Quick answer
As of October 2026, a Pakistani passport gives entry without a pre-arranged visa to 29 destinations on the Henley Passport Index: 11 visa-free, 15 visa on arrival and 3 with an electronic travel authorisation (Sri Lanka, Kenya, Seychelles). Popular eVisa options include Azerbaijan, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Georgia. Every country still checks return tickets, funds, hotel bookings and passport validity.
In this guideShow
- Where does the Pakistani passport rank in 2026?
- Visa-free countries for Pakistani passport holders
- Visa on arrival countries for Pakistanis
- eTA and eVisa countries for Pakistanis
- Countries where a visa in another passport helps
- How to check before you fly
- Common mistakes
- How Sky Raah can help
- Official sources
If you hold a green Pakistani passport and want to travel without the stress of an embassy appointment, this guide is for you. It is the list most people are looking for when they search "visa free countries for Pakistani passport", but checked properly. The Henley list is the starting point, and the popular destinations are confirmed on each country's own immigration website.
By the end you will know where the Pakistani passport stands in 2026, which countries are visa-free, which give a visa on arrival, which need a quick online authorisation or eVisa, and how to check the rules yourself before you pay for a ticket.
All facts below were checked on 14 October 2026. Entry rules change often, so treat this as a starting point and confirm on the official site linked for each country.
Where does the Pakistani passport rank in 2026?
The Henley Passport Index ranks 199 passports by how many destinations their holders can enter without a visa arranged in advance. It uses data from IATA Timatic, the database airlines check at check-in. Its score counts visa-free entry, visa on arrival and electronic travel authorisations (ETAs). An eVisa that must be approved before you travel does not count.
The latest published edition is the 20th-anniversary Henley Passport Index released on 21 July 2026. Reuters, as carried by Aaj News on 24 July 2026, reported that Pakistan placed 101st with 29 destinations, up from 103rd a year earlier. Gulf News reported the same 101st position and broke the 29 down into 11 visa-free, 15 visa on arrival and 3 ETA destinations.
Henley's own Pakistan destination list, dated 9 October 2026, still shows 29. Only Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan score lower. At the top, Singapore had access to 192 destinations in the July edition.
What this means in practice: for most of the world, Pakistanis still need a visa arranged before travel. The useful news is that many popular holiday countries now run quick online systems.
Visa-free countries for Pakistani passport holders
"Visa-free" means you need no visa or online approval. You show your passport and supporting documents at the border, and the officer decides how long you may stay.
These are the 11 visa-free destinations on Henley's data. We could not confirm a maximum stay for each one on an official site, so where it shows "Confirm officially", ask the airline or the country's immigration authority before you book.
| Country | Region | Type | Maximum stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barbados | Caribbean | Visa-free | Confirm officially |
| Cook Islands | Pacific | Visa-free | Confirm officially |
| Dominica | Caribbean | Visa-free | Confirm officially |
| Haiti | Caribbean | Visa-free | Confirm officially |
| Micronesia | Pacific | Visa-free | Confirm officially |
| Montserrat | Caribbean | Visa-free | Confirm officially |
| Rwanda | Africa | Visa-free | Confirm officially |
| St Vincent and the Grenadines | Caribbean | Visa-free | Confirm officially |
| The Gambia | Africa | Visa-free | Confirm officially |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Caribbean | Visa-free | Confirm officially |
| Vanuatu | Pacific | Visa-free | Confirm officially |
Most of these are long-haul trips with several connections. Remember that you also need a visa, or a transit exemption, for any country where you change planes.
Visa on arrival countries for Pakistanis
"Visa on arrival" means you get the visa stamp at the airport after landing. Some countries charge a fee and many ask for a pre-arrival online form.
| Country | Region | Type | Maximum stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maldives | South Asia | Visa on arrival (free) | 30 days (Maldives foreign ministry) |
| Nepal | South Asia | Visa on arrival | One free 30-day tourist visa per calendar year for Pakistanis |
| Burundi | Africa | Visa on arrival | Confirm officially |
| Cambodia | South-East Asia | Visa on arrival | Confirm officially |
| Comoro Islands | Africa | Visa on arrival | Confirm officially |
| Djibouti | Africa | Visa on arrival | Confirm officially |
| Guinea-Bissau | Africa | Visa on arrival | Confirm officially |
| Madagascar | Africa | Visa on arrival | Confirm officially |
| Niue | Pacific | Visa on arrival | Confirm officially |
| Palau | Pacific | Visa on arrival | Confirm officially |
| Samoa | Pacific | Visa on arrival | Confirm officially |
| Senegal | Africa | Visa on arrival | Confirm officially |
| Sierra Leone | Africa | Visa on arrival | Confirm officially |
| Timor-Leste | South-East Asia | Visa on arrival | Confirm officially |
| Tuvalu | Pacific | Visa on arrival | Confirm officially |
Maldives: what you need at the airport
Maldives Immigration (page updated 10 September 2026) grants the tourist visa on arrival with no pre-approval, but you must have:
- a machine-readable passport valid for at least one month (extended passports are not accepted)
- a confirmed return ticket
- a prepaid, confirmed booking at a registered hotel or guesthouse
- enough money for your stay
- the free Traveller Declaration on the IMUGA portal, submitted within 96 hours before arrival, one for each traveller including children
Nepal: the once-a-year free visa
The Embassy of Nepal in Islamabad confirms that Pakistanis can get a visa on arrival and are entitled to one free 30-day tourist visa per calendar year (January to December). Later visits in the same year are charged. Applying in advance through the embassy needs a passport valid for six months, a return ticket, a hotel booking for the full stay and six months of bank statements, unless you are sponsored.
