Pakistan 4th Weakest Passport in the World, Says Henley Index 2026

Pakistan – (Staff Reporter/Web Desk) – Pakistan’s passport has been named the 4th weakest passport in the world, according to the newest Henley Passport Index. The country now sits at 101st place out of 199 nations, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry to just 29 destinations. This puts Pakistan among the lowest-ranked passports on the planet, ahead of only three other countries.

The Henley Passport Index is put together by a UK-based citizenship and residence advisory firm. Every year, it studies 199 passports and checks how many of the 227 travel destinations around the world each one can enter without needing a visa in advance.

Sadly, Pakistan’s green passport remains close to the bottom of this list. Only Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan rank below it. This shows just how limited travel freedom is for Pakistani citizens compared to most of the world.

Looking at the region, things are quite different. China holds the 60th spot, India sits at 81st, and Iran is placed at 96th. This means all three neighbouring countries offer stronger global mobility than Pakistan right now.

So where can Pakistani passport holders actually travel freely? The list includes eleven countries. These are Barbados, Cook Islands, Dominica, Haiti, Micronesia, Montserrat, Rwanda, St Vincent and the Grenadines, The Gambia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vanuatu. Travellers can enter these places without applying for a visa beforehand.

There is also a visa-on-arrival option for sixteen more destinations. These include Burundi, Cambodia, Comoro Islands, Djibouti, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Maldives, Mozambique, Nepal, Niue, Palau Islands, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Timor-Leste, and Tuvalu. This means travellers can get their visa stamped right at the airport, instead of applying weeks in advance.

On top of that, Pakistani citizens can apply for electronic travel authorisation to visit three more places. These are Kenya, Seychelles, and Sri Lanka. This online process is usually quicker than a standard visa application, which is helpful for short trips or business travel.

Meanwhile, at the top of the world rankings, Singapore holds onto its position as the strongest passport, scoring 192 out of 227. Japan, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates are tied for second place with a score of 188 each. Sweden follows closely in third place with a score of 187.

This growing gap between the top and bottom of the index highlights how travel freedom varies hugely across the world. While some passport holders can explore nearly 200 countries with ease, others, like Pakistani citizens, continue to face major restrictions and lengthy visa processes.

Experts believe that political stability, diplomatic relationships, and international trust all play a role in shaping these rankings. Until such factors improve, Pakistan’s passport strength is likely to remain low on the global stage.

For now, Pakistani travellers will need to plan ahead, apply for visas early, and rely on the limited visa-free and visa-on-arrival options available to them.