VISA REQUIREMENTS & GENERAL INFORMATION YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF BEFORE VISITING BOTSWANA

Botswana is a Southern African nation known as a leader in eco-tourism with over 38% of their land mass protected for wildlife and nature conservation.

It is home to the vast Okavango Delta river which is one of the last remaining unspoiled wilderness areas of Africa. Botswana also has a number of rare species which can be seen on safari including the black-maned Kalahari lion, sitatunga, puku and red lechwe antelope, brown hyena, the African skimmer and aardvark.

The country hosts a number of exclusive safari lodges that blend beautifully into the ecosystem in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way.

Botswana allows a large number of countries visa free access, if you are unfortunately not from one of these countries, you will need a visa to enjoy the natural beauty of Botswana, a nation who is genuinely committed to conservation of environment, wildlife and cultural heritage.

This information piece tells you everything you need to know about visa requirements for visiting Botswana.

It is important that you familiarise yourself with these legal requirements of entry before your visit, in particular if you are travelling with minors.

Visa requirements are governed by the Botswana Embassy or Consulate located in the area you reside and can be found through visiting the Botswana Embassy.org website and may be subject to change without prior notice.

WHAT IS A VISA?

A visa is issued to international travellers visiting Botswana for a short stay on a temporary basis for tourism, business, study or medical reasons. Visas are normally issued for a maximum 30 or 90 days, depending on your country of residence.

A valid visa allows you to enter the country through a port of entry and stay in the country for the period specified in your visa. Note that you are restricted to the activity or reason stated in your application, for example, if you applied for a visa for a holiday or family visit, you are not allowed to work in the country during your stay.

VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR VISITING BOTSWANA

The Botswana tourist visa is issued for short-term purposes – up to 90 days maximum. Nationals of most countries are exempt from applying for a Botswana tourist visa prior to travel, but they still have to obtain a visa if they want to stay long-term.

Visitors holding passports from countries that are classified as ‘exempt’ do not need to apply for a visa prior to arriving in Botswana. Instead, they are issued with a short-stay visa at the point of entry for a period of time relevant to the status of the visitor’s country.

The time it takes to process a Botswana visa is 21 working days, this is for all visa types and for all non-exempt countries. Unfortunately, Botswana does not yet allow e-visas.

It is advised to apply for your Botswana visa 1 to 2 months before your trip.

The duration of a Botswana visa depends on the number of entries it allows. Botswana multiple entry tourist visa allows a stay of 3 months and is valid for 3 months. While a single-entry visa allows a stay of one month and is valid for one month.

A transit visa is not required if you are continuing your journey by the same or first connecting aircraft, and you do not leave the airport.

COUNTRIES EXEMPTED AND COUNTRIES THAT NEED VISA

Visitors to Botswana except those from the countries listed below, must have a visa to enter Botswana:

Angola, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guyana, Holy Sea, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kuwait, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Samoa, San Marico, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Korea, South Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Cyprus, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kiribati, Norway, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Spain, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Czech Republic and Denmark.

DIFFERENT KINDS OF VISAS

When applying for a Botswana visa, you need to know which one to apply for according to your reason for traveling to Botswana:

• Visitor’s visa is applicable when you plan to travel to Botswana to visit someone in the country and they will be hosting you.
• Business visa is needed when you will be conducting business in Botswana.
• Employment visa is needed when you are visiting to look to work in Botswana
• Investors visa is required when you are looking to invest in a Botswanan enterprise.
• Tourist visa when you visit as ordinary tourist staying in paid accommodations in Botswana.

HOW AND WHERE TO APPLY FOR VISAS WHEN VISITING BOTSWANA

Botswana does not yet support e-visas so you cannot apply for a visa online. You will have to make an appointment at the nearest Botswana consulate or embassy

Complete a Botswana visa application form obtainable from the embassy/consulate offices

Gather the required documents, pay the visa fee and submit the documents and application at the embassy/consulate. Some offices require you to submit the documents in person, whereas others also allow submissions through the mail.

DOCUMENTS NEEDED FOR APPLICATION FOR VISA

When you apply for a Botswana visa, you need the following documents to support your application: (Note that the exact required documents depend on the purpose of your travel as well as the embassy or consulate in which you apply).

The general requirements are as follows:

• A fully completed visa application form
• A certified copy of your passport page showing names, validity & photograph of you
• The original passport may be sent at the same time with the application or once the visa is approved
• A cover letter – specify on the cover letter if you are arriving by road and include your contacts, e.g. telephone number.
• Travel schedule, a copy of your plane ticket with proof of enter and exit dates and proof of your accommodation bookings.
• Your original passport may be sent with the application or once the visa is approved, provide a prepaid/self-addressed shipping label or envelope to return your passport
• If you are not collecting your visa (endorsed in the passport) you must then write a letter authorizing someone to collect your visa and passport. The letter should include full names, ID or passport numbers and contact numbers.

