KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Afghanistan’s passport has once again been ranked last in the 2025 Henley Passport Index, retaining its position as the least powerful passport in the world.
The rankings, published by Henley & Partners and based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), assess the global mobility of passport holders. Afghanistan’s passport scored just 26 for visa-free access, two fewer than a year ago.
At the top of the rankings, Singapore leads with visa-free access to 195 destinations. Japan follows in second place, with 193 countries open to its passport holders without a visa. Finland, France, Germany, Italy, South Korea, and Spain share third place, offering visa-free travel to 192 destinations.
Afghanistan’s passport is ranked 106th, sitting below Iraq and Syria, which occupy the second- and third-to-last positions, respectively.
Afghan passports are still issued under the name of the former Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, despite the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021. Since then, no country has formally recognized the Taliban as the legitimate ruler of Afghanistan.
The decline in passport power coincides with increasing difficulties for Afghan citizens in obtaining the document. High costs, bureaucratic hurdles, and corruption have made the process arduous, even as economic collapse and repression under the Taliban drive a surge in migration.
Afghans with the least powerful passport face significant challenges when seeking asylum or migration opportunities. The global mobility disparity starkly highlights the isolation Afghanistan faces under its current regime.