eTA and eVisa countries for Pakistanis
An ETA (electronic travel authorisation) is a quick online permission you get before flying. An eVisa is a full visa applied for and approved online, so no embassy visit and no passport submission. Henley counts ETAs in the score but not eVisas, which is why Azerbaijan or Malaysia are not part of the 29.
| Country | Type | Maximum stay | Official site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | ETA, free for Pakistanis | 30 days, double entry | eta.gov.lk |
| Kenya | ETA | Confirm on portal | etakenya.go.ke |
| Seychelles | Travel Authorisation | Confirm on portal | seychelles.govtas.com |
| Azerbaijan | ASAN eVisa | Up to 30 days | evisa.gov.az |
| Malaysia | eVISA | As stated on the approval | malaysiavisa.imi.gov.my |
| Thailand | e-Visa | Tourist visa: up to 60 days per entry | thaievisa.go.th |
| Indonesia | eVisa | As stated on the visa | evisa.imigrasi.go.id |
| Vietnam | eVisa | Up to 90 days | evisa.gov.vn |
| Georgia | e-Visa | As stated on the visa | evisa.gov.ge |
| Qatar | Visa on arrival with a pre-booked Discover Qatar hotel, or Hayya A1 eVisa | Confirm on Hayya | visitqatar.com |
| Turkey | Conditional e-Visa (see next section) | As stated on the e-Visa | evisa.gov.tr |
A few details that catch Pakistani travellers out:
- Sri Lanka: the official ETA site lists Pakistan among 40 countries getting a free tourist visa from 25 May 2026. You still have to apply for the ETA before you fly. Stays beyond 30 days need an extension and the normal fee.
- Azerbaijan: Azerbaijan's foreign ministry lists Pakistan as eligible for the ASAN eVisa. It is normally issued within 3 working days, with an urgent 3-hour option.
- Malaysia: Pakistan is on Malaysia's visa-required list. The Malaysian High Commission in Islamabad says tourist visas are applied for online and take 2 to 10 working days. Our Malaysia visit visa guide covers the documents.
- Thailand: Pakistanis are not visa-exempt. Applications go through the Thai e-Visa platform, which the Royal Thai Embassy in Islamabad introduced in December 2024. Thai missions describe the tourist visa as allowing up to 60 days per entry. See our Thailand visit visa page for the file checklist.
- Vietnam: since August 2023, citizens of every country can apply for an eVisa of up to 90 days, according to Vietnam's official tourism authority.
- Georgia: the e-Visa portal asks you to upload proof of accommodation, a return ticket, travel insurance, proof of funds and proof of purpose. It has also added a second verification step with an extra fee.
- Qatar: Visit Qatar places Pakistan in a group that must book a Discover Qatar hotel before travel to get a visa on arrival, or apply in advance for a Hayya A1 visa. Your passport must be valid for at least three months from arrival.
Countries where a visa in another passport helps
If you already hold a valid UK, US or Schengen visa, a few more doors open.
Turkey
Turkey's online e-Visa is available to Pakistanis only on a conditional basis. You need a valid visa or residence permit from a Schengen country, the USA, the UK or Ireland. The conditions Turkish missions published when this system started in 2016 also said:
- electronic visas from those countries did not count, only sticker visas
- you had to fly on named Turkish carriers with a return ticket
- you needed a hotel booking and at least USD 50 per day
The current conditions appear on evisa.gov.tr after you select Pakistan. Read them carefully, because the e-Visa can be refused at the border if you don't meet them.
Georgia
Under Georgian Government Ordinance No. 256, anyone holding a valid visa or residence permit from one of about 50 listed countries can enter without a visa for 90 days in any 180-day period. The list includes the UK, the USA, Canada, Japan, Australia, the Schengen states, and the Gulf states including the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The visa must be valid on the day you enter.
