Pakistan’s Passport Enters Top 100 in Global Ranking, Gets Access to Visa-Free or Visa-On-Arrival to 32 Countries
In a notable stride toward improving global mobility, Pakistan’s passport has entered the top 100 in the Henley Passport Index 2025, marking a substantial rise in its international standing. The latest ranking, released by Henley & Partners, places Pakistan at 100th position—up from 113th in 2021—granting visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 32 countries.
Following are the visa-free countries for Pakistani passport holders as shared by Gulf News:
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- Barbados
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cape Verde Islands
- Comoro Islands
- Cook Islands
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Guinea-Bissau
- Haiti
- Kenya
- Madagascar
- Maldives
- Micronesia
- Montserrat
- Mozambique
- Nepal
- Niue
- Palau Islands
- Qatar
- Rwanda
- Samoa
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- Sri Lanka
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Timor-Leste
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tuvalu
- Vanuatu
Director General of Immigration and Passports, Mustafa Jamal Qazi, hailed the development as a significant achievement for the country and attributed the success to the Interior Ministry’s leadership, particularly Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and the Secretary of Interior.
The DG highlighted that the introduction of electronic passports embedded with NFC chips, compliant with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, has been central to improving the security, credibility, and international acceptability of Pakistani travel documents.
Qazi also announced that e-gates would soon be operational at all major Pakistani airports, significantly streamlining the immigration process for e-passport holders. The initiative is expected to reduce processing time and enhance traveler convenience.
In addition to strengthening physical infrastructure, the Directorate has taken major steps to digitize and modernize passport services. These include clearing the national passport backlog, upgrading passport offices, and improving service delivery mechanisms.
Efforts to facilitate overseas Pakistanis have also advanced, with the launch of an online passport application system and the “Passport Fee Asaan” mobile app, which simplifies the fee payment process. Qazi revealed that a dedicated passport mobile app is in development, which will allow citizens to apply for passports from their homes.
“These reforms reflect Pakistan’s commitment to improving global mobility for its citizens,” Qazi noted. “With continued efforts and support from the Interior Ministry, we are confident the passport ranking will continue to improve in the years ahead.”
The improvement in Pakistan’s passport ranking comes at a time when global travel is becoming increasingly digital and security-focused. Officials believe that with sustained reforms and international cooperation, Pakistani travelers will enjoy even broader access in the near future.
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