Afghanistan Passport Remains Weakest in 2026 Ranking
Afghanistan’s passport continues to rank as the weakest in the world, according to the February 2026 edition of the Henley Passport Index. The country sits in 101st place, with Afghan passport holders able to access only 24 destinations without obtaining a visa in advance.
This limited travel freedom sharply contrasts with the broader global trend of expanding mobility enjoyed by citizens of more diplomatically connected nations.
24 Destinations Accessible Without Prior Visa
Under Henley’s criteria, destinations offering visa-free entry, visa on arrival, or electronic travel authorisation (ETA) are counted as “no prior visa required.”
Here are the 24 destinations Afghan passport holders can access:
Visa-Free Countries (4)
- Cook Islands
- Dominica
- Haiti
- Micronesia
Visa-On-Arrival Countries (17)
- Madagascar
- Bangladesh
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cape Verde
- Comoros
- Guinea-Bissau
- Macao
- Maldives
- Mozambique
- Palau
- Rwanda
- Samoa
- Timor-Leste
- Tuvalu
- Djibouti
- Niue
ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) Countries (3)
- Sri Lanka
- Kenya
- Seychelles
Why Afghanistan Ranks So Low
The Henley Passport Index relies on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to assess how many destinations passport holders can enter without a prior visa.
Afghanistan’s ranking reflects limited diplomatic engagement, ongoing security concerns, and travel restrictions imposed by many governments. With access to just 24 destinations, it remains the only passport in the 2026 ranking offering entry to fewer than 25 countries.
In contrast, countries such as Singapore, Japan, South Korea, and several European nations dominate the top positions, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to more than 180 destinations.
What This Means for Afghan Travellers
Although mobility remains severely restricted, the 24 accessible destinations provide important options for Afghan nationals seeking tourism, family visits, trade opportunities, or transit routes.
Many of the available destinations are small island nations, African states, and regional partners where bilateral arrangements or simplified entry systems remain in place.
For Afghan travellers, these countries represent crucial gateways in an otherwise highly restricted global travel environment.
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