An amendment adopted on 17 April 2025 tightened this for Pakistani citizens relying on a Gulf visa or residence permit. OC Media reported that such permits now need at least one year of validity remaining at entry. UK, US and Schengen visa holders were not affected.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia's official KSA Visa platform lists holders of US, UK or Schengen visit visas, and permanent residents of the USA, UK or EU, as eligible for the tourist visa. Visit Saudi's help centre adds conditions for the on-arrival route, including having already entered the country that issued your visa at least once. For a family Umrah trip, check the rules for each traveller, because every passport and visa is assessed separately.
How to check before you fly
- Start with the official immigration website of the country, using the links above. Ignore lookalike "visa" sites that add charges.
- Check with your airline. Airlines use IATA Timatic at check-in, and they can refuse boarding if your documents don't match the rules for your passport.
- Check your passport validity. Six months is the safest rule. Some countries ask for less (Maldives one month, Qatar three months), but airlines and transit countries may be stricter.
- Prepare the four documents every country can ask for: return ticket, hotel booking, bank statement or cash, and travel insurance.
- Complete arrival forms in time, such as the Maldives IMUGA declaration within 96 hours of arrival.
- Check transit rules. Changing planes in a country that requires a transit visa can break an otherwise visa-free trip.
- Check again a week before departure, because rules can change after you book.
Common mistakes
- Treating "visa-free" as "guaranteed". The border officer still decides. A missing hotel booking or too little money can mean being sent back on the next flight.
- Booking a one-way ticket. Almost every country in this guide expects a confirmed return or onward ticket.
- Using unofficial eVisa websites. They charge several times the real fee. Use the official domains linked above.
- Assuming a UK, US or Schengen eVisa counts. For Turkey and Saudi Arabia, the rules may require a sticker visa or a previous entry on it.
- Relying on old lists. Pakistan's score moved several times during 2026, so a list from even a few months ago may be wrong.
How Sky Raah can help
Most destinations Pakistanis actually want to visit still need a visa prepared in advance. Our team in Lahore prepares visit visa files for Malaysia, Thailand, the UK, Schengen countries and more, and checks the current official rules for your passport before you book. You can browse our visit visa services or start your application and a consultant will contact you.
Official sources
- Henley & Partners: Henley Passport Index, July 2026 release and Pakistan destination list, 9 October 2026
- Maldives Immigration: Tourist visa on arrival
- Embassy of Nepal, Islamabad: Visa information
- Sri Lanka Department of Immigration and Emigration: ETA
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan: ASAN Visa
- Immigration Department of Malaysia: Visa requirement by country
- Royal Thai Embassy, Islamabad: e-Visa FAQs
- Legislative Herald of Georgia: Ordinance No. 256
- Republic of Türkiye: e-Visa portal
- Visit Qatar: Visa options
- KSA Visa: Tourist visa
Rules checked on 14 October 2026. Entry rules change without notice, so always confirm on the official site and with your airline before booking.
Frequently asked questions
How many countries can Pakistanis visit without a visa in 2026?
Henley & Partners' list for Pakistan, dated 9 October 2026, counts 29 destinations. That figure mixes three types: 11 truly visa-free, 15 visa on arrival and 3 that need an online travel authorisation before you fly. Countries that need an eVisa approved in advance, such as Azerbaijan or Malaysia, are not part of the 29.
Is Sri Lanka free for Pakistani passport holders?
Yes, for now. Sri Lanka's official ETA site lists Pakistan among 40 countries that get a free tourist visa from 25 May 2026, valid for 30 days with double entry. You must still apply for the ETA online before you travel; it is not issued automatically at the airport.
Can I get a Turkey e-Visa on a Pakistani passport?
Only if you meet Turkey's conditions. Pakistani applicants qualify for the online e-Visa when they hold a valid visa or residence permit from a Schengen country, the USA, the UK or Ireland. Without one, you need a regular visa through the Turkish embassy or consulate in Pakistan.
Does a UK, US or Schengen visa let a Pakistani enter Georgia without a visa?
Yes. Georgia's government ordinance lets holders of a valid visa or residence permit from any of the listed countries, including the UK, the USA and Schengen states, stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The visa must be valid on the day you cross the border. Since 2025, Pakistanis relying on a Gulf visa or residence permit need at least one year of validity left on it.
Can immigration refuse me even if the country is visa-free or visa on arrival?
Yes. Visa-free or on-arrival entry is a permission to ask for entry, not a guarantee. Officers can refuse anyone who cannot show a return ticket, a hotel booking, enough money or a valid purpose. Maldives Immigration, for example, states that a complete itinerary does not guarantee entry.
Why does the number of visa-free countries change so often?
Countries change their entry rules through the year, and Henley updates its data from IATA Timatic monthly. A single change, such as a country moving Pakistan from visa on arrival to eVisa, moves the score. That is why we date every figure and ask readers to check the official site before booking.
Need help with your application?
See our Visit visa services guide, or talk to our Lahore team.
Written by
Visa & Umrah consultants, Lahore
The Sky Raah Travels team prepares visit visa files and Umrah bookings for Pakistani travellers from our Lahore office.