Islamabad, June 28, 2025 — This is good news on global mobility as the latest update of the Henley Passport Index shows that Pakistani passport holders are now allowed to visit 32 countries without the need to acquire a pre-approved visa.
It is a small yet significant gain in the international passport ranking of Pakistan, which is now ranked 100th position out of 199 countries, and thus, this puts it in the same rank with Somalia and Yemen. The new program contains a list of African, Caribbean, South Asian and Pacific countries with a combination of a visa-free regime and visa-on-arrival requests.
Countries Now Accessible
Some of the destinations now open to Pakistani travelers include:
- Africa & Indian Ocean: Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, Madagascar, Mozambique, Burundi, Comoros, Sierra Leone, Somalia
- South & Southeast Asia: Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Timor-Leste
- Caribbean: Dominica, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Montserrat
- Pacific Islands: Micronesia, Palau, Samoa, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Niue, Cook Islands
- Others: Qatar, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, Djibouti
Diplomatic Boost
In a parallel diplomatic move, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates have signed a bilateral agreement allowing visa-free travel for holders of diplomatic and official passports, further strengthening ties between the two nations.
Global Context
Despite the progress, Pakistan’s passport remains among the lowest-ranked in South Asia. For comparison:
- India: Access to over 60 countries
- Bangladesh: Around 42 destinations
- Singapore: Tops the global list with access to 193 countries
Still, officials view the expanded access as a step forward in enhancing Pakistan’s international presence and easing travel for its citizens.
