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The Henley Passport Index released its 2025 global passport report almost a week ago, where Asian nations outpaced the rest of the world. However, the Pakistani passport maintained its legacy of standing as the fourth worst, with a 96th rank, sharing the stage with Somalia and only ahead of war-torn countries like Yemen, Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan. The Henley Passport Index is globally acknowledged for its credible passport rankings. HPI classifies passport strength based on how many destinations a passport holder can visit without obtaining a visa in advance. The higher the number of visa-free or visa-on-arrival destinations, the greater a passport’s global mobility.
In this year’s index, Singapore topped the list with visa-free access to 193 countries. Likewise, passports from Japan and South Korea offer their citizens access to nearly 190 destinations, a testament to strong diplomatic ties and international cooperation.
In stark contrast, the Pakistani passport ranks 96th as it has access to only 32 destinations without a visa. Within the South Asian region, it is only followed by the conflict-ridden Afghan passport, which can access just 29 visa-free destinations. However, our neighbour India has made significant improvement in its ranking by jumping from 85th to 77th in the 2025 HPI. Another worth mentioning instance is Bangladesh, which, despite the storm at home, continues its slow but steady rise. In the latest 2025 Henley Passport Index, it moved up to 94th place — a noticeable rise from 97th in 2024. Even Sri Lanka, which endured severe economic and political crises, outshone the Pakistani passport by advancing five spots in the 2025 Henley Passport Index, rising from 96th to 91st place.
Just as we celebrated triumphs over our arch-rival India in both narrative warfare and false flag operations, with Pakistan’s image gaining acclaim, the release of the Henley Passport Index ranking delivered a starkly disgraceful reality. And it’s time to figure out the factors that have made our passport status stagnant over the years.
A few of the factors playing a major role in devaluing the Pakistani passport are the following:
Security Concerns and Terrorism Risk
Pakistan’s long-standing association with internal security issues, extremist violence, and militancy has made many countries wary of offering lenient visa policies. International travel restrictions are often linked to perceived risks of illegal immigration or terrorism.
Weak Economic Indicators
Countries with low GDP per capita, high unemployment, and unstable financial systems are often perceived as sources of potential economic migrants. This leads wealthier nations to impose tighter visa controls on Pakistani citizens.
Poor Documentation and Identity Verification Systems
Concerns about forged documents, inconsistent biometric systems, and inefficient passport controls have led many countries to adopt a cautious stance when issuing visas to Pakistani nationals.
Political Instability
Frequent changes in government, weak rule of law, and civil-military tensions create an impression of an unpredictable state. This deters countries from liberalising travel access for their citizens.
Limited Soft Power and Tourism Appeal
Unlike nations that promote their culture, talent, or tourism on a global scale, Pakistan’s soft power is relatively weak. The absence of a strong international image affects the willingness of other nations to ease entry for Pakistanis.
A passport is more than a travel document; it is a reflection of a nation’s global standing and credibility
Today, the green passport offers visa-free access to only 32 countries, and among these, just 11 grant full visa-free entry without requiring a visa on arrival or electronic travel authorisation. These countries are Barbados, Dominica, Gambia, Haiti, Micronesia, Rwanda, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Vanuatu, Samoa, and the Cook Islands.
Meanwhile, 19 countries offer visas on arrival, including Nepal, the Maldives, Cambodia, and Qatar. However, there was a golden era for the green passport when holders had visa-free access to even the United Kingdom, some European nations, and Middle Eastern countries. But that was a relatively short period that ended in the 1980s.
This terribly low ranking of the Pakistani passport is not just a matter of global perception; it is actively and adversely impacting the lives of millions of its nationals. Pakistani travellers routinely face intense scrutiny at airports, longer visa processing times, and higher rejection rates. In 2023, the Schengen visa rejection rate for Pakistani applicants was among the highest, over 50%, according to EU visa statistics. Similarly, Canada and the UK have tightened their visa policies for Pakistani nationals, often citing overstay risks and security concerns.
Moreover, the Pakistani business community is equally suffering due to the country’s low passport ranking. Entrepreneurs and exporters frequently face delays or outright rejections when applying for visas to attend international trade expos, negotiate contracts, or explore new markets. For instance, in 2023, dozens of Pakistani exporters were denied visas to attend the Heimtextil-2023 fair in Germany, potentially costing the country up to 5 billion dollars in lost export orders, according to APBUMA officials. These mobility barriers not only stifle business growth but also weaken Pakistan’s competitiveness in the global market.
This is high time that state officials must not only ponder but take concrete and result-oriented steps to reverse the downward spiral of Pakistan’s global standing. Strengthening diplomatic ties, proactively engaging in international forums, and addressing internal challenges such as political instability, security concerns, and governance issues are the need of the hour. The state needs to realise that the continued neglect of these factors has severely tarnished Pakistan’s image abroad, directly contributing to disgraceful international rankings like those of the passport index. It’s time for Pakistan to rewrite that reality and understand that a passport is more than a travel document; it is a reflection of a nation’s global standing and credibility.
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