ISLAMABAD: Pakistani passport ranking has improved significantly in 2026, moving up five places from 103 last year to 98 on the Henley Passport Index, the latest figures revealed on Thursday. The ranking puts Pakistan on par with Yemen and ahead of countries like Iraq (99), Syria (100), and Afghanistan (101).
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According to the Henley Index, Pakistani passport holders can now enjoy visa-free access to 31 countries, including visa-on-arrival (VOA). Free access is available to nations such as Barbados, Cook Islands, Dominica, Haiti, Micronesia, Montserrat, Rwanda, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vanuatu.
Pakistan’s passport ranking improving from 126th to 98th is a strong achievement and this momentum will continue, InshaAllah. https://t.co/2PM0UjNo3F
— Mohsin Naqvi (@MohsinnaqviC42) January 15, 2026
Visa-on-arrival options extend to countries including Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde Islands, Comoro Islands, Djibouti, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Maldives, Mozambique, Nepal, Niue, Palau Islands, Qatar, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Timor-Leste, and Tuvalu. Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs) are available for Kenya, Seychelles, and Sri Lanka.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi praised the development on X, calling it a “strong achievement” and affirming that efforts to further improve the passport’s ranking would continue. Pakistan had previously ranked as the fourth-worst passport globally for several years, including 2025, highlighting the significance of this improvement.
Globally, Singapore retained the top spot on the Henley Index, offering visa-free access to 192 countries. Japan and South Korea followed closely with access to 188 countries, while Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland tied for third with 186 countries.
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The Henley Passport Index evaluates passports based on their “visa-free score,” indicating how many countries a holder can access without a prior visa or with visa-on-arrival. Pakistan’s upward movement reflects ongoing diplomatic efforts to expand travel freedom for its citizens.