For the first time in several years, there is some encouraging news for Pakistani travelers. The Pakistan passport ranking has improved by five places in the Henley Passport Index 2026, moving up from 103rd to 98th, with visa-free access to 31 countries.
While the passport is still among the lower-ranked travel documents globally, this improvement breaks a long period of stagnation and offers a bit of hope for the future.
Where Can Pakistan Passport Holders Travel Without a Visa?
In 2026, the Pakistani passport provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 31 countries. These destinations may not be traditional travel hotspots, but they still open doors for tourism, business, and personal travel.
Pakistani citizens have the chance travel visa-free to countries such as Barbados, Dominica, Haiti, Rwanda, Micronesia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vanuatu.
In addition, visa-on-arrival is available in several countries, including the Maldives, Nepal, Cambodia, Qatar, Senegal, Madagascar, Mozambique, and Samoa.
For a few destinations like Kenya, Sri Lanka, and Seychelles, travelers can use an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), making the process simpler and faster.
How Pakistan Stands in the Global Passport Ranking
Despite this improvement, Pakistan still trails far behind the world’s strongest passports. Singapore leads the Henley Passport Index 2026, and it allows access to 192 countries without a prior visa.
Japan and South Korea follow closely, while European countries such as Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, and Spain continue to dominate the top ranks.
Read more: https://www.pediastan.com/articles/new-pakistan-passport-with-stronger-security-features/
Government Reaction and Past Struggles
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi strongly welcomed the improved Pakistani passport ranking. He called it a “strong achievement” and promising continued progress.
Only last year, Pakistan was at the fourth-worst passport in the world, a position it had held since 2021. The passport ranked 100th in 2023 and 2024, 109th in 2022, and 107th in 2021.
Why This Ranking Still Matters
Although the Pakistani passport ranking remains low, but moving up five places is still proving to be meaningful. It is giving signals for better diplomatic engagement and gradual international trust.
For millions of Pakistanis, even a small improvement means easier travel—and in today’s world, that matters more than ever.