In a significant advancement for the strength of the Indian passport, the number of visa-free countries accessible to Indian citizens has recently increased. Notably, both Kenya and Iran have eliminated visa requirements for Indian passport holders.
Kenya’s Visa-Free Travel for Indians: Significance and Impact
Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve, celebrated as a favored tourist destination among Indians, stands out as one of the premier wildlife destinations in Kenya and Africa. It holds the distinction of being a vital conservation area, providing a protected environment where wild animals and their ecosystems coexist. The removal of visa requirements for Indian travelers to Kenya is expected to stimulate an increase in the number of Indian tourists exploring the country’s attractions.
Iran’s Visa-Free Travel for Indians: Religious and Cultural Implications
With approximately 15 percent of India’s Muslim population adhering to the Shiite sect, the visa-free travel arrangement with Iran holds particular significance. This development is anticipated to stimulate religious tourism from India to the West Asian country. Iran also bears cultural importance as the birthplace of the Zoroastrian faith. While the number of Indians practicing Zoroastrianism may be limited, visa-free access to Iran facilitates easier visits to the faith’s most important holy places in the Yazd province.
Wider Horizon: Visa-Free Travel for Indians to Various Countries
This latest development follows recent announcements from Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Malaysia, which have also granted visa-free entry to Indian passport holders. According to the 2023 Passport Index by Henley and Partners, Indians can now travel to 57 countries without the hassles of obtaining a visa. This includes destinations offering visa-free travel, visa-on-arrival facilities, and Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA).
Comprehensive List of Countries Offering Visa-Free or Visa-on-Arrival for Indian Passport Holders
The following is a comprehensive list of countries that either provide visa-free access or visa-on-arrival facilities for Indian passport holders, according to the 2023 Passport Index:
- Albania
- Barbados
- Bolivia
- Botswana
- Burundi
- Bhutan
- British Virgin Islands
- Cambodia
- Cape Verde Islands
- Comoro Islands
- Cook Islands
- Dominica
- El Salvador
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- Gabon
- Guinea-Bissau
- Grenada
- Haiti
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Jordan
- Jamaica
- Kazakhstan
- Laos
- Madagascar
- Maldives
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritania
- Macao (SAR China)
- Micronesia
- Mauritius
- Montserrat
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Nepal
- Niue
- Oman
- Palau Islands
- Qatar
- Rwanda
- Samoa
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Senegal
- Somalia
- Saint Lucia
- Sri Lanka
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Tanzania
- Timor-Leste
- Thailand
- Togo
- Tuvalu
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Vanuatu
- Zimbabwe
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