Nepali passport ranks 97th in Henley index with access to 35 destinations

KATHMANDU: The Henley Passport Index’s May 2026 global ranking shows the Nepali passport continues to face severe restrictions on international travel. Nepali passport holders are able to enter only a small number of countries without a prior visa.

According to the index, which evaluates 199 passports against 227 destinations on the basis of visa-free or visa-on-arrival access, Nepali holders can travel to only 35 destinations without obtaining a visa in advance. That places Nepal 97th in the global ranking with a score of 35, tied with North Korea.

Countries offering visa-free access to Nepali passport holders include India, Bangladesh, Barbados, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde Islands, Comoro Islands, Cook Islands, Djibouti, Dominica, Egypt, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Micronesia, Mozambique, Niue, Pakistan, Palau Islands, Philippines, Rwanda, Samoa, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Tanzania, The Gambia, Timor-Leste, and Tuvalu.

The report also highlights global leaders in travel freedom. Singapore grants visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 192 destinations, while Japan, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates follow with scores of 187. Several European countries, including Sweden, France, Germany and Spain, also rank near the top. The United States is 10th with a score of 179.

At the lower end of the scale, Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq remain among the least powerful passports, with scores of 23, 26 and 29, respectively. Regionally, Nepal ranks sixth in South Asia, ahead of only Pakistan and Afghanistan; the Maldives ranks first regionally and India second, with global ranks of 50 and 78, respectively.

The strict immigration requirements for Nepali travellers — including extensive documentation, financial proof and interview procedures — continue to limit mobility for students, businesspeople and tourists.