The Indian passport has gained 77th place from 85th, showing a long jump in its overall position. It has added two new destinations: Sri Lanka and the Philippines, to its visa-free country list. The total count of visa-free destinations accessible by Indians now stands at 59. This recent improvement in passport ranking does offer certain aids to students, however these reliefs are limited to an extent. While it is important to know about the benefits, understanding of the index system is also crucial. Let’s first know about what is the Henley Passport Index and India’s ranking in this list before discovering its advantages for international students.
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The Henley Passport Index is a prevalent ranking authority that measures the global ranking of passports’ strength through the number of countries that passport holders can enter without a visa. This index, which is compiled by Henley & Partners, is regarded as the standard reference for international mobility.
The countries of this list are indexed based on the number of nations their holders can visit without having a visa in advance. The recent changes in the Indian passport ranking have led to positive impacts for individuals who desire to study or work abroad. The index ranking is decided based on data provided by the International Air Transport Association.
The index scales 199 passports against 227 various travel destinations, calculating the number of nations where passport holders can visit visa-on-arrival or visa-free.
The Indian passport has seen an upward shift in its ranking and now it stands at the 77th spot, offering visa-free access to 59 countries. The top destinations that offer visa-free entry to Indian passport holders are the Maldives, Thailand and Malaysia. However, countries such as Myanmar, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Macau offer visa-on-arrival (VOA). The ranking suggests Asian countries are leading in top positions, especially in providing mobility across the world.
Singapore’s passport holders get visa-free access to 193 countries, remaining at the top of the list. While South Korea and Japan passport holders can travel to 190 destinations without a visa, making them secure second position in the list. The third place is secured by seven European passports – Finland, Ireland, Denmark, Italy, Spain, France and Germany, giving access in 189 nations.
The Henley Passport ranking aids Indian scholars by enhancing global travel availability and reducing costs. The rise in India's passport ranking offers several distinct advantages to students, as detailed below.
For Indian students, this indicates that they now need to invest less time in the visa application, and it further reduces the difficulties in visa approval. Further, it simplifies the method of pursuing courses from overseas universities. It shows significant growth that modernises travel plans for scholarly pursuits abroad.
The enhanced ranking indicates a greater approach to travel for Indian residents, including students. This led to relaxed and easier access to global internships, collaborations and conferences that are important for professional and academic development.
A stronger passport often allows students to engage with international academic environments. Whether you are looking for short-term programs or specialised courses, this enhanced ranking of the Indian passport can help you explore several scholarly prospects abroad.
“This ranking directly benefits students of India by decreasing travel costs, complexities and time consumed by visa procedures, making global education more accessible”, said Mamta Shekhawat.
In a nutshell, the passport is not only a travel document, but it also reflects the international relationships of your country. Hence, in this period of growing geopolitical ambiguity and escalating inequality, the current Indian passport ranking shows significant improvements in its relations with other countries. Also, it opens a plethora of pathways to explore study abroad opportunities. If you are curious to discover these prospects and want precise guidance, then connect with the experts of Gradding.com. Their tailored approach will help you plan a smooth study abroad journey.
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