Pakistan Passport Drops to 101st, Remains Fourth-Worst Globally
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s passport has fallen one position to 101st in the latest Henley Passport Index, leaving it ranked as the fourth-weakest travel document worldwide. The updated standings released on Tuesday show that Pakistani citizens now have access to fewer destinations without obtaining a conventional visa before departure.
The Henley index evaluates 199 passports against 227 travel destinations and assigns scores according to the number of places their holders may enter visa-free, with a visa on arrival or through another qualifying simplified arrangement. The ranking is widely followed as an indicator of international mobility, although it does not measure every aspect of a country’s diplomatic or economic influence.
Pakistan’s mobility score declined to 29 destinations in the July update, compared with 30 in May. The passport had occupied 100th place in the previous assessment and was ranked 98th in March, when holders could reach 31 destinations without securing a traditional visa in advance. Earlier in February, it stood at 97th with access to 32 destinations.
Henley & Partners says its ranking is compiled using travel information associated with the International Air Transport Association and is updated when entry rules change. According to the latest table, only Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan rank below Pakistan, while Yemen has moved one position higher. At the opposite end, Singapore remains first with access to 192 destinations, followed by Japan, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates on 188.
For Pakistani travellers, the low ranking translates into additional paperwork, longer processing times and higher costs when planning journeys for work, study, tourism or family visits. Applicants frequently need to provide financial records, employment evidence, confirmed accommodation, travel histories and other supporting documents before receiving approval from foreign missions.
Pakistan has remained near the lower end of global passport rankings for several years and has been listed as the fourth-worst passport since at least early 2021. It ranked 100th in both 2023 and 2024, while earlier editions placed it at 109th in 2022 and 107th during 2021, demonstrating that limited travel access has persisted despite occasional improvements between individual updates.
Passport strength is influenced by several factors, including reciprocal visa agreements, border-security confidence, migration concerns and the quality of diplomatic relations. A country can improve its score by negotiating new entry arrangements, protecting existing concessions and strengthening the credibility of its identity and travel-document systems. However, policy changes by only a few destinations can also quickly reverse previous gains.
The latest decline is likely to renew debate over Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach and the practical difficulties faced by citizens seeking international opportunities. Restricted mobility can affect students, professionals, exporters and overseas families, particularly when urgent travel depends on lengthy appointment and approval procedures.
Future improvements will depend on whether Pakistan can secure additional visa-free, visa-on-arrival or electronic travel arrangements while preventing further destinations from tightening their rules. Until new agreements are reached, Pakistani passport holders will continue to face one of the world’s most restrictive international travel environments.