Pakistan’s passport has fallen to 103rd place in the 2025 Henley Passport Index, slipping below the occupied Palestinian territory, which ranks 100th.
In 2024, holders of a Pakistani passport enjoyed visa-free access to 34 countries. However, this number dropped to 33 in 2025, reflecting a gradual decline in the value of the passport over time.
Several factors have contributed to this decline:
- In 2023, Saudi authorities seized 12,000 Pakistani passports from Afghan citizens using fake credentials.
- Pakistani authorities have been implicated in issuing counterfeit citizenship documents, particularly to illegal immigrants, including Afghans.
- Political instability in Pakistan has resulted in incidents such as the cancellation of 23 passports linked to individuals involved in an attack on the former Chief Justice of Pakistan in London.
- In 2025, Pakistan revoked the passports of 4,700 citizens imprisoned in the UAE, further tarnishing the credibility of its travel document.
Meanwhile, Singapore remains at the top of the Henley Passport Index for 2025, granting its citizens visa-free access to 195 countries. Japan is in second place with access to 193 countries, while several European nations and South Korea tie for third, offering visa-free access to 192 destinations.
The continued decline in Pakistan’s passport ranking highlights the urgent need for reforms in governance, security, and diplomatic relations to restore confidence in its travel document. Strengthening international cooperation and efforts to combat passport misuse could improve its global standing in the future.
