With more than 100 countries providing convenient entry alternatives like visa-free travel, electronic visas (e-visas), or visas upon arrival, Indian passport holders now have more access to the world in 2025.
In the past, getting a travel visa could be difficult. For Indian citizens, this has been made simpler in several countries. In order to make it easier for Indians to arrange foreign travel, whether to nearby countries or far-off islands in the Pacific, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India maintains a list of nations that provide these lenient visa rules.
Indian nationals can apply online for e-visas to 62 countries, according to the MEA. This covers a number of Asian countries, including Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Russia are among the Central Asian and Eurasian countries that provide e-visa services. Popular travel destinations in Africa that are on the e-visa list include Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Morocco, Egypt, South Africa, and Namibia. Additionally, online visa applications are available in Australia and New Zealand, and in Latin America and the Caribbean, Argentina, Chile, Suriname, and Antigua & Barbuda. Along with certain African countries including Burkina Faso, Benin, Sao Tome & Principe, and Equatorial Guinea, West Asian countries like the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Turkey, and Oman also accept e-visas.
Indian passport holders can enter 25 countries without a visa for even easier travel, though the length of stay and other requirements may differ. Bhutan and Nepal have long-standing visa-free travel agreements that provide unrestricted stays in South Asia. Mauritius provides visa-free entrance under some circumstances, and the Indian Ocean countries of the Maldives (up to 90 days) and Seychelles (up to 90 days with prior travel authorisation) are also friendly. Malaysia has waived visas for 30 days until December 2026, and Thailand currently has a generous 60-day visa-free policy, making it part of Southeast Asia.
Barbados, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines are just a few of the Caribbean’s many visa-free destinations for Indians, with stays ranging from 30 to 90 days. Senegal in West Africa, Kazakhstan and Belarus in Central Asia (keep in mind that Belarus has certain transit and other criteria), and the Philippines, which permits brief visits under certain current visa rules, are further visa-free locations.
A visa-on-arrival (VoA), which is accessible to Indian nationals in 38 countries, provides an additional practical choice. Many of these, including Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, and Zimbabwe, are in Africa. VoA is also offered in Asia by Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, and Myanmar. This list also includes Oman and Qatar in West Asia. Visa-on-arrival is available in the Caribbean, including Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
This long list of nations with more lenient visa requirements for Indian nationals illustrates India’s expanding diplomatic ties and makes international travel more easier for its people. But it’s important to keep in mind that visa requirements are subject to change. Therefore, before making final travel arrangements, passengers are advised by the MEA to always check the most recent regulations on their official website (mea.gov.in/VFFIN.htm).
Source: Business Standard, 30 May 2025