Every way into Botswana.

Nationals of many countries do not need a visa to enter Botswana for tourism or short visits and are admitted for a stay of up to 90 days, generally counted cumulatively within a 12-month period. Visa-exempt travellers include citizens of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, EU member states, most Commonwealth countries and SADC member states under the regional free-movement arrangement. The exact entry stamp duration is set by the immigration officer at the port of entry; stays beyond the permitted period require an extension or a residence permit. Botswana publishes the list of nationalities that DO require a visa rather than a definitive visa-free list, so travellers should confirm their status before travel. This entry does not authorise work or formal study.

Max stay

90 days

The single-entry tourist visa for nationals of countries that require a visa to enter Botswana for leisure, holidays or short non-work visits. Applications are made online through the official e-visa portal at evisa.gov.bw or in person at immigration offices and Botswana missions abroad. The single-entry tourist visa fee is BWP 300 and the visa permits a stay of up to 90 days; extensions may be requested from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship with valid justification. The official portal states processing of seven to fourteen days; supporting documents for online applications must be combined into a single PDF. The visa does not authorise work or formal study.

Government fee

BWP 300

Processing time

14 days

Max stay

90 days

Validity

90 days

The multiple-entry tourist visa for visa-required nationals who need to enter Botswana more than once for tourism or short visits, for example travellers combining Botswana with neighbouring SADC countries. Applications are submitted online at evisa.gov.bw or in person at immigration offices and missions abroad. The multiple-entry tourist visa fee is BWP 500 and each stay is limited to the period granted on entry, with overall validity of up to 90 days. The visa is for leisure and short non-work visits only and does not permit employment or formal study; extensions require a request to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

Government fee

BWP 500

Processing time

14 days

Max stay

90 days

Validity

90 days

The transit visa is for visa-required nationals who need to pass through Botswana on the way to another destination and wish to leave the airport, for a maximum of seven days. Transporters and tour operators with a confirmed onward booking may be granted up to 14 days. Applicants must show a confirmed onward booking or proof to continue their journey, generally within three days of arrival. The visa cannot be extended for any reason and does not allow the holder to work or undertake formal study or training in Botswana. Processing takes seven to fourteen working days; applications are made online at evisa.gov.bw or in person.

Processing time

14 days

Max stay

7 days

The employment visa is the entry visa that allows a visa-required national to enter Botswana to take up work, and it is granted on the basis of an already-approved work and residence permit. To qualify, the applicant must hold a valid work and residence permit; the visa itself does not grant the right to work. Applications are made online at evisa.gov.bw or in person using Form 1 at immigration offices and missions abroad. Supporting documents include a waiver from the Department of Labour and Social Security and an employment contract or confirmation letter where applicable. Processing takes seven to fourteen working days; the official page does not publish a fee.

• Work: Work is authorised by the underlying work permit, not the entry visa itself; the visa requires a valid work and residence permit.
• Residency after 5 years

Processing time

14 days

Non-citizens admitted to study in Botswana apply within the residence-permit framework in the student category, using Form 15 and a Form 3 medical report alongside study-specific documents. Required study documents include a sponsorship letter, an admission letter stating the course and its duration, and a certified school-fees receipt. Processing takes thirty working days. The study residence permit authorises lawful study for the duration of the programme; the official page does not publish a separate student fee, and amounts vary by category. The permit does not authorise general employment.

• Study: Authorises enrolment and study at the admitting institution for the programme duration.

Processing time

30 days

Non-citizens who establish and run their own business in Botswana apply for a work permit in the self-employed or investor category, assessed by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. In addition to the standard work-permit documents, applicants in this category must provide company registration documents, trade licences, lease agreements, bank statements, a list of employees and documentation of business assets. The permit is normally held together with a residence permit. The official page lists processing of fourteen working days and does not publish a fixed fee; investors may later qualify for permanent residence in less than the usual five years.

• Work: Authorises operation of the applicant's own approved business in Botswana.
• Residency after 5 years

Processing time

14 days

The work permit authorises a non-citizen to be employed in Botswana and is assessed by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship through the Regional Immigrant Selection Board. Employers must show the job was advertised (advert not older than six months) and provide a contract of employment, an offer or appointment letter, and the applicant's qualifications certified and, where needed, evaluated by the Botswana Qualifications Authority. Profession-specific requirements apply to drivers, farm workers, healthcare workers, teachers, accountants, footballers, pilots and engineers, and investors must provide business and financial documentation. A work permit is normally held together with a residence permit. The official page lists processing of fourteen working days and does not publish a fee.

• Work: Authorises employment with the sponsoring employer for the occupation approved by the Regional Immigrant Selection Board.
• Residency after 5 years

Processing time

14 days

The investment visa supports non-citizens entering Botswana for business and investment purposes, and is associated with the country's investment-promotion framework supported by the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC). Applications are made online at evisa.gov.bw or in person at immigration offices and missions abroad. Investors typically establish a registered company and may progress to a self-employed/investor work permit and residence permit, and ultimately to permanent residence. The official page returned no published fee, validity or minimum-investment threshold; figures should be confirmed with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship and BITC. The visa is for business and investment activity and does not by itself authorise paid employment.

