Pakistan’s passport has improved its position in the Henley Passport Index 2026, climbing two places from 103rd to 101st in the global rankings. The improvement means Pakistani passport holders can now travel to 29 countries and territories without obtaining a visa in advance.
The latest rankings were released by Henley & Partners, a global citizenship and residency consultancy that assesses the strength of 199 passports based on access to 227 travel destinations worldwide.
The Henley Passport Index measures the strength of a passport based on the number of destinations its holders can access without obtaining a visa beforehand. However, the organisation notes that visa policies may be affected by changing travel restrictions, meaning the practical situation can sometimes differ.
Despite this improvement, Pakistan’s passport remains among the weakest in the world. In the latest rankings, only Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan rank below Pakistan. Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the index, with visa-free access to just 22 destinations.
Compared with its regional neighbours, Pakistan continues to lag. India ranks 81st, with visa-free access to 55 destinations. Bangladesh is ranked 97th, with access to 35 destinations, while Nepal is 98th, with access to 34 destinations. Although Pakistan has climbed two places in the rankings, its passport still offers fewer visa-free travel opportunities than those of these neighbouring countries.
At the top of the global rankings, Singapore retains first place, with its citizens enjoying visa-free access to 192 destinations. Japan ranks second with access to 188 destinations, while South Korea and the United Arab Emirates are also among the leading countries with the same score.
Sweden follows with visa-free access to 187 destinations, while several European countries, including Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, and Spain, share a score of 186.
Pakistan’s rise from 103rd to 101st in the Henley Passport Index reflects a modest improvement in global travel mobility. However, its passport remains relatively weak compared with both regional and global averages.
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