Index says Singapore holds top spot as owner of the world’s most powerful passport
ISLAMABAD: (UrduPoint/Pakistan Point News-Jan 13rd, 2026) Pakistan continues to rank among the countries with the weakest passports, according to the list of the world's most powerful passports for the first half of 2026, as released by Henley & Partners.
In the Henley Passport Index for January to June 2026, an Asian country has secured the title of having the world’s strongest passport.
The Henley Index said that Singapore holds the top spot as the owner of the world’s most powerful passport. Singaporean passport holders can travel to 192 countries and regions without requiring a visa.
The second spot for the most powerful passport is shared by two other Asian nations—Japan and South Korea. Holders of Japanese and South Korean passports can enjoy visa-free access to 188 countries.
Denmark, Luxembourg, Sweden, Spain, and Switzerland jointly hold the third position, with passport holders able to travel visa-free to 186 countries.
Passports from Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Italy, France, Germany, Norway, Finland, Greece, and the Netherlands are in fourth place, offering visa-free access to 185 countries.
Hungary, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and the United Arab Emirates share the fifth position, with their passports providing visa-free travel to 184 countries.
Croatia, Estonia, Malta, New Zealand and Poland jointly hold the sixth spot, and offered visa-free entry to 183 countries.
Australia, Latvia, Liechtenstein and the United Kingdom share the seventh position, and allowed their passport holders to travel without a visa to 182 countries.
Pakistan's passport among the world's weakest
Pakistan’s passport ranks as the fourth weakest in the world, according to the 2026 rankings. Overall, the Pakistani passport sits at the 98th position, with visa-free access to only 31 countries.
Yemen shares the 98th position with Pakistan, while Iraq (99th), Syria (100th), and Afghanistan (101st) follow behind.
Other countries below Pakistan include Somalia (97th), Nepal (96th), and Bangladesh (84th). Passports from Palestine, North Korea, and Eritrea rank jointly at the 94th position.
India's passport holds the 80th spot, China's is at 59th, Iran is ranked 92nd, and Saudi Arabia’s passport is placed at the 54th position.
