As Nepal marks the beginning of 2024, its passport continues to grapple with a suboptimal global ranking, standing at 98th place worldwide. Although there has been a slight improvement compared to the preceding year, the passport still holds the unenviable position of being the third-lowest in South Asia, surpassing only Pakistan and Afghanistan. According to the latest Henley Passport Index, a comprehensive assessment of travel freedom based on the permissions granted by various countries to their citizens, Nepal’s standing remains a cause for concern.
In the South Asian region, Nepal trails behind its neighbors, with India at 80th place, China at 62nd, Bhutan at 87th, Maldives at 58th, Sri Lanka at 96th, and Bangladesh sharing the 98th spot. The two lowest-ranked nations, Pakistan and Afghanistan, find themselves at 101st and 104th positions, respectively. The Henley Passport Index relies on data from the International Air Transport Association and the Henley and Partners Research Department to provide its global rankings.
While the low passport ranking might not be surprising to Nepalis familiar with international travel, it raises concerns, particularly considering Nepal’s current state of political stability, democratic governance, and absence of large-scale conflicts. Experts and officials attribute the weak passport performance to various factors, including a proclivity among Nepalis to violate visa regulations. Notably, successive governments have been criticized for failing to address these issues adequately.
Nischal Nath Pandey, the director of the Centre for South Asian Studies (CSAS), points out that the weak passport could be a driving force behind the emigration of young Nepalis seeking permanent residency in other countries. He expresses concern that the Henley Index consistently ranks Nepal’s passport among the weakest, impacting not only travel but also access to certain tourist destinations. Additionally, Pandey notes that misuse of diplomatic passports by politicians contributes to the overall lack of credibility.
The problems associated with Nepal’s passport are multi-faceted, extending to instances of Nepalis overstaying visit visas. The country’s ranking hit a historic low of 110 in 2021, rebounding slightly to 106 in 2022. According to the UK-based firm, Embassies.net, as of January 2024, Nepali passport holders can travel to 56 countries without a visa or by obtaining an e-visa/visa on arrival, ranking 186th globally. The misuse of diplomatic passports and visa overstay are identified as major reasons behind the weakening of Nepal’s passport strength, and experts stress the need for a comprehensive strategy to enhance its credibility on the global stage.
