The Henley Passport Index for the first quarter of 2022 was updated recently. The updates list showed an improvement for Indian passport-holders. Compared to 2021, India’s passport now ranks at 83rd position in the Henley Passport Index, climbing seven places from 90th in 2021. India is behind Rwanda and Uganda, and jointly shares the position with the African island nation, Sao Tome and Principe.
With this, Indian passport holders can now visit 60 destinations worldwide including Oman and Armenia (latest additions) without obtaining a visa. India has added 35 more destinations since 2006.
A statement by Henley and Partners said that in 2006 an individual could, on average, visit 57 countries visa-free.
“Today, that number has risen to 107, but this overall increase marks a growing disparity between countries in the global north and those in the global south, with nationals from countries such as Sweden and the US able to visit more than 180 destinations visa-free, while passport holders from Angola, Cameroon, and Laos can only enter about 50,” the statement said.
Henley Passport Index rankings are based on data provided by the International Air Transport Authority (IATA).
Sharing its take on global mobility, Henley and Partners mentioned that the “Great Climate Migration” has already begun. It is predicted that along with the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change will be a “key driver” of mobility in the months and years to come.
