ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s passport has been ranked as the fourth weakest passport in the world in the latest Henley Passport Index 2026, highlighting the country’s limited global travel freedom.
According to the UK-based Henley & Partners, Pakistan’s passport is ranked 101st globally, providing its holders with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to only 29 destinations worldwide. The annual index evaluates the strength of 199 passports across 227 travel destinations, measuring how many countries can be visited without obtaining a visa in advance.
The latest rankings place Pakistan ahead of only Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan, which occupy the bottom three positions on the global mobility index.
Pakistan Trails Regional Neighbours
The report shows that several of Pakistan’s neighboring countries continue to enjoy stronger passports.
China ranks 60th, India stands at 81st, while Iran is placed 96th, all offering broader international travel access than Pakistan.
The Henley Passport Index is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading measures of passport strength, using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) along with independent research.
Countries Offering Visa-Free Access
Pakistani passport holders currently enjoy visa-free entry to countries including:
- Barbados
- Cook Islands
- Dominica
- Haiti
- Micronesia
- Montserrat
- Rwanda
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- The Gambia
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Vanuatu
Visa-on-Arrival Destinations
Pakistani travelers can also obtain visa-on-arrival in several countries, including:
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Comoros
- Djibouti
- Guinea-Bissau
- Madagascar
- Maldives
- Mozambique
- Nepal
- Niue
- Palau
- Samoa
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Timor-Leste
- Tuvalu
In addition, Pakistani citizens are eligible to obtain electronic travel authorisations (eTAs) for Kenya, Seychelles, and Sri Lanka before traveling.
Singapore Retains World’s Strongest Passport
At the top of the 2026 Henley Passport Index, Singapore retained its position as the world’s most powerful passport, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 192 destinations.
Japan, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) jointly secured second place with access to 188 destinations, while Sweden ranked third with access to 187 destinations.
The latest rankings underline the significant gap in global mobility between Pakistani passport holders and citizens of the world’s strongest passport nations, emphasizing the continuing importance of diplomatic relations and international travel agreements.
