Pakistan Passport Ranking 2026 — Visa-Free Countries, Henley Index, and How to Travel More
The Pakistani passport has been quietly climbing the global rankings. In 2021, it ranked among the weakest in the world — 107th out of 199 with access to barely 31 destinations. In 2026, the picture has improved meaningfully: the passport now ranks around 100th with access to approximately 35-40 destinations visa-free or via simplified eVisa and visa-on-arrival processes. The improvement is incremental but real, and it matters because the Pakistani passport is increasingly being treated as a "build history" passport rather than a "blocked" one. This guide covers the current ranking, what destinations are accessible, and the practical strategy for turning your passport into a stronger travel document over time.
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Pakistan Passport Ranking 2026 — Where We Stand
The Henley Passport Index ranks passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. In 2026, the Pakistani passport ranks approximately 100th out of 199 passports, with access to around 35-40 destinations visa-free or with visa-on-arrival. Compare with regional neighbours:
- India: 80th, ~57 destinations
- Bangladesh: 92nd, ~42 destinations
- Sri Lanka: 95th, ~40 destinations
- Pakistan: 100th, ~35-40 destinations
- Nepal: 98th, ~38 destinations
- Afghanistan: 108th (weakest in the world), ~26 destinations
The Pakistani passport is weak — but it is no longer the weakest, and the trajectory is improving. For the complete destination-by-destination breakdown, see our complete Pakistan visa-free travel list.
Visa-Free Countries for Pakistani Passport Holders
These countries allow Pakistani citizens to enter without a prior visa. Note that several require transit through countries that may themselves require transit visas:
- Maldives — 30 days visa-free. Tropical beach destination. Direct flights from Pakistan. The most accessible of the visa-free options.
- Nepal — visa-free for Pakistani citizens. Mountain trekking, Buddhist temples. Reachable via connecting flights.
- Samoa — 60 days visa-free. Pacific island destination.
- Vanuatu — 30 days visa-free (subject to 2024 re-review).
- Cook Islands, Niue — 30-31 days visa-free. Pacific islands.
- Trinidad and Tobago — visa-free for up to 90 days.
- Dominica — 6 months visa-free. One of the longest visa-free stays for Pakistanis.
- Haiti — up to 90 days visa-free.
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Micronesia — 30 days visa-free.
Visa-on-Arrival Countries for Pakistanis
These countries issue a visa at the airport or border crossing:
- Maldives — free visa-on-arrival (30 days)
- Nepal — visa-on-arrival for approximately 25 USD (30 days)
- Cambodia — visa-on-arrival (30 days, ~30 USD)
- Madagascar — visa-on-arrival (90 days, ~80 USD)
- Palau, Tuvalu, Timor-Leste — 30 days visa-on-arrival
- Rwanda — visa-on-arrival (30 days, ~50 USD, added for Pakistanis in 2024)
- Kenya — 90 days via simplified eVisa (effectively visa-on-arrival)
- Thailand — visa-on-arrival at major airports (2,000 THB, 15 days)
eVisa Countries for Pakistanis — The Easiest Applications
These countries offer online eVisa applications, typically approved within 24-72 hours. This category has grown the most in the last 3 years:
- Turkey — eVisa if you hold valid Schengen/UK/USA visa. 43 USD, instant approval. Without those visas, sticker visa through embassy.
- Azerbaijan (Baku) — eVisa, 3 working days, 26 USD. See our complete Baku eVisa guide.
- Malaysia — eVisa, 3-5 working days, ~80 MYR.
- Sri Lanka — eVisa (ETA), 24-48 hours.
- Saudi Arabia — Tourist eVisa now available for Pakistanis. Multiple entry, 1 year validity, ~480 SAR. See our complete Saudi eVisa guide.
- Bahrain — 14-day eVisa. See our Bahrain guide.
- Oman — 30-day eVisa. See our Oman guide.
- Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan — Central Asian eVisas, very accessible.
The Strategy: Build Your Travel History
One of the biggest reasons Pakistani visa applications get rejected is lack of travel history. Embassies want to see that you have travelled internationally before and returned to Pakistan as planned. Each used visa in your passport is evidence that another country trusted you. Here is the strategy we recommend:
- Start with visa-free or eVisa countries — Maldives, Nepal, Baku, Sri Lanka, Thailand. These are affordable and build initial travel history.
- Get a Saudi Tourist eVisa — 1-year multiple entry, adds a strong stamp to your passport. Umrah trips also count.
- Apply for a Turkey eVisa — requires Schengen/UK/USA visa for instant eVisa, otherwise apply for sticker visa.
- After 2-3 trips with clean travel history, apply for UK or Schengen — your travel history improves approval chances significantly. See our Schengen visa guide and UK visa guide.
- Eventually apply for USA B1/B2 — the hardest visa, but with strong travel history and ties to Pakistan, approval rates are higher. See our USA visa guide.
A USA visa in your passport opens up several other destinations visa-free — Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and several other Latin American countries offer visa-free entry to Pakistanis who hold valid USA visas. This is geographic arbitrage through documentation.
Standing with Palestine
At Kimi Travels, we believe travel should build bridges between people — never erase their histories or silence their struggles. We stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine and proudly serve Palestinian students, patients, and families travelling through Pakistan and the wider region. A portion of every booking we process is donated to verified humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza and the West Bank. Justice anywhere is justice everywhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many countries can Pakistanis visit visa-free?
A: Approximately 35-40 destinations visa-free or with visa-on-arrival, including Maldives, Nepal, Dominica, Cambodia, and several Pacific islands.
Q: Which is the easiest visa to get for Pakistanis?
A: eVisa countries like Azerbaijan (Baku), Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia Tourist eVisa. We handle these applications.
Q: How do I improve my visa approval chances?
A: Build travel history. Start with easy destinations, then apply for harder visas like UK and Schengen. Each used visa strengthens future applications.
Q: Does a USA visa help me travel elsewhere?
A: Yes — several countries (Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Turkey eVisa, Georgia) offer simplified entry to Pakistanis holding valid USA visas.