Botswana GateYour Gateway to Botswana
Apply for visas and travel documents quickly and securely. Tourism, work, student, residence, and transit visas — all in one place.
Khama III · Sebele I · Bathoen I — Gaborone, Botswana
Immigration Requirements Checker
Visa Applications
For travel, tourism, study, employment and transit
Visitor's Visa
For visitors, tourism and family visits to Botswana. Single entry (up to 3 months), multiple entry (up to 3 months), or multiple entry 2-year option for dependants of residents. Valid passport (6+ months), return ticket, and proof of funds required.
Tourists Visa
For tourists visiting Botswana's Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park, and the Kalahari Desert. Single entry: up to 1 month. Multiple entry: up to 3 months.
Business Visa
For individuals travelling to Botswana for business meetings, conferences, negotiations, and short-term commercial activities. Single or multiple entry available.
Study Visa
For international students enrolled in recognized educational institutions in Botswana. Covers primary, secondary, and tertiary education programs.
Transit Visa
For travelers passing through Botswana en route to another destination. Required for nationals of certain countries transiting through Botswana airports or land borders.
Extension of Stay
Allows visitors already in Botswana to extend their permitted days of stay beyond the initially granted period without leaving the country.
Employment Visa
For individuals travelling to Botswana for employment, internship, research, work, or voluntary services. Must be applied via the Botswana Embassy in your home country. Gratis (free) — no government fee.
Investor Visa
For foreign nationals investing substantial capital in Botswana. Covers investors and entrepreneurs establishing or operating a business.
Permits & Residency
Work permits, residence permits, and permanent residency
Work Permit
Gives a non-citizen permission to work in Botswana for reward or to invest for profit. Available as a 3-year or 5-year permit — suitable for fixed-term contracts and long-term employment.
Emergency Work Permit
Expedited work permit for urgent employment situations. Required when an employer urgently needs a non-citizen's specialized skills for a special project.
Work Permit Appeal
For applicants whose work or residence permit was refused. Submit an appeal with full supporting evidence for reconsideration.
Exemption Certificate
For senior employees and company directors who qualify for exemption from standard work permit requirements. Employee certificates valid 5 years; Directors certificates have no expiry date.
Residence Permit
For non-citizens who wish to live in Botswana long-term. All non-citizens above 18 intending to stay must apply. Valid 5–10 years.
Residence Waiver
Residence waiver for principal and dependants (spouse and children). Traditional/customary marriage is NOT recognised.
Permanent Residence
For individuals seeking permanent residency in Botswana. Requires valid Work/Residence Permit or Exemption Certificate with at least 6 months validity.
Citizenship
Registration, naturalization, settlement and resumption of citizenship
Resumption of Botswana Citizenship
For former Botswana citizens who renounced their citizenship and wish to resume it, subject to meeting legal requirements. Requires Form B.
Citizenship by Naturalization
For foreign nationals who have resided in Botswana for a qualifying period. Requires Form L. Standard naturalization process under the Citizenship Act.
Naturalization of Foreign Spouse
For foreign nationals married to Botswana citizens. Two-stage process: Declaration of Intention (Form K), then formal naturalization (Form N).
Registration of Minor Child
Registration of a minor child as a Botswana citizen. Requires Form E. Must be completed within 30 days of qualifying for citizenship.
Declaration of Intention (Foreign Spouse)
First stage of the spousal naturalization process. A foreign spouse of a Botswana citizen declares their intention to apply for citizenship using Form K.
Rules & Requirements to Apply
Key rules and conditions for every immigration service in Botswana
Visa Applications
- ✓Valid passport with at least 6 months remaining validity and 3 unused pages
- ✓Recent passport-size photograph (JPG, white background, max 30KB)
- ✓All supporting documents in English as ONE PDF (max 5MB) — certified copies required
- ✓Payment via VISA/MasterCard — card must be enabled for online transactions
- ✓Return or onward travel ticket must be provided
- ✓Proof of sufficient funds (bank statement or sponsorship letter)
- ✓Travel insurance valid for the entire duration of stay
- ✓Applicants without a name/surname: enter an apostrophe in the name field
Permits & Residency
- ✓Certification must be done at an Embassy — Police certification is NOT accepted
- ✓Medical report must be valid for 3 months at time of submission
- ✓Educational certificates must be BQA-evaluated and translated to English
- ✓Work permits require proof of a labour market test (job ad run for 14 days)
- ✓Understudy details required for all work and residence permit applications
- ✓Form 15 Immigration + Form 16 Labour (GREEN forms) required for all permits
- ✓Tax Identification Number (TIN) required for work and residence permits
- ✓All certifications are valid for 3 months only from the date of certification
Citizenship
- ✓Only civil marriages are recognised — customary/traditional marriages are NOT accepted
- ✓Minor children must be registered within 30 days of the qualifying event
- ✓Naturalization requires approximately 10 years of continuous lawful residence
- ✓Applicants may need to renounce foreign citizenship upon approval
- ✓DNA testing may be required in cases of disputed parentage
- ✓Police clearance required from both Botswana and applicant's home country
- ✓Medical certificates must be valid for 3 months at time of submission
- ✓2 coloured passport photos with white background required for all applications
General Rules Applicable to All Services
•Submit applications well in advance of your intended travel or start date
•Incomplete applications will be returned without processing
•Documents not in English must have a certified translation attached
•Processing times begin once all required documents are received
•Fees are non-refundable once the application has been lodged
•Misrepresentation or fraudulent documents will result in a permanent ban
Visa Requirements by Country
Check if you need a visa to enter Botswana
Visa-Free Entry
No visa required. Stay up to 90 days per year. Valid passport, return ticket & proof of funds required.
Visa-Free
EU, US, UK, most Commonwealth
75+ countries
e-Visa
Many Asian & African countries
81+ countries
Visa Required
Apply via embassy before travel
14 countries
Requirements subject to change. Always verify with the official Botswana Department of Immigration before travel.
Secure & Official
All applications processed through official Botswana government channels with bank-level encryption.
Fast Processing
Real-time tracking. Visas in 2–30 days, work permits in 15–30 days, residence permits in 30–60 days.
Transparent Fees
No hidden charges. All fees shown upfront before you apply. Service fee includes 14% VAT.
How It Works
Six simple steps to any Botswana immigration service
Create Your Account
Register on Botswana Gate and complete your applicant profile with personal and passport details
Choose Your Service
Select the right category — visa, work permit, residence permit, or citizenship application
Upload Documents
Submit all required supporting documents based on your selected service type and nationality
Pay Processing Fee
Secure payment via card or mobile money. Fees vary by service — all shown upfront before payment
Expert Review
Our licensed immigration agents verify your documents, check compliance, and liaise with the Department of Immigration & Citizenship
Track & Receive Decision
Get real-time status updates at every stage. Receive your visa, permit approval, or citizenship decision directly through the platform
Notice: In the event of temporary system issues or technical interruptions, some application processes and status updates may take longer than expected.
Ready to Visit Botswana?
Start your visa application today and explore the beauty of Botswana — from the Okavango Delta to the Kalahari Desert.
Start Your Application⚠️ Independent Platform Disclaimer
BotswanaGate is an independent platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the Government of Botswana or any government agency.
For official immigration, visa, and government information, please visit the official Government of Botswana websites: www.gov.bw · www.gov.bw/immigration-and-civil-registration
All government-related information provided in this application is from publicly available official government resources.