List of countries with least travel freedom, and visa-free scores below 50 in 2025

When it comes to travel, freedom and accessibility can make or break a plan. However, in today's world, not every traveller enjoys the same privilege for varied reasons. There are travellers who can cross borders with little more than a quick scan of their passport, whereas others face delays for various reasons, which is again a very different reality.

The 2025 Henley Passport Index, helps in this context to understand this stark contrast in global mobility. It ranks the world’s passports according to how many destinations their holders can access either visa-free, with visa-on-arrival, or with an electronic travel authority (ETA). A lower “visa-free score” indicates more restricted global mobility.Here, we take a look at those countries that offer access to fewer than 50 destinations visa-free or visa-on-arrival.

These passports sit at the bottom of the global ranking, highlighting just how uneven travel freedom remains across nations. Based strictly on the data from the latest Henley Passport Index, here is a clear look at the countries whose passports have the lowest visa-free scores this year.

Below is a selection of such countries (not exhaustive), along with their visa-free scores:

Note: The “visa-free score” refers to all destinations for which a passport holder does not require a prior visa — including visa-on-arrival and ETA allowances — as per Henley methodology.

Read more: 7 visa-free (or Visa-on-Arrival) nations Indians can explore this winter

What does a score under 50 signify?

A passport with fewer than 50 visa-free/visa-on-arrival destinations reflects limited travel freedom. For citizens of such countries, travelling internationally typically involves applying for visas in advance for most destinations, a process that can be costly, time-consuming, and uncertain.The fact that over two dozen countries fall below this threshold also highlights global inequalities in mobility: whereas passport-holders from top-ranked countries enjoy access to 180+ destinations visa-free, the least powerful passports offer only a fraction of that freedom.However, it needs to be noted that many of the lowest-scoring passports belong to countries in conflict zones, fragile states or with limited diplomatic reach, for example, nations such as Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, Somalia, and South Sudan.Read more: From Kannauj to Cologne Historic cities from around the world famous for perfumesCountries with lower visa-free scores often face additional international travel and diplomatic isolation, which may affect their citizens’ global mobility and opportunities.Passport strength, as measured by visa-free access, is a strong proxy for global mobility, opportunity, and connectivity. For individuals from countries with low scores, pursuing education, work, tourism, or business abroad often entails navigating complex visa regimes. This can shape global migration, economic opportunities, and human mobility patterns.