Pakistan Passport Ranking 2026: Where It Stands
102nd in the world, 29 destinations without a prior visa — the full Henley ranking, every visa-free country, and how Pakistanis actually travel. Verified October 2026.
Last updated: 11 October 2026
The index
The Ranking Explained
What 102nd actually means — and what it doesn’t.
The Henley Passport Index — published by Henley & Partners using IATA data — ranks 199 passports by how many destinations their holders can enter without arranging a visa in advance. In the July 2026 edition, Pakistan sits 102nd of 105 positions (ranks are shared) with a score of 29. Below it: Iraq (28), Syria (25), Afghanistan (22). Above it: Yemen (30), Somalia (32). For context: Singapore leads with 192; regional peers India (81st, 55), Bangladesh (97th, 35) and Nepal (96th, 34) all outrank Pakistan. The index is a private ranking, not a government list — and it moves: Pakistan was 97th–98th in early-2026 editions before settling at 102nd in July. Year-by-year: ranking of the Pakistani passport.
No visa needed
Visa-Free Countries for Pakistan
The 11 destinations you can enter with just your passport.
| Country | Region |
|---|---|
| Barbados | Caribbean |
| Cook Islands | Pacific |
| Dominica | Caribbean |
| Haiti | Caribbean |
| Micronesia | Pacific |
| Montserrat | Caribbean |
| Rwanda | Africa |
| St. Vincent and the Grenadines | Caribbean |
| The Gambia | Africa (reinstated 2026) |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Caribbean |
| Vanuatu | Pacific |
Mostly small island states — the practical ones for Pakistani travellers are limited, but they’re real: no embassy visit, no prior approval. ‘Visa-free’ still means meeting entry conditions (return ticket, funds, passport validity). Full list with details: visa-free countries for Pakistan.
On arrival
Visa on Arrival & eTA Countries
15 + 3 more destinations with facilitated entry.
Visa on arrival (15): Burundi, Cambodia, Comoro Islands, Djibouti, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Maldives, Nepal, Niue, Palau Islands, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu. Electronic travel authorisation (3): Kenya, Seychelles, Sri Lanka — applied for online before flying. A visa on arrival is still a visa: expect a fee, and carry proof of return travel, hotel bookings and funds — travellers get pulled aside when they look unprepared. The practical holiday shortlist for Pakistanis: Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Cambodia. Details: visa on arrival countries.
Apply online
E-Visa Countries for Pakistan
No embassy visit — apply online, fly with approval.
Dozens of countries offer Pakistanis electronic visas: apply online, get approval by email, no embassy queue. The big ones: Malaysia, Thailand, UAE, Qatar, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Oman, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore and the UK (electronic travel authorisation for some categories). E-visas don’t count in the Henley ‘no prior visa’ score — but for travellers they’re often easier than a visa on arrival, because approval comes before you fly. Full list: e-visa countries for Pakistan.
Over time
Ranking History: The Trend
Fourth-weakest for years — with flickers of improvement.
| Year | Henley rank | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 107th | — |
| 2022 | 109th | — |
| 2023 | 100th | — |
| 2024 | 100th | — |
| Early 2026 | 97th–98th | 31–32 |
| July 2026 | 102nd | 29 |
The early-2026 climb (The Gambia’s reinstatement helped) reversed by July — rankings swing with other countries’ policy changes as much as Pakistan’s. The structural position hasn’t moved: fourth-weakest in the world for several consecutive years.
Practical
Travelling on a Pakistani Passport
The ranking is a constraint, not a verdict.
A weak passport constrains short-term travel — it doesn’t decide whether you can study, work or emigrate. Student visas, work permits and family routes run on entirely different criteria. Practical advice: 1) apply for visas early — processing takes weeks; 2) build travel history — each compliant trip strengthens the next application; 3) keep documents immaculate — bank statements, employment letters, tax records; 4) consider e-visa countries first — Malaysia, Thailand, UAE are the well-trodden paths. How to apply and succeed: visa for Pakistani passport.
Colours
Pakistan’s Passport Types
Green, blue, red — the colour is the category.
Ordinary (green)
The citizen’s passport — for tourism, business, study. What 99% of Pakistanis hold.
Official (blue)
For government officials travelling on state business. Official passport explained →
Diplomatic (red)
For diplomats and top office-holders — with diplomatic immunity abroad. Red passport explained →
Go deeper
Explore the Passport Power Guides
Every ranking question, answered in its own guide.
Context
How the Index Works
Henley’s method: for each of 199 passports, count the destinations (of 227) where holders can enter without a pre-arranged visa — visa-free, visa-on-arrival and eTA all count; e-visas don’t. Data comes from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), updated continuously. Ranks are shared — countries with the same score tie — which is why 199 passports fit into 105 positions. The index is private (Henley & Partners sells citizenship advice) and not a government list — but it’s the most cited because it’s the most consistent. A rival, the Passport Index (Arton Capital), uses similar data and usually agrees within a place or two.
Context
Pakistan vs Neighbours
| Country | Henley rank (Jul 2026) | Destinations |
|---|---|---|
| India | 81st | 55 |
| Bangladesh | 97th | 35 |
| Nepal | 96th | 34 |
| Iran | 94th–97th | 37–38 |
| Pakistan | 102nd | 29 |
| Afghanistan | 105th | 22 |
Pakistan trails every regional peer except Afghanistan — the gap with India (55 vs 29) is the one that stings in public debate. But note the caveat from the index makers: passport power tracks diplomatic relationships more than wealth — and relationships can be built.
Overseas Pakistanis
The Diaspora Factor
Nine million Pakistanis live abroad — the ranking hits them too.
Pakistan’s ~9 million overseas citizens — in the Gulf, UK, US, Europe — travel on the same green passport (unless they’ve taken another nationality). For them the ranking is daily life: every family holiday means visa applications, every business trip means lead time. The NICOP (National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis) eases entry into Pakistan — visa-free entry for its holders — but doesn’t change how other countries treat the passport. Many in the diaspora hold dual nationality precisely for travel freedom — a quiet vote on what the ranking costs. Travelling home: passport tracking for overseas applicants.
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Short answers to the questions readers ask most about this topic.
What is Pakistan’s passport ranking in 2026?
How many countries can Pakistanis visit without a visa?
Which is the weakest passport in the world?
What is the red passport in Pakistan?
Can Pakistanis get visa on arrival in Maldives?
How can I improve my chances of getting a visa?
Need the Passport Itself?
Track your application, check status by token number, or apply online — our DGIP guides cover it all.
Rankings per the Henley Passport Index (Henley & Partners, IATA data), July 2026 edition unless stated. Visa policies change — always confirm with the destination’s embassy before travelling.