If you hold an Indian passport, the list of countries you can simply fly to without queuing at a consulate is shorter than most Instagram reels suggest, and it keeps changing. This page is the full list, kept current: every visa-free, visa-on-arrival and electronic travel authorisation (ETA) destination, with how long you can stay, what it costs, and the official link to check before you book. For the bigger picture on planning a trip, start with our complete visa and destination guide for Indian travellers.
We check this list every month and log every change in the changelog below. Bookmark it.
Quick Answer: How Many Countries Can Indians Visit Without a Visa in 2026?
As of 9 October 2026, Indian passport holders can enter 55 destinations without getting a visa in advance, according to the Henley Passport Index. That puts the Indian passport at 84th place out of 199, tied with Algeria and Mauritania. The count includes countries that are fully visa-free, countries that give a visa on arrival, and countries that only ask for an online travel authorisation before you fly.
Here is how those 55 split up by the entry rule you will actually face, based on our check of each country’s current rules:
| Entry type | Destinations | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-free (no visa at all) | 29 | Show your passport, answer a few questions, walk in. Some still need a free online arrival card. |
| Visa on arrival (VOA) | 20 | You get the visa stamped at the airport or border. Some charge a fee and many also offer the same visa online. |
| ETA / online pre-registration | 6 | A short online form before you fly. Approval is usually quick, but you cannot board without it. |
| Total (Henley Passport Index) | 55 | Down from 57 in October 2025 |
One thing worth knowing up front: there is not a single country in mainland Europe on this list. Every Schengen country, the UK and Ireland need a visa from Indian passport holders. The visa-free map for Indians runs through South and Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean, Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific.
The Full List by Region (Visa Type, Stay, Fee, Official Link)
A few ground rules for reading the tables. “Stay” is the maximum for tourism on an ordinary Indian passport. “Free” means no visa fee, though airport taxes and arrival-card rules still apply. Where an official site exists, we link it. Where a fee changes often or is not published clearly, we say “check before travel” instead of guessing.
Asia (15 destinations)
| Country | Entry type | Max stay | Fee / key condition | Official link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nepal | Visa-free | No fixed limit | Free. Passport or Voter ID accepted | immigration.gov.np |
| Bhutan | Visa-free (entry permit) | Permit-based | Free permit; Sustainable Development Fee of Rs 1,200 per person per night. Passport or Voter ID | immi.gov.bt |
| Maldives | Visa-free (free visa on arrival) | 90 days | Free. Fill the IMUGA traveller declaration before arrival | imuga.immigration.gov.mv |
| Sri Lanka | ETA (free) | 30 days | Free ETA, apply online before travel | eta.gov.lk |
| Thailand | Visa-free | 30 days (cut from 60 on 15 Sep 2026) | Free. Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) mandatory; carry return ticket and hotel booking | tdac.immigration.go.th |
| Malaysia | Visa-free | 30 days | Free, tourism only. Scheme runs until 31 Dec 2026. Submit the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card within 3 days before arrival | MDAC portal |
| Indonesia | Visa on arrival / e-VOA | 30 days | IDR 500,000; tourism only | evisa.imigrasi.go.id |
| Cambodia | Visa on arrival / e-visa | 30 days | US$36 for the e-visa | evisa.gov.kh |
| Laos | Visa on arrival / e-visa | 30 days | Check before travel. Some land crossings do not issue VOA | laoevisa.gov.la |
| Myanmar | Visa on arrival / e-visa | 28 days (e-visa), 30 days (VOA) | Check MEA travel advisories before planning | evisa.moip.gov.mm |
| Philippines | Visa-free | 14 days | Free, tourism only. Up to 30 days if you hold certain valid visas, such as a US, UK or Schengen visa | immigration.gov.ph |
| Timor-Leste | Visa on arrival | 30 days | Check before travel | Timor-Leste Immigration Service |
| Macao (SAR China) | Visa-free | 30 days | Free | Macao PSP |
| Mongolia | Visa on arrival / e-visa | 30 days | Check before travel | evisa.mn |
| Kazakhstan | Visa-free | 14 days | Free | Kazakhstan Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
Middle East (2 destinations)
| Country | Entry type | Max stay | Fee / key condition | Official link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qatar | Visa waiver | 30 days | Free, but you need a confirmed return ticket and a hotel booked through Discover Qatar for your full stay | discoverqatar.qa |
| Jordan | Visa on arrival / e-visa | 30 days | JOD 40, waived if you buy the Jordan Pass and stay at least three nights | jordanpass.jo |
The UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are not visa-free for Indians. They run e-visa systems, and some offer visa on arrival only to Indians who already hold a valid US, UK or EU visa or residence permit. More on that in the e-visa section below.
