suriname, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Zimbabwe.
The permitted stay differs substantially. Armenia lists up to 120 days, while destinations such as Ethiopia, Gabon, Guinea and Nigeria list stays of up to 90 days. Indonesia, Jordan, Laos, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Russia and Uzbekistan list 30-day stays.
Some destinations have shorter limits. The Democratic Republic of the Congo lists seven days, while Togo lists 15 days and Saint Lucia lists 42 days. For some destinations, the supplied ranking does not specify a permitted stay.
Five destinations offer eTA access
Beyond visa-free and visa-on-arrival arrangements, Indian passport holders can access another five destinations through an electronic travel authorisation or similar pre-registration system.
These are Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Seychelles and Sri Lanka. The listed permitted stays range from 30 to 90 days.
Côte d’Ivoire allows a listed stay of 90 days with pre-enrolment, while Kenya and Saint Kitts and Nevis also list stays of up to 90 days. Seychelles has a 90-day provision with tourist registration, and Sri Lanka lists 30 days.
The eTA model is different from visa-free travel because travellers generally need to complete an online authorisation or registration process before travelling.
Indian passport ranks 132nd globally
The September 2026 Passport Reports ranking gives India a Mobility Score of 70, placing the country 132nd globally. Indian passport holders have access to 25 visa-free destinations, 40 visa-on-arrival destinations and five destinations through an eTA under the ranking’s methodology.
A total of 128 destinations require Indian travellers to obtain a visa in advance, although some of those destinations may offer online visa application or eVisa facilities.
The ranking therefore reflects not just traditional visa-free travel but a broader range of simplified entry arrangements.
UAE passport remains world’s strongest
The United Arab Emirates passport continues to top the global ranking, with a Mobility Score of 182.
UAE citizens can access 128 destinations visa-free, while 44 offer visas on arrival and 10 provide access through an eTA. Only 16 destinations require a visa in advance under the ranking.
Singapore ranks second with a Mobility Score of 175, followed by Spain and Malaysia, both with scores of 174. Luxembourg occupies fifth place with 173.
The comparison highlights the considerable difference between passport mobility levels across countries.
Travellers should check rules before departure
Although the latest ranking provides a useful overview, travellers should not rely solely on a passport index when planning a journey.
Visa policies, permitted stay periods and documentation requirements can change. Some destinations may also require proof of accommodation, onward travel, sufficient funds, travel insurance or other documentation.
The Gulf News report specifically advises Indian travellers to verify the latest entry conditions with the relevant authorities before travelling.
Travellers should also check whether an arrival card, digital registration or pre-enrolment is required even when a destination is described as visa-free.
More choices for Indian travellers
The latest figures show that Indian passport holders have a growing range of international travel options that do not require a conventional visa application before departure.
From the Maldives and Mauritius to Thailand, Malaysia, Bhutan and Nepal, several destinations close to India are among the accessible options. Farther destinations such as Fiji, Dominica, Vanuatu and several African and Caribbean countries also provide simplified entry arrangements.
For Indian travellers, these options can make international travel planning more flexible. However, the length of stay varies significantly, and entry requirements remain subject to change.
Checking the latest information with the destination country’s embassy, immigration authority or official government portal before booking flights remains essential.