Bhutan has climbed to 84th place in the latest Henley Passport Index, up from 87th last year. This means Bhutanese passport holders can now travel to 51 countries with a visa-on-arrival or without needing a visa. The Henley Index ranks passports based on how many destinations can be visited visa-free, using data from the International Air Transport Association.
Bhutan’s increasing international diplomacy engagement has improved the ranking.
Bhutan’s passport rank has changed over the years, reaching as high as 76th in the late 2000s.
But in 2021, it dropped to 96th due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, it has steadily improved.
Bhutan continue to maintain the 3rd place among the South Asian countries.
The Maldives yet again leads with access to 93 countries.
India saw one of the biggest gains in the region, moving up eight places to rank 77th this year. Indian passport holders enjoy access to 59 destinations.
Afghanistan, however, remains the lowest at 99th, with access to just 25 countries.
Globally, Singapore has retained its position as the world’s most powerful passport in 2025, granting holders access to 193 destinations without a visa or just with a visa-on-arrival. Japan and South Korea follow closely.
Kelzang Chhophyel
Edited by Sangay Chezom
