Passport and Visa requirements for Botswana

Entry Requirements

Please note that these notes are not exhaustive and may change routinely:

Passports

• Passports must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry to Botswana
• Passports must include at least two clear pages facing each other.
• Dual nationals using two different passports can only enter the country on the same passport they used to exit the previous country.
• Torn, wet or grubby passports especially where the picture or pages are damaged, may be refused entry.

Holders of a passport that does not require a visa means that you can simply turn up at an entry point to the country and you will be issued up to 90 days tourist stay in Botswana free of charge. You will be given a form at the border to fill in with such information as passport number, name etc. It will also require an address in Botswana and ask for the length of stay. Always fill in the address (even if it is just where you are going to stay for one night of your trip).

Do your best to never exceed the amount of days granted on your entry stamp. Botswana officials are very strict and are not corrupt (bribe offers could result in arrest). Penalties for overstay are hefty fines, possible imprisonment while it gets sorted, and a record of your passport/stamp in passport making it impossible to return to Botswana as well as making it difficult to travel to other countries.

If for some legitimate reason you miss your deadline, for example breakdown or illness, where this occurs, go to the local police, explain what has happened, and get a letter from them or from a Doctor confirming the situation. Presenting this at the border post should smooth things over.

Visas

Foreigners from commonwealth countries are not required to obtain a visa for entering Botswana, except in cases where the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs has directed otherwise (See charts below). Botswana has also signed visa abolition agreements with a number of countries, and their nationals are not required to obtain entry visas, these include South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia.

Requirements for Visa Application:

Visitors

• Completed immigration supplementary Form D by the applicant (Visa Form)
• Letter of support form the host
• Two passport size photos (identical)
• Fee of BWP500
• Return visa or residence permit from his/her country of residence.
• Return air ticket.
• Confirmation letter from the country if the person is coming for business purposes.

If a person visiting Botswana wants to stay more than three months, they must apply before entering Botswana to the Chief Immigration Officer, P.O Box 942, Gaborone. Tel: +267 631 1300