2023 Henley Passport Index An Afghan passport has once again been labelled by the index as the least powerful passport in the world, with its nationals only able to visit 27 destinations visa-free. This was followed by the Iraqi passport at 29 destinations and the Syrian passport at 30 destinations.

As of the 2026 Henley Passport Index rankings, Afghanistan continues to hold the position of the least powerful passport in the world. Due to ongoing political instability, security concerns, and a lack of formal diplomatic recognition for its current administration in many nations, Afghan passport holders have visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to only 24 to 26 destinations globally. This ranking is based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which tracks travel freedom for 199 different passports across 227 travel destinations. Following closely behind at the bottom of the list are Syria and Iraq, which also face significant international travel restrictions. For Afghan citizens, most international travel requires a rigorous and often expensive formal visa application process with high rejection rates. The "power" of a passport is viewed as a reflection of a country's diplomatic relationships and internal stability; consequently, Afghanistan's bottom-tier status underscores the severe mobility challenges faced by its population on the global stage.