India climbs 8 spots in 2025 Henley Passport Index, now ranks 77th
With the 2025 update, Indian passport holders can now travel visa-free or with visa-on-arrival access to 59 destinations. These include some tourist favourites, like Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, Kenya, and Jamaica.However, countries like the United States, Schengen States, the United Kingdom, and Australia still require Indians to apply for visas before travelling.WHERE DO OTHER MAJOR COUNTRIES STAND IN 2025?The 2025 index places France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain at the top, all tied at Rank 1, with visa-free access to 194 countries.Meanwhile, the UK is at Rank 4, and the US shares the 6th position with Canada and others. At the other end of the list is Afghanistan, ranked 104th, with visa-free access to just 28 countries.WHY HAS INDIA'S PASSPORT RANKING IMPROVED?While Henley & Partners hasn't specifically listed reasons for India's improved score, the change is likely due to growing diplomatic engagements and bilateral agreements that help improve travel access for Indian citizens.It's a welcome boost for students, tourists, and business travellers looking for easier movement across borders.WHAT IS THE HENLEY PASSPORT INDEX?The Henley Passport Index is considered one of the most respected global rankings of travel freedom. It ranks passports according to the number of destinations their holders can enter without a visa.It's important to note that visa-free access doesn't necessarily mean complete entry without documentation. Sometimes, travellers still need electronic travel authorisation or must get a visa upon arrival.- Ends
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Time of India
29 minutes ago
- Time of India
Wildlife lovers head to grassland safaris this monsoon
1 2 Pune: While the wetlands of Bhigwan are popular nesting locations for migratory birds, including flamingos, in the winter, the grasslands become a haven for birds and wildlife in the monsoon. Naturalists, photographers and tourists are making a beeline to both Bhigwan and Saswad grasslands to catch a glimpse of some of the unique birds of the season. Photographer Amit Dhorje has been visiting Bhigwan and surrounding areas for the last 20 years. "I got some good sightings of the monsoon birds in the grasslands, including the Indian eagle owl, painted sandgrouse, lark, and many more during my recent visit," he said. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune Ajit Nagare has been a guide in the area for the last six to seven years. "There are many photographers, wildlife and birding enthusiasts visiting Bhigwan grasslands this year. We have had good sightings of the rain quail, barred button quail and painted francolin this year. We also spotted the Indian skimmer, which is rare. However, because of the sporadic monsoon, we are seeing some new birding patterns like early nesting playing out," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Best Local Accident Lawyers? See List vividtrendlab Undo Wildlife enthusiasts are also visiting Bhigwan and Saswad grasslands to spot the Indian grey wolf, striped hyena and Bengal fox as well. "These animals live in the grasslands and are visible when we take the jeep deeper into the grasslands. I have also been able to capture some good photographs of the wolves," said Anirudh Kedia, a photographer. Rahul Kale, who has been a guide and is familiar with the grasslands for the last 15 years, said that these less-popular safaris are now gaining prominence. "Grassland safaris are also good for spotting many species of owls, such as the Indian eagle owl, short-eared owls, and rock eagle owls. Many other grassland birds like the brown caique and the brown snake eagle are found abundantly. In Saswad, we usually spot buntings, minivets, vernal hanging parrots, and more," said Kale. Despite its "semi-arid wasteland" classification, the 6,000sqkm expanse of Bhigwan and Saswad is a thriving ecosystem teeming with over 350 bird species and 25 mammal species. "I visited the grasslands last year and saw fantastic sightings of the indian courser, yellow-wattled lapwing, greater grey shrike, broad-tailed grassbird, striolated bunting, rock-bush quail, rain quail, greater short-toed lark, Indian eagle owl, and the Indian peafowl. I plan to visit again this year," said Manisha Sharma, a resident of Warje. Due to the early arrival of monsoon, naturalists and guides in the area said raptors started activity early this year. "There is also a clutch of resident flamingos that are visible, but a majority of the migratory ones went back," said Swapnil Jarad, a guide at Bhigwan.
