Tajikistan’s Passport Strength Declines, Slips to 87th Place Worldwide

Tajikistan has slipped six positions in the latest Henley Passport Index 2025, now ranking 87th worldwide in terms of passport strength, according to the annual report by UK-based Henley & Partners.

The index ranks passports based on the number of countries holders can enter visa-free or with simplified visa procedures, The Caspian Post reports via Tajik media.

Tajik passport holders currently enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to only 55 countries, one of the lowest totals in Central Asia. This marks a decline from 2024, when Tajikistan ranked 81st with access to 61 countries.

In the Central Asian region, only Turkmenistan ranks lower, positioned 93rd with visa-free access to 48 countries. Kazakhstan leads the region at 67th place with access to 78 destinations, followed by Kyrgyzstan (81st, 62 countries) and Uzbekistan (82nd, 61 countries).

Global Rankings and Index Methodology

The 2025 Henley Passport Index names Singapore, Japan, France, Germany, and Italy as holders of the strongest passports, granting visa-free access to nearly 200 countries. At the opposite end of the spectrum is Afghanistan, whose passport offers entry to only 24 countries without a prior visa.

The index is compiled using data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and evaluates 229 countries and territories. Passports earn points based on destinations that allow:

Visa-free entry

Visa-on-arrival

Electronic travel authorization (eTA)

The greater the number of accessible countries, the higher the passport’s ranking.

Tajikistan’s Standing on Other Travel Freedom Indexes

Earlier this year, the Visa Index ranked Tajikistan 84th in travel freedom, noting:

23 visa-free countries

33 countries offering visa on arrival

2 countries requiring eTA

40 countries requiring eVisas

131 countries requiring traditional visas

Meanwhile, the Passport Index placed Tajikistan 66th in 2025, citing access to:

23 visa-free countries

47 visa-on-arrival destinations

4 countries allowing eTA access

According to Tajikistan’s Foreign Ministry, the country currently holds visa-free agreements with 35 nations, with 23 offering full visa-free access to all Tajik citizens. The remaining agreements apply only to holders of diplomatic or service passports.