Kazakhstan Leads Central Asia in Global Passport Index 2026
Kazakhstan ranked first among Central Asian countries in the Global Passport Index 2026, published by international migration consultancy Global Citizen Solutions, reinforcing its position as the region’s highest-ranked passport. The country placed 109th among 197 jurisdictions worldwide.
Kazakhstan ranked ahead of all other Central Asian states, followed by Uzbekistan (123rd), the Kyrgyz Republic (127th), Tajikistan (140th) and Turkmenistan (144th). Globally, Kazakhstan was positioned between the Maldives and Belarus.
According to the index, holders of Kazakh passports enjoy visa-free access to 48 countries and territories. They also benefit from simplified entry procedures or visa-on-arrival arrangements in a number of destinations, including Andorra, Belarus, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Palestine, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Visas remain required for approximately 85 destinations, including France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The Global Passport Index evaluates passports across three key pillars— Enhanced Mobility, Investment and Quality of Living—using 15 performance indicators. Kazakhstan ranked 112th in the Enhanced Mobility Index, 61st in the Investment Index and 112th in the Quality of Living Index, with investment attractiveness identified as the country’s strongest area of performance.
Sweden topped the 2026 global ranking, followed by Switzerland, Finland, Germany, while Denmark and the Netherlands shared fifth place.