NDTV
4 hours ago
- NDTV
New Visa Updates For Indian Passport Holders Before You Board Your Next Flight
Global travel for Indians just got simpler than ever with new visa updates in 2025. Several countries have introduced changes to their visa policies, making it easier for Indians to explore the world. These updates include relaxed visa norms, digital application processes and increased validity periods. Let's have a look at some of these important visa changes, that you should know: 1. New Zealand Visitor Visa Allows Remote Work From January 27, 2025, New Zealand's visitor visa allows remote workers to live and work in the country for up to six months. If you work remotely for a foreign company and are planning to stay in New Zealand, up to 90 days of your visit can be spent on remote work. Remote work is permitted as a secondary activity, with tourism or personal travel remaining the primary purpose of the visit. 2. South Africa Visa In Just Three Days South Africa's new Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS) allows registered tour operators to submit group visa applications directly. This eliminates the need for individual applications and reduces processing time to just three days. As India currently contributes only 3.9% of South Africa's international visitors, TTOS aims to address key challenges such as visa processing delays and language barriers. 3. Palau Is Now Visa Free The Republic of Palau now offers Indian passport holders visa-free entry for short-term visits, allowing stays of up to 30 days. This move aims to boost bilateral relations, cultural ties and tourism between the two nations. While direct flights from India aren't available, connecting flights through cities like Manila, Singapore, Seoul, and Taipei make it easily accessible. 4. Philippines Is Visa-Free The Philippines has updated its visa-free entry regulations for Indian travellers, offering two types of short-term visa-free entry with distinct eligibility requirements. Indian nationals can now visit the country without a visa for up to 14 days for tourism purposes. Additionally, Indians holding valid visas or permanent residency from select key countries like Japan, the US, and Schengen countries can enjoy a 30-day visa-free stay. 5. US to Introduce A New USD 250 Visa Integrity Fee The US has approved a new USD 250 (Rs 21,605) "visa integrity fee" for nonimmigrant visa applicants, including students, workers and tourists. This fee will be charged in addition to existing visa fees, increasing the total cost for Indian nationals to around USD 473 (approx 41,000). The fee's start date has not been announced yet. However, it could go into effect on October 1, 2025. 6. Social Media Checks For Student Visas Social media vetting will now be part of US student visa applications. Students will be required to make their social media accounts public. They will have to share all social media handles or usernames used in the past five years. Deleting older posts or deactivating accounts immediately before applying will be interpreted as an attempt to conceal information. 7. Slovenia To Launch A Digital Nomad Visa Slovenia is launching a digital nomad visa on November 21, 2025. It will allow Indian remote workers to live in the country for up to one year. Eligible applicants must work for a foreign-based company and will be allowed to bring their families. The visa will be non-renewable, requiring a six-month stay outside Slovenia to reapply.
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Business Standard
5 hours ago
- Business Standard
Indian passport climbs 8 spots to rank 77, visa-free access to 59 nations
The Indian passport has climbed eight places to the 77th spot globally in the latest Henley Passport Index 2025 released on Tuesday. Indian passport holders can now travel to 59 countries without needing to apply for a visa in advance. Last year, India had dropped five spots, but it has regained ground by adding just two more destinations to its list of visa-free or visa-on-arrival countries. According to the report, Singapore holds the distinction of being the world's most powerful passport, with visa-free access to 193 destinations out of 227 globally. The third place is occupied by seven European Union passports — Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy and Spain — with visa-free entry to 189 countries. Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and Sweden jointly hold fourth place, with 188 destinations on their list. The fifth position is held by New Zealand, along with Greece and Switzerland. Henley & Partners' Chief Executive Officer Dr Juerg Steffen said the passport has become a measure of a country's diplomatic influence. 'Your passport is no longer just a travel document — it's a reflection of your country's diplomatic influence and international relationships. In an era of growing inequality and mounting geopolitical uncertainty, strategic mobility and citizenship planning are more critical than ever,' he said.
