Henley Passport Index 2022 | 13 Jan 2022
Why in News
India has been ranked 83rd in the most powerful passport report ‘Henley Passport Index 2022’.
- India’s passport power has improved this quarter compared to 2021 climbing seven places from 90th rank last year.
- The current rankings are for the first quarter of 2022.
Key Points
- About the Index:
- The Henley Passport Index is the original ranking of all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa.
- Originally created by Dr. Christian H. Kaelin (chairman of Henley & Partners), the ranking is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which maintains the world’s largest and most accurate database of travel information.
- It was launched in 2006 and includes 199 different passports.
- It is updated in real time throughout the year as and when visa policy changes come into effect.
- Global Rankings:
- Japan and Singapore top the index
- Germany and South Korea held onto the joint second spot on the latest ranking, while Finland, Italy, Luxembourg, and Spain shared third place.
- Afghanistan and Iraq continue to be in the 'worst passports to hold' category.
- India’s Performance:
- In 2020, India stood at 84 while in 2016, India was ranked 85th along with Mali and Uzbekistan.
- India (83rd in 2022) shares the position with Sao Tome and Principe in Central Africa, behind Rwanda and Uganda.
- India now has visa-free access to 60 destinations worldwide with Oman and Armenia being the latest additions. India has added 35 more destinations since 2006.