Reports & Indexes

Global Passport Index 2026: India Ranks 125th as Europe Dominates the Top 10

By TestNeeti Editorial TeamPublished Sunday, 5 July 2026 2 min readSource: Business StandardArticle 17 of 17

The fifth edition of the Global Passport Index (GPI) 2026, published by residency-and-citizenship advisory firm Global Citizen Solutions (GCS), ranked India 125th among the countries assessed — up from 127th in 2021 — even as India's composite score rose to a five-year high of 45.1. The rankings, which surfaced around 5 July 2026, were dominated by European countries, with Sweden, Switzerland, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Ireland, the UK and Norway (plus Singapore) filling the top spots. India's low overall placement was driven by its weak mobility (visa-free access) sub-ranking (around 135th). The GPI is distinct from the more travel-focused Henley Passport Index, on which India stood at 80th in its July 2026 update (visa-free/visa-on-arrival access to about 56 destinations).

Key Facts & Details

9 points

1
India ranked 125th in the Global Passport Index (GPI) 2026 (fifth edition) by Global Citizen Solutions.
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India's composite score rose to a five-year high of 45.1 (up from 127th in 2021).
3
Europe dominated the top 10 (Sweden, Switzerland, Finland, Germany, etc.).
4
India's weak mobility (visa-free access) sub-rank (~135th) pulled down its overall position.
5
The GPI is distinct from the Henley Passport Index, where India is 80th (July 2026).
6
On Henley, the Indian passport offers visa-free/visa-on-arrival access to about 56 destinations.

Deep Dive

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The Global Passport Index by GCS scores passports on mobility, plus investment and quality-of-life dimensions, unlike Henley's travel-only focus.
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The Henley Passport Index ranks passports purely by the number of destinations accessible without a prior visa.
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Singapore has topped the Henley index as the world's most powerful passport in 2026.

Exam Focus

What was India's rank in the Global Passport Index 2026, and how does it differ from the Henley Passport Index?

Exam Relevance & Angle

Global rankings and India's position on them are recurring Reports & Indexes GA facts. Examiners test the index (Global Passport Index), the publisher (Global Citizen Solutions), India's rank (125th) and the contrast with Henley (India 80th) — clean, testable hooks.

Target Exams

SBI POSBI ClerkIBPS POIBPS ClerkIBPS RRB OfficerIBPS RRB AssistantRBI Grade BRBI AssistantNABARD Grade ASSC CGLSSC CHSLRRB NTPCLIC AAONIACL AOUPSC CSEState PCS

Background & Context

Several organisations rank the 'power' of passports. The Henley Passport Index ranks passports purely by the number of destinations their holders can enter visa-free or with visa-on-arrival. The Global Passport Index (GPI) by Global Citizen Solutions takes a broader view, combining a mobility/travel score with investment and quality-of-life dimensions — which is why a country can rank very differently on the two (India: ~80th on Henley but ~125th on GPI). Such indices are widely cited and frequently appear in exams, usually via India's rank and the topper.