SL Passport Ranked 93rd in the World

WHAT THIS REALLY MEANS FOR YOUR TRAVEL, WORK AND FUTURE When viewed over the last two decades, the country's passport ranking shows a steady erosion of global mobility

- By MOIZ MUSTAFA

For many Sri Lankans, passport power is not something learned from an index or a website. It is learned in embassy waiting rooms. In rejected applications. In deadlines missed because approvals did not arrive on time.

In 2026, Sri Lanka's passport is ranked 93rd on the Henley Passport Index, granting visa free or simplified access to 39 destinations worldwide. It is an improvement from recent years, but still far from where the country once stood.

This ranking matters because it reflects something deeply practical. How easily a Sri Lankan can move, work, study, or respond when opportunity appears abroad.What the Henley Passport Index measures and why it carries weight The Henley Passport Index is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Authority and evaluates 199 passports against 227 destinations. It tracks how many places passport holders can enter without applying for a visa in advance and has recorded global mobility trends for more than 20 years.

In effect, it measures friction. The lower the rank, the more explanations, documents, and patience a traveller must produce before being allowed to move. Twenty years of movement that explain today's reality

Sri Lanka's current position did not happen overnight. When viewed over the last two decades, the country's passport ranking shows a steady erosion of global mobility.

In 2006, Sri Lanka was ranked 74th, sitting closer to middle tier countries than to the bottom end of the table. The following years saw a gradual slide. By 2007, the ranking had slipped to 76th. In 2008 and 2009, it stood at 79th.