Afghanistan’s passport remains the least powerful in the world, according to the latest update of the Henley Passport Index, underscoring the country’s continued diplomatic isolation and limited mobility for its citizens.
The ranking, released four months into 2026, shows that Afghanistan’s passport holders can travel to only 23 destinations without a visa or by obtaining one on arrival. The figure places Afghanistan at the bottom of the global index, a position it has occupied or neared for more than a decade.
The destinations available to Afghan travelers are largely concentrated in parts of Asia, Africa, Oceania and the Caribbean, offering what analysts describe as highly restricted access. These include countries such as Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Cambodia in Asia; Kenya, Rwanda and Seychelles in Africa; and Dominica and Haiti in the Caribbean.
By contrast, Singapore ranks first, with its citizens able to access 192 destinations without a prior visa. Japan, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates follow closely, each with access to 187 countries, while Norway and Switzerland rank just behind with 185.
Afghanistan is followed at the lower end of the index by Syria, Iraq and Pakistan, whose passports also provide limited international mobility.
The Henley Passport Index, published annually, evaluates the strength of passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without a visa, drawing on data from the International Air Transport Association.
Analysts attribute Afghanistan’s low ranking to a combination of political and economic instability, the lack of international recognition of the Taliban and a sustained rise in outward migration.
Some Afghan citizens say the weakening status of the passport has had tangible effects on daily life, including difficulty securing visas even from neighboring countries. Applicants described long delays and frequent rejections, contributing to a sense of deepening isolation.
“The decline in the value of Afghanistan’s passport, combined with the country’s current conditions, has made it extremely difficult for us to obtain visas, even from neighboring countries. We wait for months, only to have our applications rejected. Afghanistan has become completely isolated, and our passport holds little credibility anywhere,” said Ahmad, a Kunduz resident.
Despite fluctuations elsewhere in the rankings, Afghanistan’s position has shown little improvement over the past decade, reflecting enduring structural and diplomatic challenges.
