Pakistani Passport Ranking Drops | Green Passport | Pardes Explainers

According to the latest 2026 Passport Reports ranking, the value of the Pakistani passport has suffered a significant decline, placing it at 183rd in the world. The ranking measures the strength of a passport on the basis of its mobility score, which refers to the ease with which citizens can travel to other countries without obtaining a visa in advance or under relatively simple entry requirements. According to the latest figures, Pakistan’s mobility score is currently only 42. This does not mean that Pakistani citizens can travel completely visa-free to 42 countries. In fact, only nine of these countries offer visa-free entry to Pakistani citizens: Barbados, Dominica, The Gambia, Haiti, Micronesia, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Vanuatu. In addition, 29 countries offer visas on arrival, while four provide an Electronic Travel Authorization, or ETA. The darkest aspect of the picture is that there are 156 countries where Pakistani citizens still need to obtain a visa before travelling, making international travel considerably more difficult. The seriousness of this decline can be understood by looking at the ranking over the past few years. This was not a continuous decline; there was some improvement in between, which makes the latest sharp fall even more significant. In 2023, the Pakistani passport ranked 180th in the world. The following year, there appeared to be some improvement at the diplomatic and governmental level, and in 2024 Pakistan climbed five places to 175th. This progress continued to some extent in 2025, when the passport reached 174th place. At that point, there was hope that the Pakistani passport might gradually regain some of its lost value. However, the latest 2026 report has reversed those expectations. A nine-place decline in a single year is significant. Pakistan is now ranked above only three countries in the world: Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan. The most important question is: what are the reasons behind such a sharp decline in the Pakistani passport’s ranking? This question is particularly concerning because Pakistan has played an important role internationally in recent times. Whether through diplomatic efforts to help stop the Iran conflict or through its significant contribution to United Nations peacekeeping missions, Pakistan has continued to receive international recognition for its role. So why is this positive diplomatic image and contribution to peace not reflected in the strength of its passport? There are several complex reasons, many of which are linked to domestic conditions and the international behaviour of some Pakistani travellers. One major factor is illegal immigration and violations of visa conditions. Over the past few decades, there have been cases of Pakistani citizens travelling abroad on valid visas but failing to return after their permitted stay. Some overstay, work illegally, or file fraudulent asylum claims. When a country records a significant number of such cases involving citizens of a particular nationality, it may tighten visa and border controls for that country’s passport because of immigration and security concerns. The growing trend of irregular migration to Europe and other destinations has also damaged the perception of the Pakistani passport. Economic instability is another important factor. When the international community sees a country facing severe economic difficulties, high inflation and limited employment opportunities, foreign governments may fear that some visitors entering for tourism or education could attempt to remain there for economic reasons. As a result, embassies may impose stricter visa requirements on citizens of economically vulnerable countries. In addition, internal security concerns, political uncertainty and repeated domestic crises can contribute to perceptions of instability. Together, these factors can undermine the benefits of diplomatic initiatives and peace efforts undertaken at the governmental level. Passport rankings, however, are based on specific visa and travel-access criteria, so individual factors affecting a country’s ranking should not automatically be interpreted as a direct measure of its overall international standing. The consequences of a weak passport and stricter visa requirements are ultimately felt directly by ordinary Pakistanis. When a Pakistani student secures admission to a good international university, obtaining a visa can sometimes involve lengthy processing and additional security checks. Delays can result in students missing classes and potentially losing an academic year. Similarly, businesspeople and exporters may face difficulties obtaining visas in time to attend international trade fairs, conferences and business meetings. By the time their visas are issued, valuable business opportunities may have already gone to competitors from other countries. #pardes #immigration #visa