India is ranked 85 in ‘The Henley Passport Index 2025’ with visa-free access to 57 countries. While India’s rank in this index has fluctuated over the years, the number of passports issued in the country has seen a significant increase. More than 1 crore passports have been issued in 7 of the 11 years between 2014 & 2024 with Kerala and Goa topping the list in terms of the number of passports issued per 1000 persons.
On 8 January 2025, the Henley Passport Index’s report on Global Mobility for 2025 was released. The index measures the travel freedom of passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. The index includes 199 different passports and 227 different travel destinations. Singapore retained its top position, offering visa-free access to 195 out of 227 destinations, while Japan climbed to second place with access to 193 destinations. India’s rank is 85 with access to 57 countries including Malaysia, Maldives, Qatar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. This access includes both visa-free destinations as well as those which provide the facility of visa on arrival.
While the index highlights India’s current standing in terms of global mobility, it also draws attention to the growing demand for passports within the country. In this story, we delve into the data on passports issued across India and the various states, along with trends over the last many years.
The data for this story has been taken from the Ministry of External Affairs’ performance dashboard (2014 to 2018) and parliament responses (2019 to 2024). Data from Regional Passport Offices (RPOs), as provided in parliamentary responses, has been standardized for this analysis and organized into state-wise figures following the categorization used by the Ministry.
Note on Methodology
- RPO Guwahati covers five other North-Eastern States
- RPO Chandigarh covers parts of Punjab and Haryana
- RPO Delhi covers parts of Haryana
- RPO Kolkata covers Sikkim, Tripura, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands
- RPO Cochin covers Lakshadweep
- RPO Tiruchirappalli covers Puducherry
- RPO Mumbai covers Dadar & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu
The state-wise analysis in this story has been conducted based on the criteria outlined above. To address overlaps where parts of certain states fall under different Regional Passport Offices (RPOs)—such as Haryana being partially covered by the Delhi RPO—data has been consolidated accordingly to ensure clarity and avoid confusion. For normalizing with population, the population projections data from Dataful has been used.
Number of passports issued daily increased from 22,282 in 2014 to 38,147 in 2023
Between 2014 and 2019, passport issuance saw consistent growth, increasing from 81.3 lakh in 2014 (6 per 1,000 persons) to 114.9 lakh in 2018 (9 per 1,000 persons). Although passport issuance dropped by over one lakh in 2019, a significant decline was observed in 2020, with issuance falling to 55.7 lakh (4 per 1,000 persons). This decline in 2020 is a result of travel restrictions, lockdowns, and reduced international mobility caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Post-pandemic, passport issuance gradually recovered, increasing from 75.3 lakh in 2021 (5 per 1,000 persons) to 118.1 lakh in 2022 (9 per 1,000 persons). The number peaked in 2023 at 139.24 lakh (10 per 1,000 persons), marking the highest issuance in the decade.
In other words, from 2014 to 2023, passport issuance in India grew by over 70%, despite a notable decline during the pandemic years. The average number of passports issued rose from about 22,000 per day in 2014 to nearly 38,000 in 2023, equivalent to an increase from 928 passports per hour to 1,589 over the decade.
As of 30 November 2024, the total number of passports issued in 2024 stood at 118.5 lakh (8 per 1,000 persons). However, this figure accounts for only 11 months. If December’s issuance is included, based on the average of the previous months, the total for 2024 is estimated to be lower than the figures recorded in 2023.
States with higher inward remittances and a larger share of students going abroad accounted for a higher proportion of passports issued
The region comprising Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, and Chandigarh accounted for 14% to 18% of the total passports issued each year. Kerala, along with Lakshadweep, contributed another 11% to 13%, while Maharashtra, including Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, consistently accounted for 11% to 12% annually. Uttar Pradesh made up approximately 8% to 10% of the yearly total. The high share of passport issuance in Maharashtra, Delhi, and Kerala, along with their leading contribution to remittances, highlights significant employment-driven migration from these states. Similarly, the large share of students from Punjab, Haryana, Delhi Chandigarh, Kerala, and Maharashtra going abroad for education is also reflected in the passport data.
The states of Chhattisgarh, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Odisha, Uttarakhand, Assam (along with 5 northeastern states), and Madhya Pradesh together accounted for 7% to 9% of the total passports issued each year.
Kerala had the highest number of passports issued with 44 per 1,000 persons in 2023
Goa and Kerala are the states with the highest number of passports issued per 1,000 persons. In 2014, Kerala, including Lakshadweep, issued approximately 29 passports per 1,000 persons, while Goa issued 28. By 2023, these numbers rose significantly to 44 for Kerala and 39 for Goa. Meanwhile, Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, and Chandigarh saw an increase from 15 to 26 during the same period. In contrast, states like Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Bihar showed no significant change. Reflecting the national trend, most states experienced a dip in passports issued per 1,000 persons during the pandemic years.
Time taken for issuance of passports fell from 21 days in 2015 to 6 days in 2023
The average time for passport issuance was significantly higher in earlier years, at 16 days in 2014 and 21 days in 2015. However, this duration has since reduced significantly to just 5 days in 2021 and 6 days in 2022 and 2023 (as of August 2023). As of 2023, the average waiting time for Tatkaal passport was 1 to 3 days. It is important to note that this timeframe excludes the time taken for police verification, which takes an average of 14 days at the national level.
The Ministry of External Affairs has simplified and streamlined the passport issuance process to make it more citizen-friendly. Applicants can now apply for passports from anywhere in India via the passport portal or the mPassport Seva mobile app, which allows for application submission, fee payment, and appointment scheduling without needing a computer or printer. Additionally, applicants can choose their preferred Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK) regardless of jurisdiction. To further expedite the process, the mPassport Police App enables paperless digital verification of applicants’ antecedents by police authorities, significantly reducing delays. In States & Union Territories where the mPassport Police App has been launched, the average police verification time was brought down to within 5 days.
India’s ranking on Henley Passport Index has fluctuated
India’s ranking on the Henley Passport Index has experienced notable fluctuations over the years. In 2006, India held a rank of 71, which declined to 82 by 2012. The following year, in 2013, it improved to 74, only to drop significantly to 88 in 2015. The lowest point came in 2021, when India ranked 90 (58 countries). However, there was a marked improvement in subsequent years, reaching a rank of 80 in 2024 with access to 62 countries. Despite this progress, India’s position fell by four places in 2025, landing at 85. The index serves as a barometer of a country’s global connectivity and the ability of its citizens to participate in international exchanges without having to face the bureaucratic hurdles of obtaining specific visas.