Africa (17 destinations)
| Country | Entry type | Max stay | Fee / key condition | Official link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mauritius | Visa-free | 90 days | Free | passport.govmu.org |
| Seychelles | Visitor permit + travel authorisation | 3 months | EUR 10 travel authorisation, paid online | seychelles.govtas.com |
| Kenya | ETA | 90 days | US$32.50; proof of accommodation needed | etakenya.go.ke |
| Rwanda | Visa-free | 30 days | Free. The US$100 East Africa Tourist Visa covers Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda for 90 days | migration.gov.rw |
| Tanzania | Visa on arrival / e-visa | 90 days | Check before travel | visa.immigration.go.tz |
| Senegal | Visa-free | 90 days | Free | Senegal Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
| The Gambia | Visa-free | 90 days | Free | Gambia Immigration Department |
| Angola | Visa-free | 30 days per visit, 90 days per year | Free, tourism only. Return ticket, hotel booking and vaccination certificate needed | SME Angola |
| Madagascar | Visa on arrival / e-visa | Up to 90 days | Fee depends on length of stay; US$59 for 61 to 90 days | Madagascar official e-visa portal |
| Mozambique | e-visa / pre-approval | 30 days | Check before travel | SENAMI Mozambique |
| Ethiopia | Visa on arrival / e-visa | 30 or 90 days | VOA only at Addis Ababa Bole airport | evisa.gov.et |
| Djibouti | e-visa | Up to 90 days | Check before travel | evisa.gouv.dj |
| Zimbabwe | Visa on arrival / e-visa | 1 month | Check before travel | evisa.gov.zw |
| Burundi | Visa on arrival / online visa | 1 month | Check before travel | Burundi immigration (PAFE) |
| Comoros | Visa on arrival | 45 days | Check before travel | Comoros immigration |
| Guinea-Bissau | Visa on arrival | 90 days | Check before travel | Guinea-Bissau immigration |
| Sierra Leone | Visa on arrival / e-visa | 30 days (VOA) | Check before travel | Sierra Leone Immigration Department |
Several African countries ask for a yellow fever vaccination certificate, especially if you are arriving from or transiting through a country with yellow fever risk. Get it done at an authorised centre in India at least 10 days before you fly.
Europe (0 destinations)
None. Every European country requires a visa from ordinary Indian passport holders. The one small 2026 improvement: Spain dropped its airport transit visa requirement for Indian nationals from 4 March 2026, so changing flights at Madrid or Barcelona airport got easier. It does not let you leave the airport.
Americas and the Caribbean (11 destinations)
| Country | Entry type | Max stay | Fee / key condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barbados | Visa-free | 90 days | Free |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Visa-free | 90 days | Free |
| Jamaica | Visa-free | Set by immigration on arrival | Free |
| Dominica | Visa-free | 6 months | Free |
| Grenada | Visa-free | 3 months | Free |
| St. Vincent and the Grenadines | Visa-free | 3 months | Free |
| Haiti | Visa-free | 3 months | Free (check MEA advisories; security situation is poor) |
| British Virgin Islands | Visa-free | 30 days | Free |
| Montserrat | Visa-free | 6 months | Free |
| St. Kitts and Nevis | ETA | 3 months | Apply online before travel |
| St. Lucia | Visa on arrival | 6 weeks | Check before travel |
The catch with the Caribbean: almost every flight route from India passes through the US, UK, Canada or Schengen airports, and those transits often need their own visa. Plan the route before you get excited about the stamp.
Oceania (10 destinations)
| Country | Entry type | Max stay | Fee / key condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fiji | Visa-free | 4 months | Free |
| Vanuatu | Visa-free | 120 days | Free |
| Cook Islands | Visa-free | 31 days | Free |
| Niue | Visa-free | 30 days | Free |
| Micronesia | Visa-free | 30 days | Free |
| Kiribati | Visa-free | 90 days in any 12 months | Free |
| Palau | Visa on arrival | 30 days | Free |
| Samoa | Entry permit on arrival | 90 days | Check before travel |
| Tuvalu | Visa on arrival | 1 month | Check before travel |
| Marshall Islands | Visa on arrival | Check before travel | Check before travel |
Fiji is the most practical of these for Indians, thanks to its long 4-month stay allowance. Just check the transit rules of whichever country you connect through.
