The Henley Passport Index and the Arton Capital Passport Index have identified nine countries whose passports recorded significant gains in access during 2025 and 2026, driven by diplomatic deals, regional trade agreements, and national reform programmes.
UAE leads after two decades of steady growth
The United Arab Emirates has added 149 visa-free destinations since 2006, climbing 57 places to reach 5th on the Henley Passport Index with access to 188 destinations. Analysts describe this rise as a deliberate policy reshaping passport value over time, rather than economic size alone.
Hong Kong posted the sharpest single-cycle movement among established passports, climbing 12 ranks to 31st, with mobility leading the improvement and gains across gender, investment, and freedom indicators supporting it.
Gulf nations benefit from China visa exemption deal
Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain made measurable progress, partly through a broad Chinese visa exemption covering all Gulf Cooperation Council members. Oman rose to 55th on the May 2026 Henley ranking, up from 57th in January, with access to 84 destinations. A separate mutual visa exemption agreement between Oman and Russia, effective July 18, 2025, added to that momentum.
Saudi Arabia's passport now covers roughly 87 to 88 visa-free destinations, a clear improvement from previous years. Bahrain's gains were driven more by economic indicators, including the largest gross national income per capita increase of any 2026 riser, than by mobility alone.
Philippines, India, and Pakistan record gains
The Philippines recorded one of the biggest numeric jumps among mid-table passports, with visa-free access rising from 64 to about 78 destinations. That total breaks down to 36 fully visa-free countries and around 40 to 42 more accessible via visa on arrival or electronic travel authorisation.
India reached 80th on the 2026 Henley index, tied with Algeria, giving its passport holders access to 55 destinations, up from 85th the previous year. Separate mid-2026 tracking placed India around the mid-70s with 56 destinations, suggesting the upward trend has held.
Pakistan remains near the bottom of global rankings but has reversed a long slide. The February 2026 Henley index placed Pakistan 97th, up from 98th in January and 103rd the year before. Holders can now visit 32 countries visa-free, on arrival, or via eTA, after The Gambia was reinstated as an accessible destination.
Kosovo's climb and what it means
Kosovo's climb, 35 places since 2016, has been described by analysts as the belated collection of a mobility dividend the country had already earned on technical grounds, with political obstacles only recently clearing enough for the gains to show up in the data.
The nine countries highlighted demonstrate that passport strength can be improved through sustained diplomatic engagement and regional cooperation, offering a blueprint for other nations seeking to expand their citizens' global mobility.
