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News India Live, Digital Desk : Indian Passport Power : There was a time when the strength of the Indian passport was continuously increasing. Year by year the number of such countries was increasing where Indian citizens could visit without visa (Visa-Free) or with the facility of Visa-on-Arrival. but recently released Henley Passport Index The latest ranking has increased the concern. Indian passport has been continuously slipping down in its ranking for some time now.
The question arises that when India is the fastest growing economy in the world and our stature on the global stage is continuously increasing, then why is the ‘respect’ of our passport decreasing? Why are the countries of the world now hesitant in giving us visa-free facility like before?
There is not just one, but many big and complex reasons hidden behind this.
1. Increasing number of illegal immigrants (Rise in Illegal Immigration)
This is considered to be the biggest and most immediate reason. In the last few years, many European and Western countries have found that many Indian citizens come to their countries on tourist visas, but stay there illegally even after the visa period is over. Countries like Serbia ended their visa-free policy for Indians for this reason. When a country sees an increasing number of illegal immigrants, it naturally tightens its visa policies.
2. Economic and Security Concerns
Before giving visa-free facility to the citizens of any country, other countries check whether the arrival of these people will affect the employment of their own citizens? Or will some anti-social element enter the country under their cover? Due to the growing economic slowdown and security concerns around the world, many countries are now reluctant to allow everyone to visit them easily.
3. Changing Bilateral Relations
Visa policies also often depend on the mutual relations between two countries. Even though India has good relations with many countries, every country takes decisions according to its domestic politics and needs. If any country feels that the visa-free agreement with India is not in its interest, then it can change it.
4. Other Countries are Doing Better
This ranking is like a race. It may be that the number of countries where we can visit without a visa will be stable, but if in the meantime other countries (like China or UAE) make visa-free agreements with more countries, then they will overtake us in the ranking and we will automatically slide down.
5. Post-Covid World
Since the Corona pandemic, countries around the world have started taking extra precautions with their borders and visa policies. Health and safety checks are now more stringent than ever before, which has also impacted visa freedom.
It is important to understand that the fall in passport ranking is not a direct loss of the country’s ‘respect’, but is a reflection of a complex global system, where every country protects its own interests first. The Indian government is continuously working towards ensuring that more and more countries provide visa-free facilities to Indians, but overcoming these global challenges is a long and slow process.