Pakistanis can travel visa-free to 32 countries as ranking improves

Pakistani passport holders can now travel to 32 countries without needing a visa, reflecting recent improvements in the Henley Passport Index.

According to Henley & Partners’ 2025 Passport Index, Pakistan’s passport ranking improved significantly, moving up from 113th to 100th place worldwide.

The index is published by an international consultancy firm, which ranks passports based on the number of destinations holders can access without a prior visa.

The top-ranking passport in 2025 is Singapore, offering visa-free access to 193 countries, followed by Japan and South Korea, each with access to 190 destinations.

Passports from European countries such as Germany, France, and Italy rank third, with 189 visa-free countries, showing the gap between developed and developing nations in global travel ease.

Pakistani citizens can visit 10 countries visa-free, including Barbados, Dominica, Gambia, Haiti, Micronesia, Rwanda, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vanuatu.

There are 22 countries offering visa on arrival, such as Nepal, Maldives, Kenya, Mozambique, Sri Lanka, Qatar, and East Timor, easing travel for tourism or business.

Most of these countries are in Africa, the Caribbean, and Asia, offering scenic travel opportunities for those with limited travel options due to visa restrictions elsewhere.

Visa-on-arrival means travelers don’t need prior approval but must apply and pay at the airport or border upon entry, often requiring travel documents, hotel bookings, or return tickets.

Kashan Bhatti

Editor at Times of Karachi