After the Henley Passport Index released its global passport rankings for 2026, Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi claimed that Pakistan’s passport rankings had improved, calling it a “great achievement”.
This statement is false.
Claim
On January 15, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi wrote on his official »
His message was accompanied by a report from Gulf Newsan English-language newspaper based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which said that Pakistan’s passport had moved to 98th place in the Henley Passport Index 2026, from 100th in 2025. The report attributed the change to “growing diplomatic efforts and recent international agreements that are gradually expanding freedom of travel for Pakistani citizens.”
Several Pakistani media outlets also reported an improvement in Pakistan’s passport rankings based on this claim.
Do
This assertion misrepresents the findings of the Henley Passport Index published on January 9. The strength of the Pakistani passport has not improved. In fact, the number of destinations that Pakistani passport holders can access without a visa has increased from 33 in 2025 to 31 in 2026.
The Henley Passport Index is compiled by London-based immigration consultancy Henley & Partners. Each year it ranks passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without first obtaining a visa.
At the end of 2025, Pakistan ranked 103rd with a visa-free score of 33, meaning Pakistani passport holders could enter 33 destinations without a prior visa.
In the Henley Passport Index 2026, Pakistan is ranked 98th, but its visa-free score has fallen to 31. This indicates that Pakistani passport holders can now access fewer destinations without a visa compared to last year.
Despite the numerical change in the rankings, Pakistan remained fifth from bottom in both years.
The report can be viewed here.
It is also important to note that Henley & Partners publishes four updates to the Passport Index each year.
Geography Fact Check has contacted the Henley Passport Index for clarification. A spokesperson explained that an improvement in ranking does not necessarily reflect a stronger passport.
“Rankings are often affected by movements and consolidations in the rest of the list, so they should be considered in context. The change in the visa-free score is a more accurate measure of how a passport’s strength has changed over the year,” she explained.
She added that many passports around the world have lost access to certain destinations this year due to changes in visa policies and the introduction of eVisa systems.
“Pakistan passport maintained its position at fifth place from the bottom of the list, indicating that it neither lost significant ground nor witnessed significant improvement,” she said.
Pakistan Passport Ranking and Visa Free Score (2021-2026)
| Year | Rank | Score without visa |
| 2021 | 107 | 32 |
| 2022 | 108 | 31 |
| 2023 | 106 | 32 |
| 2024 | 101 | 34 |
| 2025 | 103 | 33 |
| 2026 | 98 | 31 |
Verdict: The real measure of the strength of the Pakistani passport in the Henley Passport Index is its visa exemption score. Based on this, Pakistan’s score has declined and its position near the bottom of the index remains unchanged. The claim that this represents a “significant achievement” is misleading.
