Passport Power Shift: India and Pakistan 2024 Updates
India and Pakistan's passport rankings witnessed modest changes in 2024, reflecting a shift in global travel trends. The Henley & Partners Passport Index revealed that India's passport climbed three spots to 80th place, while Pakistan's passport improved by one position to 101st. Over the past decade, both South Asian passports experienced fluctuations, with India's dropping from 76th to 80th and Pakistan's from 92nd to 101st, making it the fourth weakest globally after Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan.
The Passport Index relies on exclusive International Air Transport Authority (IATA) data and cross-checks against publicly available sources for each passport across 227 potential travel destinations.
For Indian nationals, visa-free or visa-on-arrival options expanded in 2024 across regions:
Africa: Angola, Burundi, Cape Verde Islands, Comoro Islands, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Zimbabwe.
Asia Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Laos, Macao (SAR China), Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste.
Americas:Bolivia, El Salvador.
Caribbean Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago.
Oceania: Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Niue, Palau Islands, Samoa, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.
Middle East: Jordan, Oman, Qatar.
Note As of December 6, 2023, Indian nationals meeting specific criteria can obtain a visa on arrival for a 14-day stay in the UAE.
For Pakistani nationals, the list of visa-free or visa-on-arrival countries in 2024 includes:
Africa Burundi, Cape Verde Islands, Comoro Islands, Djibouti, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritania, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Togo.
Asia: Cambodia, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste.
Caribbean: Barbados, Cook Islands, Dominica, Haiti, Montserrat, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago.
Oceania: Micronesia, Niue, Palau Islands, Samoa, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.
Middle East: Qatar.
The improvement in passport rankings emphasizes the evolving landscape of global mobility for both India and Pakistan. As travel demand surges during holiday seasons, residents are advised to plan and schedule visa appointments well in advance to avoid potential delays.
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By- Sahiba Suri
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