Pakistan climbs in global passport rankings for 2026

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s passport has recorded a modest improvement in global mobility, moving up two places in the latest Henley Passport Index 2026, where it now ranks 98th, compared to 100th last year.

The improvement reflects Pakistan’s ongoing diplomatic engagement and recent international agreements that have gradually expanded travel access for its citizens. The index, compiled by Henley Passport Index, ranks passports based on the number of destinations holders can visit without obtaining a visa in advance.

According to the 2026 rankings, Pakistani passport holders can now travel to 31 destinations either visa-free, with visa-on-arrival, or through electronic travel authorisation. Pakistan shares its current ranking position with Yemen.

Visa-free access is available to destinations such as Barbados, Dominica, Haiti, Micronesia, Montserrat, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vanuatu, offering opportunities for leisure and short-term visits without traditional visa requirements.

Several countries provide visa-on-arrival facilities to Pakistani travellers, including Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde Islands, Comoro Islands, Cook Islands, Djibouti, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Maldives, Mozambique, Nepal, Palau Islands, Qatar, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Timor-Leste, and Tuvalu.

In addition, electronic travel authorisation options are available for Kenya, Seychelles, and Sri Lanka, further easing entry procedures for short stays.

At the top of the global rankings, Singapore holds the number one position, described as the world’s most powerful passport. Japan and South Korea share second place, while Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, and Sweden occupy the third position. The United Kingdom ranks seventh, and the United States stands at tenth in the global list.

Together, these expanded travel options provide Pakistani travellers with greater flexibility, opening access to destinations across Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and Oceania without the complexities of traditional visa processes.