Pakistan’s passport has recorded an improvement in global mobility rankings, rising two spots to 98th in the Henley Passport Index 2026. The move reflects steady gains in international access for Pakistani citizens and signals progress in the country’s diplomatic outreach. Pakistan now shares the 98th position with Yemen, compared to 100th last year, according to the latest edition of the index.

The upward shift is being viewed as a sign of increased international engagement and bilateral arrangements that have gradually expanded travel flexibility for Pakistani nationals. At present, Pakistani passport holders can enter 31 destinations without prior visa requirements, either through visa-free entry, visa-on-arrival (VOA), or electronic travel authorization (eTA) an expansion that has made short-term travel for tourism, business or transit comparatively more convenient.

Visa-free access is currently available for a range of destinations across the Caribbean, Africa, and the Pacific. Meanwhile, visa-on-arrival facilities are provided by several Asian, African and island countries, allowing Pakistani travellers to obtain entry permits at ports of arrival. Additionally, select destinations have introduced eTA systems, enabling pre-travel digital clearance without a physical visa application.

Pakistan has also aligned domestic systems to support growing travel activity. Last year, authorities rolled out a Digital Integrated Dashboard to monitor passport processing, printing and delivery timelines. The passport itself has undergone a redesign, incorporating cultural and historic landmarks from across the provinces to reflect national heritage and modern identity.

Globally, the 2026 rankings show continued dominance by Asian and European passports. Singapore retained the top position with access to 192 destinations, followed by Japan and South Korea with 188. A cluster of European passports ranked third with 186 destinations. In comparison, India placed 80th with access to 55 destinations, showing gradual improvement. At the lower end of the index, Yemen, Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan remained among the weakest, with Afghanistan at the bottom with access to just 24 destinations 168 fewer than Singapore.

Reacting to the updated ranking, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi highlighted the improvement, noting on platform X that Pakistan’s passport position had climbed from 126th to 98th over recent years, calling it a positive indicator of international engagement momentum.