The Singaporean passport is no longer the most powerful passport in the world. According to the latest Henley Passport Index, Japan occupies the top spot with visa-free travel to 189 destinations.
Singapore takes the second place along with Germany with visa-free travel to 188 destinations.
UAE is the fastest climber on the 23rd place. It has come up by 38 places since 2008, securing more visa-waivers for its nationals in 2018 than any other country globally.
The Indian passport ranked 76 according to Henley Passport Index, 2018 with a visa-free score of 59. The Indian passport added nine countries to its visa-free list from last year's 50.
There are many countries that holders of Indian passport can visit without a visa or by obtaining visa-on-arrival. So, check the list out and plan your next trip, accordingly.
Visa-free entry for Indians
Serbia
Niue
Montserrat
Bhutan
Dominica
Ecuador
El Salvador
Fiji
Grenada
Haiti
Indonesia
Jamaica
Macao
Macedonia
Mauritius
Micronesia
Nepal
Palestinian Territories
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Senegal
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
Vanuatu
British Virgin Islands
Qatar
Tunisia
Cook Islands
Visa on Arrival for Indians
Cambodia
Laos
St. Lucia
Suriname
Armenia
Maldives
Sri Lanka
Benin
Bolivia
Gabon
Rwanda
Seychelles
Somalia
Cape Verde
Comores Island
Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
Ethiopia
Guinea-Bissau
Jordan
Kenya
Madagascar
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Mozambique
Palau Islands
Saint Lucia
Samoa
Suriname
Tanzania
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tuvalu
Zimbabwe
Uganda
Djibouti
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Aadhaar cards are now valid travel documents for Indians under 15 and over 65 travelling to Nepal and Bhutan for which no visas are needed.
Indian citizens going to Nepal and Bhutan don't need a visa if they have a valid passport, a photo identity card issued by the government of India or an election ID card issued by the Election Commission, it added.
Earlier, persons over 65 and under 15 could show their PAN card, driving licence, Central Government Health Service (CGHS) card or ration card, but not the Aadhaar, to prove their identity and visit the two countries. The Aadhaar card has now been added to the list.
Aadhaar is a 12-digit unique identification number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). It is being made mandatory for using a host of government services.
A certificate of registration issued by the Embassy of India, Kathmandu, to Indian nationals is not an acceptable travel document for travelling between India and Nepal.
However, the emergency certificate and identity certificate issued by the Indian Embassy in Nepal will be valid for single journey for travelling back to India.
Teens between 15 to 18 years will be allowed to travel between India and Nepal on the basis of an identity certificate issued by the principal of their school in a prescribed form.
In case of a family (like husband, wife, minor children and parents) travelling together, all persons will not be required to carry relevant documents (such as a passport or an election ID) if one of the adult members has valid travel papers.
However, the other family members must have some proof of their identity with a photograph and their relationship as a family, such as a CGHS card, ration card, a driving licence or an ID card issued by school/college.
Indian nationals travelling to Bhutan need to have either an Indian passport with minimum validity of six months or a voter identity card issued by the Election Commission of India.
Bhutan, which shares borders with the Indian states of Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and West Bengal, has about 60,000 Indian nationals, employed mostly in the hydroelectric power and construction industry.
In addition, between 8,000 and 10,000 daily workers enter and exit Bhutan everyday in border towns.
About six lakh Indians live in Nepal, according to data by the Ministry of External Affairs.
These include businesspersons and traders who have been living in Nepal for a long time, professionals (doctors, engineers, IT personnel) and labourers (including seasonal/migratory) in the construction sector.
Nepal shares a border of over 1,850 km with five Indian states - Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
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On Arrival Visa Facility for Indian passport holders
1. If you’re transiting through the international zone of any airport in France, you don’t need an airport transit visa any longer.
2. If you are travelling to Oman, you can now get a month-long tourist visa on arrival in the country for an amount of 20 Omani Riyal (Rs 3,700). But this rule holds only if you reside or hold an entry visa to the US, Canada, Australia, UK, Japan or Schengen states. Your spouse and children accompanying you can also get a visa on arrival.
3. Travelling to Myanmar is now a cakewalk if you are planning to drive into the country. You need to display your e-visa at the checkpost. The e-visa can be obtained in two days.