Popular e-Visa Countries (Not Visa-Free, But Easy)
These do not count in the 55, because you must get approval before you fly. But the process is fully online and usually takes a few days, which is why people confuse them with visa-free countries. If the difference between these categories still feels fuzzy, our explainer on visa on arrival vs e-visa vs visa-free breaks down what each one means at the immigration counter.
| Country | Visa type | Stay | Official portal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vietnam | e-visa | Up to 90 days, multiple entry | evisa.gov.vn |
| Georgia | e-visa | 30 days | evisa.gov.ge |
| Azerbaijan | e-visa | 30 days | evisa.gov.az |
| Uzbekistan | e-visa | 30 days | Uzbekistan official e-visa portal |
| Russia | e-visa | 30 days | evisa.kdmid.ru |
| Egypt | e-visa | 30 days | visa2egypt.gov.eg |
| Japan | e-visa (single entry, tourism) | Set on issue | evisa.mofa.go.jp |
| Hong Kong | Pre-arrival registration | 14 days | immd.gov.hk |
| Bahrain | e-visa | Up to 90 days | evisa.gov.bh |
| Turkey | Conditional e-visa | 30 days, single entry | Only if you hold a valid US, UK, Schengen or Irish visa or residence permit |
| UAE | Visa required (online); 14-day VOA for holders of valid US/UK/EU visas or residence | 30, 60 or 90 days (online visa) | Via airlines or ICP portal |
Recently Changed: The Visa-Free Changelog
This is the part most “visa-free list” pages skip. Rules move every few months, and an old list can get you turned away at check-in. Here is what has changed recently, newest first.
| Date | Country / index | What changed |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Oct 2026 | Henley Passport Index | India moves up one place to 84th (from 85th), but its visa-free count falls to 55 from 57 in October 2025. The rank rose only because other passports moved around India. |
| 15 Sep 2026 | Thailand | Visa-free stay cut from 60 days to 30 days for Indians, under a revised scheme for 60 countries and territories. Anyone who entered before 15 Sep keeps the stay they were given. For longer trips, apply for a Thai e-visa. |
| 4 Mar 2026 | Spain | Airport transit visa no longer needed for Indian nationals. |
| 22 Nov 2025 | Iran | Visa-free entry for Indians (introduced in February 2024, up to 15 days) suspended after cases of Indians being lured with fake job offers. Indians now need a visa to enter or transit. The MEA issued an advisory on 17 Nov 2025. |
| Oct 2025 to Oct 2026 | Bolivia | No longer on Henley’s list of visa-free destinations for Indians. A visa is required. |
What to watch next: Malaysia’s visa-free arrangement for Indians currently runs until 31 December 2026. We will update this page as soon as Malaysia announces whether it is extended.
The 10 Best Visa-Free Trips Under Rs 60,000
A visa-free stamp only matters if the trip is affordable. These are the destinations where the visa rules and the budget line up best for most Indian travellers. The budgets are our rough planning estimates per person for 5 to 7 days, covering return economy flights booked 6 to 8 weeks ahead in the off-season, budget-to-mid-range stays, food and local transport. Flight prices swing hard during Diwali, Christmas and school holidays, so treat these as ballpark figures, not quotes.
| # | Destination | Entry | Rough budget (5 to 7 days) | Why it works |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nepal | Visa-free, no limit | Rs 25,000 to 40,000 | Reachable by road or rail from North India; rupee widely accepted |
| 2 | Bhutan | Permit, no visa | Rs 35,000 to 55,000 | Overland via Jaigaon-Phuentsholing; budget for the Rs 1,200 per night SDF |
| 3 | Sri Lanka | Free ETA | Rs 40,000 to 55,000 | Short flights from Chennai, Bengaluru, Kochi; zero visa cost |
| 4 | Thailand | Visa-free, 30 days | Rs 45,000 to 60,000 | Plenty of direct flights; 30 days is more than enough for a holiday |
| 5 | Malaysia | Visa-free, 30 days | Rs 45,000 to 60,000 | Easy combo of Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Langkawi; book before Dec 2026 window closes |
| 6 | Bali, Indonesia | VOA, IDR 500,000 | Rs 50,000 to 60,000 | Tight but doable with a one-stop flight and villa-share stays |
| 7 | Maldives (local islands) | Free, 90 days | Rs 50,000 to 60,000 | Guesthouses on Maafushi or Thoddoo, not resorts |
| 8 | Cambodia | e-visa/VOA, US$36 | Rs 45,000 to 60,000 | Cheap stays in Siem Reap; Angkor pass is the big ticket |
| 9 | Kazakhstan | Visa-free, 14 days | Rs 50,000 to 60,000 | Almaty mountains and snow, about a 4 to 5 hour flight from Delhi |
| 10 | Laos | VOA/e-visa, 30 days | Rs 50,000 to 60,000 | Pair with Thailand; Luang Prabang is slow travel at its best |
Mauritius, Fiji and Seychelles are visa-free too, but flights alone often eat most of a Rs 60,000 budget, so we left them out of this list.
