Asia's most powerful passports 2026
Asia continues to dominate the top of the global passport power rankings. Singapore once again secured the number one position worldwide in 2026, with its citizens enjoying visa-free access to 192 destinations. Japan and South Korea jointly ranked second, offering access to 188 destinations.
Within South Asia, India ranked 80th, providing visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to around 60 destinations, while Pakistan stood near the bottom at 98th. Sri Lanka and Nepal also outperformed Bangladesh, reflecting gradual improvements in regional mobility.
Henley & Partners, which publishes the index using data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), noted that passport strength is increasingly linked to economic opportunity, investment flows and global competitiveness. Countries with stronger passports tend to attract more business, tourism and foreign investment, while weaker passports limit citizens’ access to education, employment and travel opportunities abroad.
Experts argue that for Bangladesh to improve its ranking, stronger diplomatic engagement, improved migration management, and bilateral visa agreements—particularly with Asian, African and Middle Eastern countries—are essential. As global mobility becomes a key economic asset, passport power is emerging as an important indicator of a country’s international standing and soft power.
The Bangladeshi passport has been ranked 95th out of 101 in the Henley Passport Index 2026 (Q1), which evaluates 199 passports based on how many destinations their holders can enter without obtaining a prior visa. Bangladeshi citizens currently enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to just 37 destinations.
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