For the fourth consecutive year, the Pakistani passport has been ranked as the fourth worst on this year's Henley Passport Index, which evaluates the world’s 199 passports based on the number of destinations their holders can visit without needing a prior visa.
According to the latest rankings released on Tuesday, Pakistan’s passport is positioned at 100th place, tied with Yemen. It is only ranked above those of Iraq (101st), Syria (102nd), and Afghanistan (103rd), maintaining the same position as last year.
Pakistani and Yemeni passports grant visa-free access to 33 countries. In comparison, Iraqi passports allow travel to 31 destinations, Syrian passports offer access to 28 countries, and Afghan passports provide entry to just 26 destinations.
“Afghanistan remains firmly entrenched as the world’s weakest passport, losing access to yet another destination over the past six months, leaving its citizens with access to only 26 countries visa-free — the lowest score ever recorded in history of the 19-year-old index,” a press release said.
At the top of the rankings, Singapore’s passport continues to hold the top spot, granting visa-free entry to 195 destinations, setting a new record.
Germany, Italy, Japan, France, and Spain are tied for second place, each allowing access to 192 destinations. Austria, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, South Korea, and Sweden share the third position with 191 destinations.
The United Kingdom is ranked 4th, along with Belgium, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway, and Switzerland, all offering access to 190 countries. The United States is in 8th place, with access to 186 destinations.
Notably, the United Arab Emirates has entered the top 10 for the first time, with its passport now offering visa-free access to 185 destinations. This marks a significant rise from its previous 62nd position to 9th, reflecting an impressive increase of 53 places.
The press release quoted Henley & Partners CEO Dr Juerg Steffen as saying that the UAE’s “meteoric ascent” was the result of “deliberate and concerted efforts by the Emirati government to position the UAE as a global hub for business, tourism, and investment.
“Our research has consistently shown a strong correlation between a country’s visa-free score and its economic prosperity. Nations with higher visa-free scores tend to enjoy greater GDP per capita, increased foreign direct investment and more robust international trade relationships.”
