Nine countries with the most improved passport access

Global travel freedom is undergoing a significant reshaping. While changes in passport rankings were once a slow affair, recent tracking shows that regional cooperation, strategic diplomatic agreements, and visa liberalisation can alter international mobility in a much shorter span. According to Businessday, the gap between the world's strongest and weakest travel documents has widened significantly, highlighting the remarkable strides made by specific nations that have managed to climb the global index.

This evolving coverage of global mobility demonstrates how political recognition and targeted bilateral deals can open international borders. Nine specific territories stand out for their upward trajectory in travel access, reflecting diverse diplomatic strategies from the Gulf to South Asia and Southeast Asia.

Media additions

The Nine Most Improved Passports

• United Arab Emirates: Recording the largest long-term increase in global rankings, the UAE added numerous visa-free destinations over nearly two decades and climbed to fifth position, now granting access to a substantial number of international destinations through economic engagement and international partnerships.
• Kosovo: Advancing significantly in the rankings, Kosovo's mobility remains below the global average, but the introduction of greater European mobility access marked a vital turning point after years of political restrictions.
• India: Demonstrating steady upward progress, India advanced in the Henley Passport Index due to continued diplomatic engagement and visa liberalisation efforts.
• Oman: Climbing higher in the rankings, Omani citizens benefited directly from new bilateral agreements, including China's visa exemption for Gulf Cooperation Council states and a mutual visa waiver arrangement with Russia.
• Saudi Arabia: Alongside its broader economic and social transformation programmes, Saudi Arabia expanded its travel access, boosted in part by regional visa exemption arrangements with China.
• Bahrain: Benefiting from wider economic shifts and inclusion in China's regional visa exemption framework, Bahraini citizens gained streamlined entry to key international destinations.
• Hong Kong: Moving upward in the global index, Hong Kong's progress stemmed from a combination of visa waiver arrangements and wider indicators tracking investment and freedom.
• Philippines: The foreign ministry's pursuit of reciprocal visa arrangements helped expand accessible destinations, supported by ongoing discussions regarding potential Schengen access.
• Pakistan: Although remaining near the bottom of the global table, Pakistan recorded a modest positive shift in direction, aided by administrative changes such as the reinstatement of entry arrangements with The Gambia.

Diplomatic rapport continues to play a vital role beyond mere index numbers. In related international developments reported by Jiji Press, Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow emphasised that personal trust between national leaders remains a decisive factor in successful negotiations. Speaking in Auckland on Saturday, Sihasak noted that leader-level relationships drive practical gains in trade and employment. As part of an effort to extend diplomacy beyond routine consular services and passports, the Thai government announced plans to incorporate labour mobility into updates for its existing free-trade agreement with New Zealand, seeking more flexible language requirements for thousands of seasonal agricultural and service workers.

At the same time, administrative bottlenecks and public trust in travel-related agencies face strict scrutiny elsewhere. According to Myjoyonline, citing findings from the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition, domestic governance challenges continue to affect public institutions. The report highlighted that public agencies, including passport and driving licence offices, remain associated with informal payments by citizens accessing services, underscoring the complex relationship between domestic institutional integrity and international mobility infrastructure.

What to Watch Next

As global mobility continues to shift, observers will be tracking upcoming index updates to see whether newly forged regional partnerships can sustain the upward momentum of developing passports. Key developments to monitor include:

• Future revisions to the Henley Passport Index and Arton Capital Passport Index.
• The formal incorporation of labour mobility provisions into Thailand's trade negotiations with New Zealand.
• Ongoing diplomatic talks regarding reciprocal Schengen access for emerging travel markets.
• Implementation of strengthened internal financial controls across public statutory bodies following recent governance audits.