Sri Lanka’s passport is currently ranked 94th on the Henley Passport Index 2026 with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 39 destinations. This page is the evergreen entry point — when the next annual index publishes, this URL updates with the new figure and the previous year moves into the archive below.
The current position
| Year | Henley rank | Visa-free destinations |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 94 | 39 |
| 2025 | 91 | 42 |
| 2024 | 96 | 43 |
| 2023 | 100 | 41 |
The 2026 figure is a small drop from 2025’s peak. The Henley Index methodology counts destinations that accept the passport without a prior visa — visa-free, visa-on-arrival and electronic travel authorisation (ETA) each count as one. It does not measure a passport’s overall utility; it measures one specific thing.
What “94th” actually means
Rank is a rough signal, not the point. What matters practically is:
- Which destinations are accessible without a prior visa — Sri Lankan passport holders can now travel visa-free or visa-on-arrival to 39 countries. The full current list is on Advice.lk’s visa-free destinations guide, verified against the Department of Immigration’s own gazette notices.
- Which destinations require an eVisa or embassy application — most of Europe, the US, Canada, Australia and Japan sit here. Ranking movement rarely changes this category.
- Which recent changes affect Sri Lankan travellers — Kenya switching to ETA in early 2024 added a destination; new bilateral arrangements can add more without a Henley reshuffle.
For the detail, see:
- Visa-free countries for Sri Lankan passport holders — the current full list, updated when destinations change rules.
How Henley compiles the index
Henley & Partners uses IATA’s Travel Information Manual — the same database airlines use to decide whether to board a passenger — cross-referenced with each country’s published visa policy. Rankings are updated annually in January and revised mid-year when material changes occur. The index is compiled at the level of the passport-issuing state, so Sri Lanka’s rank reflects the country as a whole, not any specific holder’s history.
Two other passport rankings are widely referenced:
- Arton Capital’s Passport Index uses similar visa-free/on-arrival counting but updates continuously rather than annually.
- Nomad Passport Index weights visa-free access, taxation, dual nationality tolerance, personal freedom and reputation — a broader utility measure than Henley’s.
For travel planning the Henley count is a proxy — the concrete answer is always “does destination X currently accept a Sri Lankan passport, and how”.
Sources
- Henley Passport Index annual publication (Henley & Partners).
- Sri Lanka Department of Immigration and Emigration — bilateral visa arrangements.
- IATA Travel Information Manual — carrier-side entry rules.
This page updates when a new Henley Index publishes or when a destination materially changes its entry policy for Sri Lankan passport holders. Nothing here is legal or travel advice — verify the current rule with the destination’s embassy or consulate before travelling.
