Botswana Visa Policy

Visa Policy for Botswana

The visa policy of Botswana determines who may enter the African country without a visa and which foreign citizens need a visa for Botswana. Regardless of whether they need a visa or not, all travelers must have a passport with a minimum validity of 6 months upon arrival to gain entry to the country.

Travelers who require a visa for Botswana must now apply online. The electronic visa (e-Visa) system allows foreign nationals to obtain authorization to enter the country for tourism, business, and other purposes.

This simplified electronic visa application removes the need to travel to an embassy or consulate in person and has greatly reduced processing times.

Travel visa restrictions for Botswana currently identify around 100 nationalities who do not need a visa for Botswana for a short stay of up to 90 days within a 12-month period. Visa exemption is granted for purposes of tourism, business, or transit purposes.

To gain visa-free entry, these visitors are simply required to present a valid passport upon arrival at a Botswana border checkpoint.

In some cases, a foreign traveler may not be able to obtain a certain type of visa online. In this situation, they will have to make an appointment at an embassy or consulate of Botswana in the traveler’s country of residence.

There is not currently a Botswana visa ban in place for any foreign nationality.

Discover more detailed information about the different types of visa for Botswana in the boxes below.

Tourist Visa Policy for Botswana

Botswana’s immigration policy regarding tourism identifies up to 140 nationalities that need an approved Botswana tourist visa to visit the Republic in Southern Africa for a vacation.

At present, these visitors are required to apply for a tourist visa for Botswana online. This online application protocol allows the traveler to complete a simple electronic form in a few minutes and upload supporting documents in digital form.

Botswana online tourist visa applications are processed and approved within a few business days, and the approved tourist e-Visa will be sent by email. A copy of the approved eVisa can then be printed to gain expedited entry to Botswana at border checkpoints.

Further information about these Botswana tourist visa types can be found below.

e-Visa for Botswana

The Botswana e-Visa, or electronic visa, is an online visa introduced in August 2021.

According to Botswana’s visa policy, nationals of around 140 different countries are able to use the digital platform to obtain a visa online.

The e-Visa for Botswana is available for a number of purposes, including tourism, business, and transit.

Applicants are able to choose how long they plan to stay in Botswana, although some types of online visa may have limits on the maximum length of the trip.

Travelers can also select how many entries they wish their Botswana e-Visa to cover.

The e-Visa platform replaced the older system of applying in person at a Botswana embassy, consulate, or immigration office. This eliminates the long waits and processing times associated with embassy visa applications.

Travelers eligible to apply for a Botswana eVisa must complete a simple online visa application form in just a few minutes with basic personal and contact information, passport data, and travel details. They must then pay the Botswana electronic visa fee using a credit or debit card before submitting the form for approval.

An eVisa for Botswana application is generally processed within a few business days. Once approved, a copy of the online visa will be sent to the traveler via email.

They will then be able to print a copy to present to immigration authorities on arrival in Botswana alongside their passport.

Further information about the Botswana eVisa application will be published on this site closer to the launch date of the online system.

Find out which nationalities must apply for a tourist visa for Botswana online in the list below.

Embassy or Consular Visa Required

Current Botswana immigration requirements state that in the vast majority of cases, visas must be applied for online, using the e-Visa system.

If an individual is unable to obtain a visa for a certain purpose or length of stay via the online platform, they can inquire at a Botswana embassy or consulate.

Previously, all visas were issued by diplomatic missions or immigration offices, but this is no longer the case. This system has been replaced by the e-Visa.

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Visa Not Required

Botswana laws regarding visa rules and regulations identify over 100 nationalities for which a visa for Botswana is not required, including all European Union citizens and a large number of South American and African nations. Additionally, holders of diplomatic or service passports issued by China, as well as Indian diplomatic passport holders, do not need a visa to visit Botswana.

Visa exemption is granted to these visitors for a stay of up to 90 days with a 12-month period, for purposes of tourism, transit, or business. To enter Botswana without a visa, it is necessary for these travelers to present an eligible passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival in the country.

If a passport holder from one of these countries wishes to visit Botswana for longer periods of stay, or for purposes not permitted visa-free such as to work or study, they will have to apply for the relevant type of visa.

Discover a complete list of visa-free countries for Botswana below.