Tengrinews.kz – Kazakhstan’s passport has improved its position in the global Henley Passport Index, rising to 57th place in 2026. Citizens of Kazakhstan can now travel visa-free to 78 countries.
According to the updated ranking by Henley & Partners, Kazakhstan has shown steady progress in recent years. The country ranked 70th in 2023, climbed to 66th in 2024, 61st in 2025, and has now reached 57th place — gaining 13 positions in about two and a half years.
In the latest ranking, Kazakhstan is positioned above Belarus and Bolivia, but remains behind Kosovo and China.
Central Asia comparison
Among Central Asian countries, Kazakhstan remains in the middle of the list. Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan share 73rd place, with visa-free access to 59 countries. Tajikistan ranks 79th with access to 53 destinations, while Turkmenistan is 87th with 45 countries.
Russia ranks 44th with access to 113 destinations, Belarus is 58th, and Azerbaijan is 66th with access to 67 countries.
Strongest and weakest passports
The ranking is led by Singapore, whose passport allows visa-free travel to 192 destinations. It is followed by Japan and South Korea, each with access to 187 countries.
At the bottom of the ranking is Afghanistan, whose passport provides access to just 24 countries. Other countries with limited mobility include Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Pakistan, Somalia, North Korea, Nepal, Bangladesh, Eritrea, Sri Lanka and Palestine.
The Henley Passport Index is a global ranking that measures travel freedom based on how many destinations can be visited without a visa. It evaluates 199 passports and 227 destinations worldwide using a points system based on visa requirements.