• Residency: Investors may progress to a residence permit and, eventually, permanent residence in less than the usual five years.

Processing time

14 days

The visitor's visa is for visa-required nationals coming to Botswana to visit friends or relatives, and for returning residents who hold a valid residence permit but have been outside the country for more than six months. Applications are made online at evisa.gov.bw or in person at immigration offices and missions abroad. The visa can be valid for up to two years for dependants of a resident; the host generally appears in person to swear an affidavit supporting the visit. The official page does not publish a fee for this category. Processing takes seven to fourteen working days and the visa does not authorise work or formal study.

Processing time

14 days

Validity

730 days

The spouse of a Botswana citizen applies for a residence permit in the dedicated spouse-of-citizen category, using Form 15 and a Form 3 medical report supported by the citizen spouse. The checklist includes a certified copy of the marriage certificate, a letter of support from the spouse, a covering letter from the applicant, the passport data page, and a passport photograph. Processing takes thirty working days. The permit grants lawful residence based on the marriage; the official page does not publish a fee for this category and amounts should be confirmed with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

• Study: Lawful residence supports study; institution enrolment rules still apply.
• Residency after 5 years
• Family: Permit is for the foreign spouse; children apply as dependants on their own documents.

Processing time

30 days

Dependants of a resident or permit holder - including dependent children aged 18-25 and senior relatives aged 65 and over - apply for a residence permit in the dependant category. The application uses Form 15 and Form 3 and is supported by the resident's valid permit or ID, a supporter letter, and parental consent or guardianship documents where relevant. Persons aged 18 and over must each apply separately. The published fee for dependants aged 18-25 and 65+ is BWP 1,500, and processing takes thirty working days. The permit confers lawful residence but does not by itself authorise employment.

• Study: Lawful residence supports study, subject to institution enrolment for students.
• Residency after 5 years
• Family: Issued per dependant; each person aged 18+ applies separately.

Government fee

BWP 1,500

Processing time

30 days

An exemption certificate is issued by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship in lieu of separate work and residence permits, typically for senior executives, specialists, certain investors and other categories the authorities choose to exempt from the standard permit process. The certificate combines the right to reside and to undertake the approved activity, and labour exemption certificates are also available to permanent residents. Holders may use it as the underlying status when applying for entry or visitor visas. The official pages confirm the certificate's existence and that it must be valid for at least six months when relied upon, but do not publish a standard fee, validity period or fixed eligibility threshold, which are determined case by case.

• Work: Where granted, the exemption certificate authorises the approved activity in place of a separate work permit.
• Residency after 5 years

Missionaries, pastors and other religious workers coming to serve a church or religious organisation in Botswana are processed in the residence/work-permit framework with a dedicated missionary checklist. Supporting documents include certified ordination certificates from religious leaders and an invitation or sponsorship letter from the host religious organisation, in addition to the standard Form 15, Form 3 medical report, certified passport copy and photographs. Processing aligns with residence-permit timeframes of around thirty working days; the official page does not publish a fixed fee for this category. The permit authorises the religious service described in the application.

• Work: Authorises the religious or missionary work described in the application with the sponsoring organisation.
• Residency after 5 years

Processing time

30 days

Any non-citizen who wishes to stay in Botswana beyond the visitation period needs a residence permit, applied for using Form 15 together with a Form 3 medical report. Three main categories are recognised: dependants, immigrants and spouses of citizens, each with its own checklist. Immigrants must show proof of financial support and bank statements; dependants and senior relatives need a supporter's valid permit or ID and a supporter letter. The published fee for dependants aged 18-25 and 65+ is BWP 1,500; other categories vary. Processing takes thirty working days. The residence permit is the standard companion document held alongside a work permit and is required for longer-term stay.

• Study: Students apply in the residence-permit framework with admission and sponsorship documents; the permit supports lawful study.
• Residency after 5 years
• Family: Separate categories exist for spouses of citizens, dependants and immigrants; each applies on their own documents.

Processing time

30 days

Permanent residence allows a non-citizen to settle in Botswana indefinitely. General applicants must have resided lawfully and continuously in Botswana for at least five years, be of good character and standing, have made significant contributions to the country, and have sufficient means to support themselves and their dependants. Investors and business owners may qualify with less than five years of residence. The application uses Form 21 with a covering letter, passport data page and a copy of a work/residence permit or exemption certificate valid for at least six months as proof of length of stay. The fee is BWP 3,000 and the official page states the service takes about six months (around 56 working days).

• Work: Permanent residents may live and generally work in Botswana, subject to any labour-exemption certificate requirements.
• Study: Permanent residents may study in Botswana.
• Residency: This is the permanent residence status itself; it may support a later application for citizenship by registration.
• Family: Spouse and dependants are considered with the application and supported as part of the household.

Government fee

BWP 3,000

Processing time

180 days