Big Leap for Pakistan: Passport Climbs to 98th Rank on Henley Passport Index

Pakistan’s passport has shown a notable improvement in the latest Henley Passport Index 2026, climbing five places to reach the 98th position globally. This upward movement reflects gradual progress in international travel access for Pakistani citizens, who can now enjoy visa-free, visa-on-arrival, or electronic travel authorisation access to 31 destinations across Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and Oceania. These countries include Rwanda, Barbados, Maldives, Qatar, and Senegal, offering slightly easier mobility for tourism, business, and educational travel. Alongside this ranking boost, the national passport has also undergone a major redesign, featuring cultural and historical landmarks from all four provinces of Pakistan, symbolizing national unity and heritage. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi welcomed the improvement, noting that Pakistan has moved up from 126th to 98th position and expressed optimism that this positive momentum will continue in the coming years. However, despite this progress, Pakistan’s passport still remains among the weaker travel documents globally, tied with Yemen and ranked just above Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan. In contrast, Singapore leads the index with visa-free access to 192 countries, highlighting the global gap in travel freedom. Currently, Pakistani passport holders can access only around 16% of the world without prior visa arrangements, showing there is still significant room for improvement in global mobility and diplomatic expansion.