Pakistan Passport Rises to 98th in World Ranking, Gains New Visa-Free Access
Pakistani citizens have gained greater global travel freedom, according to the latest Henley Passport Index. The nation’s passport has climbed to 98th place worldwide in 2026, up from 100th last year. This improvement reflects ongoing diplomatic efforts and international agreements that are gradually expanding mobility options for passport holders.
The upgraded ranking means Pakistani passport holders can now travel to 31 destinations without a pre-approved visa, accessing countries through visa-free, visa-on-arrival, or electronic travel authorization (eTA) schemes. The accessible countries are spread across Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and Oceania, offering diverse travel opportunities.
New Travel Destinations and Modernized Systems
The accessible countries now include:
Visa-Free: Barbados, Dominica, Haiti, Rwanda, and Trinidad & Tobago.
Visa-on-Arrival: Maldives, Qatar, Nepal, Cambodia, and Senegal.
eTA: Kenya, Seychelles, and Sri Lanka.
To support this enhanced global access, Pakistan has modernized its passport services. The government launched a Digital Integrated Dashboard last year to track applications in real-time, speeding up processing. The passport itself has also been redesigned with new security features and artistic representations of historical landmarks from all four provinces.
Global Rankings and Regional Comparisons
Globally, Singapore retains the top spot with visa-free access to 192 destinations. It is followed by Japan and South Korea. The United Arab Emirates continues its strong performance, ranking fifth and surpassing nations like the UK, Australia, and the US, which fell to 10th place.
In South Asia, India’s passport holds a higher rank at 80th, with access to 55 countries. Pakistan’s current ranking places it level with Yemen, while Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the index. The Henley report underscores steady, incremental progress for Pakistan in global mobility and international engagement.
