Pakistan passport holders can travel visa-free to 30 destinations, as summer travel peaks
Global passport shake-up: Pakistan drops, India dips, Singapore stays on topShutterstock
As summer travel demand reaches its peak, Pakistani passport holders continue to have access to 30 destinations through visa-free entry, visa-on-arrival (VOA) or electronic travel authorisation (ETA) schemes, according to the latest Henley Passport Index July 2026 update.
Pakistan’s passport ranking has returned to 100th place globally, after improving earlier this year to 97th in February from 98th in January. The country was ranked 103rd in 2025, reflecting fluctuations linked to changing international visa policies.
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Visa-free destinations for Pakistani travellers
The latest ranking shows that Pakistani citizens can access a range of destinations across Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific without obtaining a traditional visa before travel.
Visa-friendly destinations include the Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, Barbados, Dominica, Haiti, Vanuatu, and Trinidad and Tobago, among others.
The list includes countries offering visa-free entry, while others provide visa-on-arrival or electronic travel authorisation options, making them attractive choices for summer holidays.
Pakistan’s passport ranking changes in 2026
Pakistan’s passport mobility has seen several changes over the past year:
- 2025: Ranked 103rd globally, with access to around 31 destinations
- January 2026: Improved to 98th place, with access to 31 destinations
- February 2026: Rose to 97th place, with access to 32 destinations
- May 2026: Slipped to 100th place, with access to 30 destinations
- July 2026: Retained 100th place, with access to 30 destinations
The movement highlights how passport rankings can shift due to changes in visa agreements and global travel rules.
Singapore tops global passport rankings
Singapore remains the world’s strongest passport, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 192 destinations.
Japan, South Korea and the UAE share second place, with access to 188 destinations.
Several European countries, including Germany, France and Spain, also remain among the top-ranked passports, while the US and UK continue to hold strong positions.
India’s passport ranking declines
India’s passport ranking dropped to 80th place in the July 2026 update, down from 78th in May. Indian passport holders currently have visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 56 destinations.
The ranking had improved earlier in the year, reaching 75th place in February 2026 after India was ranked 85th in 2025.
Visa-free destinations
Pakistani passport holders can travel visa-free to:
Barbados, Cook Islands, Dominica, Haiti, Micronesia, Montserrat, Rwanda, St Vincent and the Grenadines, The Gambia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vanuatu.
Visa on arrival (VOA) destinations
VOA access is available in:
Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde Islands, Comoro Islands, Djibouti, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Maldives, Nepal, Niue, Palau Islands, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Timor-Leste and Tuvalu.
ETA destinations
Kenya, Seychelles, and Sri Lanka require an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) prior to departure.
Full list of visa-friendly destinations
- Barbados – Visa-Free
- Burundi – VOA
- Cambodia – VOA
- Cape Verde Islands – VOA
- Comoro Islands – VOA
- Cook Islands – Visa-Free
- Djibouti – VOA
- Dominica – Visa-Free
- Guinea-Bissau – VOA
- Haiti – Visa-Free
- Kenya – ETA
- Madagascar – VOA
- Maldives – VOA
- Micronesia – Visa-Free
- Montserrat – Visa-Free
- Nepal – VOA
- Niue – VOA
- Palau Islands – VOA
- Rwanda – Visa-Free
- Samoa – VOA
- Senegal – VOA
- Seychelles – ETA
- Sierra Leone – VOA
- Sri Lanka – ETA
- St Vincent and the Grenadines – Visa-Free
- The Gambia – Visa-Free
- Timor-Leste – VOA
- Trinidad and Tobago – Visa-Free
- Tuvalu – VOA
- Vanuatu – Visa-Free
E-visa destinations
Electronic visa systems are increasingly simplifying travel, allowing applicants to secure entry permissions online before departure. These systems are now widely used across multiple regions.
Africa: Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Guinea, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Namibia, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Asia: Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bhutan, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Oman, Qatar, Singapore, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam.
Europe: Albania, Moldova, Türkiye and the United Kingdom.
Americas & Caribbean: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Nicaragua, St Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, and The Bahamas.
Oceania / overseas territories: St Helena.
Why passport rankings change
The Henley Passport Index ranks 199 passports across 227 destinations using data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Rankings change when countries introduce new visa rules, remove restrictions, or update bilateral travel agreements.
For Pakistani travellers planning summer holidays, the latest ranking means several destinations remain accessible without lengthy visa procedures, although travel requirements should be checked before departure, as policies can change.
Reference Link:- https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/pakistan/summer-travel-2026-pakistan-passport-holders-can-visit-these-30-visa-free-destinations-1.500604352