Bhutan vs Sri Lanka Passport Comparison

Bhutan and Sri Lanka passports solve different travel problems, even when the headline comparison looks simple. The Bhutanese passport has limited but workable mobility in 2026, ranking 86th globally with access to 47 destinations. It is slightly below its 2006 position of 77th. Access has widened meaningfully, from 19 destinations then to 47 now. Its global and openness scores sit at 8 and 15, respectively. This passport leans heavily on arrival-based access rather than pure visa-free entry: 29 destinations offer visa on arrival, including Madagascar, Burundi, and Cambodia. There are also 18 visa-free destinations, such as Bangladesh, Colombia, and Cook Islands. The practical advice is simple: check the visa route early and keep the 6-month validity buffer in mind before booking. Use this as planning data, not final permission to travel; official embassy or border-authority guidance should be checked before departure. For Sri Lanka passport holders, international travel still starts with paperwork more often than not. The passport ranks 93rd globally in 2026. Asian passports vary widely, so the difference between a top-tier and lower-tier passport is especially visible here. The direction has not all been positive: it stood at 74th in 2006. Access has still improved, rising from 22 to 39 destinations. The supporting scores are modest too, at 31 globally and 42 for openness. This passport leans heavily on arrival-based access rather than pure visa-free entry: 19 destinations offer visa on arrival, including Madagascar, Bolivia, and Burundi. There are also 19 visa-free destinations, such as Bahamas, Barbados, and Cook Islands. The practical advice is simple: check the visa route early and keep the 6-month validity buffer in mind before booking. Use this as planning data, not final permission to travel; official embassy or border-authority guidance should be checked before departure. Reading those profiles together gives better context than a one-line winner label, because passport strength depends on where you travel, how often rules change, and whether the passport creates practical friction at borders, airlines, or visa portals.