India vs South Africa Passport Comparison

India flag

India

ASIA

75
Rank
Visa-Free Access56 countries

The Indian passport currently offers a travel mobility score that reflects its standing in the global landscape. As of 2026, the passport ranking for India is 75th, wi...

South Africa flag

South Africa

AFRICA

47
Rank
Visa-Free Access100 countries

The South Africa passport currently offers a significant level of travel mobility for its holders, providing access to 100 destinations through visa-free or visa-on-ar...

India vs South Africa Passport Comparison Overview (2026)

This comparison analyzes visa-free access, ranking trends, and mobility metrics for India vs South Africa. South Africa currently leads this comparison with 100 visa-free destinations, while India has 56. Use the detailed sections below to compare practical travel access and historical changes.

  • 22 visa-free destinations are shared by all compared passports.
  • The largest exclusive advantage is 46 destination(s) unique to one passport in this comparison.
  • Ranking and access figures are rendered from country ranking history with a 2026-first year preference.

Detailed Passport Metrics

Detailed Comparison

Visa-Free Destinations

2026 Ranking

Global Mobility Score

India
55/100

Openness Score

India
42/100

Continent

Schengen Member

Citizenship by Investment

Residency by Investment

Visa on Arrival

eTA Available

e-Visa Available

Visa Required

Summary Insights

Comparison Summary & Recommendations

Overall Winner

South Africa

With 100 visa-free destinations, South Africa offers the most global mobility among the compared passports.

Most Unique Access

South Africa

South Africa provides exclusive visa-free access to 46 destinations not accessible with the other passports.

Key Insights

  • All compared passports share access to 22 common destinations
  • The strongest passport offers 100 visa-free destinations
  • Consider your travel priorities: business, leisure, or specific regions when choosing a passport
  • Visa requirements can change - always verify current entry requirements before traveling

Visa Access Breakdown

Visa Access Analysis

Understanding the overlap and unique access each passport provides

22
Shared Destinations
4
Unique to India
46
Unique to South Africa

Exclusive Visa-Free Access

India flag

India

4 unique destinations

BhutanNepalKazakhstanIran
South Africa flag

South Africa

46 unique destinations

Antigua and BarbudaArgentinaBahamasBelizeBeninBotswanaBrazilCayman IslandsChileCosta Rica+36 more
Note: Exclusive visa-free access means destinations that are only accessible visa-free with that specific passport and not with any of the other compared passports.

Shared Visa-Free Destinations (22)

Countries that all compared passports can access visa-free

BarbadosCook IslandsDominicaFijiGrenadaHaitiJamaicaMacao (SAR China)MauritiusMicronesiaMontserratSenegalSt. Vincent and the GrenadinesTrinidad and TobagoVanuatuBritish Virgin IslandsRwandaAngolaMalaysiaKiribatiThailandPhilippines

Historical Ranking Trends

Ranking Trends Over Time

Historical passport ranking comparison from 2006 to 2026 (lower rank is better)

YearIndia RankSouth Africa RankIndia Visa-freeSouth Africa Visa-free
200671372565
2007733600
200875353788
2009753500
201077475088
201178475392
201282505193
201374425294
201476415297
201588535195
201685545297
201787554998
2018815260102
2019825359100
2020825258101
2021905858103
2022835160104
2023845360106
2024805362108
2025854857106
2026754756100

Each cell shows rank and visa-free count for that year.

Destinations

Notable Visa-Free Destinations

Representative destinations that highlight each passport's strongest visa-free access profile.

India

  • Thailandup to 60 days
  • Malaysiaup to 30 days
  • Indonesiaup to 30 days
  • Maldivesup to 90 days
  • Mauritiusup to 90 days

South Africa

  • Angola
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Argentina
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Belize