Pakistan Passport Offers Visa-Free Entry to 30 Countries as Ranking Climbs to 100

Pakistan's passport has climbed three spots on the Henley Passport Index for 2026, reaching the 100th position after slipping to 103rd in 2025, giving its holders visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 30 destinations worldwide.

The Henley Passport Index, compiled using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), ranks 199 passports across 227 travel destinations based on the number of places their holders can access without a prior visa. The index is updated monthly to reflect changes in global mobility.

A Decade of Fluctuation

Pakistan's passport has remained below the 100th position on the index every year since 2015. Its ranking has fluctuated as follows: 107th in 2015, 103rd in 2016, 102nd in 2017, 104th in both 2018 and 2019, 103rd in 2020, 113th in 2021, 108th in 2022, 106th in 2023, 101st in 2024, 103rd in 2025, and now 100th in 2026.
The number of accessible destinations has also shifted throughout the year: Pakistani passport holders had access to 32 destinations in February 2026 following the reinstatement of Gambia, before the total dropped back to 30 in the most recent assessment, reflecting ongoing adjustments in bilateral visa agreements and global travel policies.

Where Pakistan Stands Globally

Only three countries currently rank lower than Pakistan on the index: Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan, with Afghanistan holding the last position globally, in part because no country recognizes the Taliban government that took power in August 2021. Of Pakistan's 30 accessible destinations, 11 offer completely visa-free entry, 16 grant a visa on arrival, and three — Kenya, Seychelles, and Sri Lanka — require an electronic travel authorization obtained before departure.

Most GCC countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman, still require Pakistani ordinary passport holders to obtain a visa in advance. However, Pakistan and the UAE agreed earlier this year to sign a "pre-immigration clearance" agreement for Pakistani nationals traveling to the UAE, following a meeting between Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Ahmed Bin Lahij Al Falasi, Director General of Customs and Port Security, who led a UAE delegation to Pakistan. Under the agreement, immigration and clearance procedures would take place within Pakistan itself.

Singapore Retains the Top Spot

Singapore remains the world's most powerful passport, granting its citizens visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 192 destinations out of 227 globally. Japan, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates jointly hold second place, while Sweden ranks third. The United States sits at 10th place, offering visa-free access to 180 destinations, a notable decline from its historical standing among the world's strongest passports.

This is a developing story and will be updated as future Henley Passport Index rankings are released.