4. UAE is now granting a 10-year long-term visa to highly-skilled professionals and investors who are willing to visit the country. These visas are granted to specialists in science, medicine and research. Visas are also being granted to “exceptional students.”
5. Israel has now cut down its visa fee for Indian passport holders from Rs 1,700 to Rs 1,100. You need to apply for a visa in the B2 visa (business, tourism or meeting or conference) category in order to avail the new price.
6. Travelling to Uzbekistan from India is also easier now. Submit your e-visa application three days before your trip. You can get a single-entry e-visa for a 30-day period.
7. UAE has announced new visa rules to promote tourism in the Emirates. Between July 15 and September 15 every year, UAE is offering visa-free travel to dependents below 18 years who are accompanying you. This means if you are travelling to Dubai or Abu Dhabi for a family holiday and have kids below 18 years, your kids travel visa-free.
8. In a bid to increase tourism in the country, Saudi Arabia is now issuing tourist visas to women aged 25 and above even if they are visiting the country without being accompanied by a man. This is the first time Saudi Arabia has relaxed visa rules on this front.
9. Japan is one of those Asian countries whose visa rules for Indian passport holders used to be at par with probably the US or European countries. But Japan has now relatively eased travel to the country for holders of Indian passport. If you are applying for a short-term stay in Japan or a multiple-entry visa, you don’t need to show an employment certificate or explanation letter stating the reason for your visit. You need your visa application form along with a valid and recent photograph and proof of your financial stability if you are travelling for tourism purposes. If your trip to Japan is business-related, you need documents to prove your affiliation to the enterprise.
10. Indian passport holders can now get visa on arrival in Zimbabwe. India is among the 28 countries that Zimbabwe has relaxed visa rules for.
11. Nationals of 47 countries (including India) will not require prior visa arrangements and can obtain a visa waiver upon arrival in Qatar. The waiver will be valid for 30 days from the date of issuance and entitle its holder to spend up to 30 days in Qatar, during either a single trip or on multiple trips. This waiver may be extended for a further 30 day period.
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Indians over 65, under 15 can use Aadhaar cards to travel to Nepal and BhutanAadhaar cards are now valid travel documents for Indians under 15 and over 65 travelling to Nepal and Bhutan for which no visas are needed.
Indian citizens going to Nepal and Bhutan don't need a visa if they have a valid passport, a photo identity card issued by the government of India or an election ID card issued by the Election Commission, it added.
Earlier, persons over 65 and under 15 could show their PAN card, driving licence, Central Government Health Service (CGHS) card or ration card, but not the Aadhaar, to prove their identity and visit the two countries. The Aadhaar card has now been added to the list.
Aadhaar is a 12-digit unique identification number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). It is being made mandatory for using a host of government services.
A certificate of registration issued by the Embassy of India, Kathmandu, to Indian nationals is not an acceptable travel document for travelling between India and Nepal.
However, the emergency certificate and identity certificate issued by the Indian Embassy in Nepal will be valid for single journey for travelling back to India.
Teens between 15 to 18 years will be allowed to travel between India and Nepal on the basis of an identity certificate issued by the principal of their school in a prescribed form.
In case of a family (like husband, wife, minor children and parents) travelling together, all persons will not be required to carry relevant documents (such as a passport or an election ID) if one of the adult members has valid travel papers.
However, the other family members must have some proof of their identity with a photograph and their relationship as a family, such as a CGHS card, ration card, a driving licence or an ID card issued by school/college.
Indian nationals travelling to Bhutan need to have either an Indian passport with minimum validity of six months or a voter identity card issued by the Election Commission of India.
Bhutan, which shares borders with the Indian states of Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and West Bengal, has about 60,000 Indian nationals, employed mostly in the hydroelectric power and construction industry.
In addition, between 8,000 and 10,000 daily workers enter and exit Bhutan everyday in border towns.
About six lakh Indians live in Nepal, according to data by the Ministry of External Affairs.
These include businesspersons and traders who have been living in Nepal for a long time, professionals (doctors, engineers, IT personnel) and labourers (including seasonal/migratory) in the construction sector.
Nepal shares a border of over 1,850 km with five Indian states - Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
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