24/07/2025
Pakistan's passport ranking is a topic of interest, especially with the latest updates from the Henley Passport Index. Here's what's new:
*Current Ranking*
Pakistan's passport currently ranks 96th globally, sharing this spot with Somalia and Yemen. This ranking grants Pakistani passport holders visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 32 destinations worldwide ¹ ².
*Improvement Over Time*
There's been a notable improvement in Pakistan's passport ranking. As of 2021, the ranking was 113th, but it has now climbed to 100th, and more recently, it's been reported at 96th. This change reflects the country's efforts to enhance its global mobility ³ ⁴.
*Comparison with Neighboring Countries*
Pakistan's ranking lags behind some of its neighboring countries:
- *India*: 73rd with access to 75 destinations
- *Bangladesh*: 96th (tied with Pakistan) with access to a similar number of destinations
- *China*: 60th with more extensive access
*Global Mobility Leaders*
The top spots in global mobility are held by:
- *Singapore*: Ranked 1st with visa-free access to 193 destinations
- *Japan and South Korea*: Jointly ranked 2nd with access to 190 destinations
- *European nations*: Several European countries, like Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain, are ranked 3rd with access to 189 destinations
*Efforts to Improve*
The Pakistani government has been working to improve the passport ranking by:
- Introducing e-passports with NFC chips aligned with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards
- Implementing an online passport application system and the "Passport Fee Asaan" mobile app
- Planning to launch a dedicated passport app for easier applications
- Setting up e-gates at major airports for faster immigration processing ³ ⁴