Indian Passport Ranking History, 2015 to 2026
The Indian passport has bounced between the low 80s and 90th for over a decade. The visa-free count peaked at 62 in 2024 and has slipped since. These figures come straight from the Henley Passport Index’s own historical dataset.
| Year | Henley rank | Visa-free destinations |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 88 | 51 |
| 2016 | 85 | 52 |
| 2017 | 87 | 49 |
| 2018 | 81 | 60 |
| 2019 | 82 | 59 |
| 2020 | 82 | 58 |
| 2021 | 90 | 58 |
| 2022 | 83 | 60 |
| 2023 | 84 | 60 |
| 2024 | 80 | 62 |
| 2025 | 85 | 57 |
| 2026 (Oct) | 84 | 55 |
Two things explain the pattern. First, the rank is relative. When dozens of other countries gain access, India can drop places without losing a single destination, and it can rise while losing some, which is exactly what happened in October 2026. Second, Indian access tends to shrink when individual countries tighten rules after misuse, as Iran did in 2025, and grow when tourism-hungry countries open up, as Thailand, Malaysia and Sri Lanka did in 2023 and 2024.
Documents You Still Need (Even Without a Visa)
Visa-free does not mean paperwork-free. Immigration officers can still refuse entry, and airlines can refuse to board you if your documents look incomplete. Carry these every time:
- Passport valid for at least 6 months from your arrival date, with at least two blank pages. This is the most common reason for denied boarding.
- Confirmed return or onward ticket. Thailand, Qatar, Angola and several others check this. A refundable fare you plan to cancel is a bad idea.
- Hotel booking for your stay. Qatar insists it is booked through Discover Qatar. Kenya and Angola also ask for accommodation proof.
- Proof of funds. A recent bank statement or international debit/credit card. Officers ask for this more often than you would expect.
- Travel insurance. Not every country checks, but a hospital bill abroad can wipe out years of savings. Keep the policy PDF on your phone.
- Digital arrival cards. Thailand’s TDAC, Malaysia’s MDAC, Maldives’ IMUGA declaration and Sri Lanka’s ETA all need to be done online before you land.
- Yellow fever certificate for many African destinations, and for your return to India if you have visited a yellow fever risk country.
If you have had a visa refused before, declare it honestly when asked. Our piece on why Indian passport holders are getting rejected more often covers the red flags officers look for.
How We Build and Check This List
- Base count: the Henley Passport Index, which uses data from IATA, the airline industry body whose Timatic database airlines use at check-in.
- Entry type, stay and fee: each country’s official immigration or e-visa portal, linked in the tables.
- Advisories: the Ministry of External Affairs and Indian missions abroad.
- Your final check: the IATA Travel Centre, which shows the same rules airlines see when you check in.
FAQ
How many countries can Indians visit without a visa in 2026?
55, according to the Henley Passport Index edition dated 9 October 2026. That number combines fully visa-free countries, visa-on-arrival countries and countries that only need an electronic travel authorisation. It is down from 57 in October 2025.
Which countries give Indians visa on arrival?
Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Mongolia, Timor-Leste, Jordan, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Burundi, Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, St. Lucia, Palau, Samoa, Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands. Many of these also offer an e-visa, which saves time in the arrival queue.
What is the Indian passport’s rank in 2026?
84th out of 199 passports in the October 2026 Henley Passport Index, shared with Algeria and Mauritania. India was reported at 80th in the January 2026 edition and 85th in October 2025.
Is Thailand still visa-free for Indians?
Yes, but only for 30 days since 15 September 2026, down from 60 days. You also need the Thailand Digital Arrival Card, a return ticket and a hotel booking. For longer stays, apply for a Thai e-visa.
Can Indians visit Iran without a visa now?
No. Iran suspended visa-free entry for Indian ordinary passport holders from 22 November 2025. You now need a visa to enter or transit through Iran.
Which is the cheapest visa-free country for Indians?
Nepal, because you can reach it by road or train, need no visa or fee, and can use Indian rupees widely. Bhutan comes next, though the Rs 1,200 per night SDF adds up on longer trips.
The Bottom Line
Fifty-five destinations is not a long list, and it got shorter this year. But the useful part of it, the short-haul Asian and Indian Ocean countries, is still wide open and still cheap. Thailand’s cut to 30 days changes nothing for a normal holiday, Malaysia’s deal runs until the end of the year, and Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives remain the easiest trips you can book this week.
If budget is your filter, our guide to the cheapest countries to travel from India has day-by-day costs. And if Thailand is on your shortlist, read what changed in Thailand in 2026 and what it costs now before you book. Then check the official link in our table one last time, because the only list that matters is the one the airline sees on the day you fly.
