Indian Passport Visa-Free Countries

Traveling with an Indian passport

Indian passport ranks 84 in the global passport ranking of the Henley Passport Index, which testifies to its medium travel mobility. As of the beginning of 2023, the visa-free countries list for Indian citizens contains 21 countries.

To travel visa-free, Indian nationals must have a valid passport that doesn’t expire within a minimum of 6 months of arrival. It is important to keep in mind that visa-free access implies short-term travel for tourism purposes, and it is forbidden to get employed without a special permit. You may also need to present additional documents, depending on the country’s entry requirements.

To enter other destinations, Indian passport holders must have a valid visa. Some countries accept only traditional visas, however, a number of countries implemented facilitation – an electronic visa and a visa on arrival.

The Indian passport application process

Indian citizens can apply for an Indian passport by following this step-by-step guide:

1. Fill out the online passport application form.
2. Pay the fees and book the appointment at PSK online.
3. Submit an Application at PSK.
4. Check the status of your application.

Countries that Indian passport holders can visit visa-free

A visa requirement was removed for Indian citizens by a number of countries. It is very beneficial, but if you plan to travel visa-free, note: no-visa access is available only for a specific period of time (the allowed stay is determined by the country) and certain purposes (usually tourism).

You also need to check your destination’s entry requirements that are not related to the visa policy, as you may need to prepare the additional documents to be entry-allowed.

Visa-free countries for Indian citizens currently include 21 destinations:

• Barbados
• Bhutan
• Dominica
• Fiji
• Micronesia
• Grenada
• Haiti
• Jamaica
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Kazakhstan
• Mauritius
• Maldives
• Nepal
• Oman
• Senegal
• Suriname
• El Salvador
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Vanuatu
• Qatar
• Trinidad and Tobago

The benefits of visiting visa-free countries with the Indian passport

The benefits of visa-free countries for India are considerable:

• you don’t need to attend an embassy in person, therefore you save time and don’t have to wait in long queues, deal with the paperwork, and stress about the visa interview;
• you can save money, since you are not required to pay fees for a visa and can spend it on souvenirs, for example;
• when you travel visa-free, you have great travel freedom: you can change the travel dates and itinerary anytime you want;
• you may visit places you wouldn’t consider if they required a visa, so your travel experience becomes richer.

Countries offering eVisa to the Indian citizens

Although some countries didn’t lift the visa requirement, they facilitated the application process for eligible citizens by introducing an electronic visa. An eVisa is an official entry document that is obtained entirely online.

In order to get an eVisa, an Indian passport holder has to submit the application form, pay the processing fee, and check the email address: no hassle or spending much time is needed.

Indian passport holders can obtain online visas for the following countries:

• Albania
• Armenia
• Angola
• Azerbaijan
• Bahrain
• Benin
• Bahamas
• Botswana
• Republic of the Congo
• Ivory Coast
• Colombia
• Djibouti
• Ecuador
• Egypt
• Ethiopia
• Gabon
• Guinea Bissau
• Guinea
• Iran
• Kenya
• Kyrgyzstan
• Cambodia
• Laos
• Lesotho
• Morocco
• Moldova
• Myanmar
• Malawi
• Malaysia
• Mozambique
• Papua New Guinea
• Tajikistan
• Tanzania
• Uganda
• Uzbekistan
• Vietnam
• South Africa
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe
• São Tomé and Príncipe
• Rwanda
• South Sudan
• Antigua and Barbuda

Countries offering visas on arrival to Indian passport holders

For those travelers who didn’t obtain a pre-approved visa, some countries offer a visa on arrival. It is a visa issued upon the traveler’s arrival in the country. This visa type is submitted directly at the airport: you need to complete a form together with the required documents and pay the fee.

Visas on arrival allow travelers to make arrangements at relatively short notice, but still involve hassle: there are usually long queues and it’s hard to find the line you need at the airport.

A visa on arrival is available for Indian citizens in such countries:

• Burundi
• Bolivia
• Guinea Bissau
• Cambodia
• Comoros
• Laos
• Saint Lucia
• Madagascar
• Marshall Islands
• Mongolia
• Mauritania
• Sierra Leone
• Somalia
• Togo
• Thailand
• Timor Leste
• Tuvalu
• Tanzania
• Samoa
• Zimbabwe
• Seychelles
• Palau
• Rwanda
• Cape Verde

Countries where Indian citizens need to get a visa to travel to

A traditional visa is obtained at the embassy or consulate of the country you’re going to visit. You need to make a personal visit, bring the necessary paperwork, and answer officials’ questions.

A regular visa is required for Indian passport holders to enter the countries below:

• Andorra
• United Arab Emirates
• Afghanistan
• Argentina
• Austria
• Australia
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Bangladesh
• Belgium
• Burkina Faso
• Bulgaria
• Brunei
• Brazil
• Belarus
• Belize
• Canada
• Central African Republic
• Republic of the Congo
• Switzerland
• Chile
• Cameroon
• China
• Costa Rica
• Serbia
• Cuba
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Germany
• Denmark
• Dominican Republic
• Algeria
• Estonia
• Eritrea
• Spain
• Finland
• France
• United Kingdom
• Georgia
• Ghana
• Gambia
• Equatorial Guinea
• Greece
• Guatemala
• Guyana
• Honduras
• Croatia
• Hungary
• Ireland
• Israel
• Iraq
• Iceland
• Italy
• Jordan
• Japan
• Kiribati
• North Korea
• South Korea
• Kuwait
• Lebanon
• Liechtenstein
• Liberia
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Latvia
• Libya
• Monaco
• Montenegro
• Macedonia
• Mali
• Malta
• Mexico
• Namibia
• Niger
• Nigeria
• Nicaragua
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Nauru
• New Zealand
• Panama
• Peru
• Philippines
• Pakistan
• Poland
• San Marino
• Syria
• Chad
• Turkmenistan
• Tunisia
• Tonga
• Turkey
• Ukraine
• United States
• Uruguay
• Vatican City
• Venezuela
• Yemen
• Singapore
• Portugal
• Sweden
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Russia
• Saudi Arabia
• Romania
• Paraguay
• Sudan
• Solomon Islands
• Eswatini