India’s Passport Status in 2025: New Developments and Business Opportunities

Posted by Written by Anubhab Deb Reading Time: 5 minutes

India’s passport has experienced substantial improvements in 2025, reflecting the country’s rapidly growing worldwide mobility. We discuss India’s passport status in 2025 – its global standing, greater visa access for citizens, reciprocating inbound immigration laws, and current modifications to passport types and issuance systems.

According to the Henley Passport Index Q2 2025, India climbed nine places, from 85th to 76th, and now offers visa-on-arrival or visa-free entry to 58 locations. The improvement demonstrates increased diplomatic outreach as well as greater travel connections.

Thailand and Sri Lanka both have relaxed entry requirements for Indians since 2023, while the Philippines will allow visa-free access for short stays in June 2025. These developments are especially important for tourism and industry.

India’s global passport ranking in 2025

According to the Henley Passport Index, India presently ranks 76th globally, with the ability to travel to 58 places without a prior-arranged visa. This indicates an eight-spot increase since 2024, the country’s most significant upward rise in recent years. Analysts relate this to stronger bilateral agreements and the government’s constant efforts to ensure easier travel access.

Visa-free and visa-on-arrival access for Indian citizens in 2025

Indian passport holders currently enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 59 destinations per the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

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Neighboring countries of Nepal and Bhutan allow visa-free entry, following their long-standing cross-border agreements with India. A noteworthy trend of recent years has been the inclusion of prominent Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia, all of which have granted Indian people visa-free access. To the east, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam provide visa-on-arrival services—boosting India’s reach across Asia.

In the Middle East region, Iran, Oman, and Qatar allow Indians to obtain visas upon arrival, making shorter-term business and religious trips easier. Destinations in Africa, such as Seychelles, Tanzania, Mauritius, and Kenya, offer visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry, reflecting India’s long-standing historical and diaspora ties across the continent. Indian passport holders can also visit numerous Caribbean islands, including Barbados, Dominica, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago, where visa-free or visa-on-arrival policies apply. Latin American countries, such as El Salvador and Bolivia, also appear on the growing list.

According to the MEA, many of these arrangements are the product of bilateral agreements struck in recent years, a trend expected to continue. For example, the Philippines implemented visa-free entrance for Indian visitors in 2024, while Sri Lanka expanded its visa-free policy to include Indian tourists as part of a larger South Asian tourism strategy.

This expansion of mobility options suggests that while the Indian passport remains limited in Western destinations, particularly the European Union and the United States, it is gaining strength in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean—opening wider opportunities for travel, commerce, and cultural exchange for Indian citizens.

Visa-free, visa-on-arrival, and e-visa access to India in 2025

India offers a multilayered entry system designed to accommodate diverse nationalities through visa-free entry, visa-on-arrival (VoA), and e-Visa services as part of its broader strategy to encourage tourism and international business.

Nepalese and Bhutanese citizens enjoy visa-free entry under bilateral arrangements that allow unrestricted cross-border travel. Maldivian nationals are also granted visa-free access for up to 90 days.

Since 2024, India has extended limited VoA facilities to Japanese, South Korean, and UAE nationals. Eligible travelers who previously held a valid e-Visa or sticker visa can obtain a 60-day VoA at six major airports: Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai.

In addition, India’s e-Tourist Visa (e-TV) program now covers citizens from over 150 countries, extending its global reach. This streamlined digital service enables eligible visitors—primarily for tourism, business, or medical purposes—to apply online and enter India within 30 days of approval.

Foreign nationals who are holders of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) or Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) cards remain fully exempt from visa requirements, granting them lifelong rights to live and work in India.

The Indian passport: New categories and e-passport rollout

The central government issues three types of passports: ordinary (blue) for citizens, official/service (white) for government employees, and diplomatic (maroon) for diplomats and senior officials.

Since 2024, all diplomatic and official passports have been issued as biometric e-passports. By early 2025, ordinary passports also began transitioning to electronic chip-enabled versions, with rollouts from regional centers in Nagpur, Chennai, and Bhubaneswar. A phased nationwide rollout is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.

The launch of Passport Seva 2.0 in June 2025 marked a major step in this modernization drive. Key upgrades have included embedded RFID chips in e-passports, contactless chip scanning, AI-enabled verification through the mPassport Police App, mobile passport vans for greater outreach, and expanded services via Post Office Passport Seva Kendras.

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This updated system transforms passport services by providing embedded RFID chips for e-passports, contactless chip scanning, AI-driven verification via the mPassport Police App, mobile passport vans, and extended access through Post Office Passport Seva Kendras.

E-passports, which store biometric and personal data in line with global standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), seek to improve data integrity, streamline immigration processes, and curb passport fraud.

Advisory for businesses and industry stakeholders

Travel and market expansion

The rise in India’s global passport ranking and expanded visa-free/VoA access in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean opens up new travel corridors for Indian entrepreneurs, SMEs, and investors. Businesses in sectors such as tourism, education, healthcare, and trade can leverage these easier mobility channels to expand operations, scout opportunities, and deepen cross-border partnerships.

Tourism and hospitality opportunities

Visa relaxations by Sri Lanka, Thailand, the Philippines, and other destinations are expected to increase outbound Indian tourism. Hospitality providers, airlines, and travel companies should prepare tailored offerings for these destinations, as Indian travelers remain among the fastest-growing outbound segments globally.

Inbound business prospects for India

India’s VoA and e-Visa expansion enhances accessibility for foreign investors and business visitors. This benefits trade fairs, conferences, and investment missions, particularly in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai, where VoA services are concentrated. Industries such as IT services, manufacturing, medical tourism, and higher education stand to gain from easier foreign entry.

Diaspora engagement and cultural industries

With more Caribbean and African destinations opening visa-free travel for Indians, diaspora-linked industries (ethnic foods, media, cultural events, remittances) could see stronger two-way exchanges. Businesses may explore collaboration with diaspora networks to expand brand presence abroad.

Compliance and security considerations

The transition to biometric e-passports and the implementation of Passport Seva 2.0 underline India’s focus on global security and compliance with ICAO standards. Companies in aviation, travel tech, and identity verification solutions should track these upgrades as opportunities for partnerships, digital services, and cybersecurity solutions.

Investment in ancillary services

With mobile passport vans and expanded post-office Passport Seva Kendras, India is decentralizing and digitizing passport issuance. This presents opportunities for logistics providers, IT service companies, and fintech players to collaborate with government-backed projects in identity management and digital infrastructure.

Strategic gaps to watch

Despite improvements, Western destinations, particularly the EU and US, remain restrictive. Businesses reliant on these markets (IT exports, professional services, higher education) should continue to plan for visa challenges and lobby for bilateral negotiations that can improve mobility in these regions.

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