Bhutan has improved its standing in the global travel arena, climbing three spots to 84th place in the 2025 Henley Passport Index. The annual ranking, which measures the number of destinations a passport holder can enter without a visa or with visa-on-arrival, is based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Bhutanese passport holders can now travel to 51 countries under these relaxed entry rules.
The improvement is being credited to Bhutan’s growing diplomatic outreach and stronger international ties. This marks a steady recovery for the Himalayan kingdom’s passport, which had dropped to its lowest rank—96th place in 2021—largely due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. Historically, Bhutan’s passport reached as high as 76th place in the late 2000s.
In South Asia, Bhutan continues to maintain its position as the third strongest passport, behind the Maldives and India. The Maldives retained its lead in the region, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 93 destinations. India saw significant progress, jumping eight spots to 77th place, with Indian passport holders now able to enter 59 countries without prior visas. Afghanistan, however, remains at the bottom of the global list, ranked 99th, with access to just 25 countries.
On the global stage, Singapore once again secured the top position, with its passport granting entry to 193 destinations. Japan and South Korea continue to follow closely, cementing Asia’s dominance in global travel freedom.
Bhutan’s upward movement in the index reflects its enhanced global engagement and offers its citizens broader opportunities for travel, education, and business abroad.
