Pakistani Passport's Ranking Slips to 101st, Remains Fourth-Worst Globally

The Pakistani passport's global standing has declined further, now ranking 101st worldwide and retaining its position as the fourth worst passport globally, as per the latest Henley Passport Index released Tuesday. The index, which assesses 199 passports against 227 travel destinations, bases its scores on the number of countries accessible without a prior visa or with visa-on-arrival privileges.

Currently, Pakistani passport holders can access 29 destinations visa-free, a reduction from 30 countries reported in May. This decrease in visa-free access contributed to the passport's slip by one position in the rankings. The travel document has consistently been among the world's worst since at least January 2021, according to multiple annual reports from the Henley Index.

Among the destinations offering visa-free entry for Pakistanis are Barbados, Dominica, Haiti, Micronesia, Rwanda, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vanuatu. Additionally, visa-on-arrival is available for countries such as Cambodia, Madagascar, Maldives, Nepal, and Tuvalu. Electronic travel authorizations can be obtained for Kenya, Seychelles, and Sri Lanka.

However, Cape Verde Islands, Mozambique, and Qatar have recently revoked visa-free or visa-on-arrival access for Pakistani citizens, despite offering it earlier in the year. This decline contrasts with earlier months; in March, the passport ranked 98th with access to 31 countries, and in February, it was 97th with access to 32 destinations.

Globally, Singapore leads the index with the highest score, offering access to 192 destinations visa-free. Japan, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates share the second position with 188 destinations, followed by Sweden in third place with 187. At the lower end of the spectrum, Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan are ranked below Pakistan, with Yemen positioned just one spot higher.