Additional documents needed per visa type:

Visitor’s visa:

• Invitation letter from your host
• A sworn statement from your host (they will have to fill in an affidavit at the nearest immigration office in Botswana and send it to you)
• A copy of hotel/lodge bookings or state residential address where you will be staying
• A certified copy of your hosts, national identity/residence permit, work permit/exemption certificate/naturalization certificate
• Copies of your certified marriage and birth certificates (in the case of married couples/dependants)
• If you host is a religious leader you will have to provide certified copies of ordination certificates.
• Business profile from your host if you coming to establish a business
• confirmation of your employment or your business registration
• A recent bank statement (first page)
• Return visa or residence permit from the country of your current residence

Business visa:

• Invitation letter from your host
• If you host is a religious leader you will have to provide certified copies of ordination certificates.
• A business profile
• Labour clearance/exemption if you are coming for a month or longer
• Meeting schedule if you are coming to attend or organize a meeting
• Certified copies of Certificate of Incorporation, Trade License, Share Certificate of your host if running a business
• Return visa or residence permit from the country of your current residence

Employment visa:

• A waiver from the department of labour and social security or copies of work and residence permits
• Letter of confirmation of employment/contract of employment or offer letter
• Copies of your relevant qualifications

Investors visa:

• Copies of your work and residence permits
• Certified copies of certificate of incorporation, trade license, share certificate, list of directors and bank statement

Tourist visa:

• Tour plan or copy of your travel schedule
• Confirmation of bookings at hotels/lodges
• Confirmation of your employment or your business registration
• A recent bank statement (1st page)
• Return visa or residence permit from the country of your current residence

COST OF A BOTSWANA VISA

Fees may vary depending on the consulate or embassy, therefore check with them first, the below is a guideline:

• Visitor’s visa – 30 USD for single entry for a period up to three months, 50 USD for a multiple entry visa for a period up to three months and 150 USD for a multiple entry visa for a period of over three months and up to two years for dependents of residents.
• Business visa – 50 USD for single entry for a period up to three months, 100 USD for a multiple entry visa for a period up to three months and 150 USD for multiple entry for a period up to six months to one year.
• Investors visa – 100 USD for multiple entry for a period up to six months and 250 USD for multiple entry for a period up to five years.
• Tourist visa – 30 USD for single entry for a period up to one month and 50 USD for multiple entry for a period up to three months

VACCINES NEEDED WHEN VISITING BOTSWANA

An international yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if a person is traveling from a country with risk of yellow fever virus transmission and is older than one year of age, including transit in an airport located in a country with risk of yellow fever virus transmission.

A yellow fever certificate is valid 10 days after the vaccination is administered, making it important to get the vaccination in time before leaving for Botswana. You may be refused entry if you leave it too late and arrive in Botswana within the 10-day waiting period.

The CDC and WHO recommend the following vaccinations for Botswana: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, yellow fever, rabies, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia and influenza

Botswana is a high-risk country for Malaria, so it is recommended that you take prescription medicine before, during, and after your trip to prevent malaria. Your doctor can help you decide which medicine is right for you, and also talk to you about other steps you can take to prevent malaria

VISITING BOTSWANA WITH MINORS

If you are travelling to Botswana with a minor, please take note of the additional documents you will need per child:

•          Minors travelling through the country’s borders will be required to produce certified copies of unabridged birth certificates

•          In the event that one parent is not travelling with the child, the other parent’s affidavit consenting to such travel should be availed. Temporary guardianship must be given if both parents are not travelling with the minor, as well as the abovementioned requirements. However, an affidavit will not be required if the father’s name does not appear on the child’s birth certificate.

WHAT HAPPENS IF ONE OVERSTAYS ON A VISA IN BOTSWANA

Overstaying the duration of your visa is a serious offence in Botswana, you will be fined daily and may even incur a ban, which prevents you from applying for a visa and re-entering Botswana for a prescribed period of time.

Individuals who have been affected by the overstay visa regulations of a country can usually lodge a visa overstay appeal.

The charge of overstay in terms of the Immigration Act is P100 for each day of the overstay. The Police determine the charge and while the Government website is a good reference point, information is not always up-to-date.

ENJOY A SAFE HOLIDAY IN BOTSWANA WITH A REPUTABLE TOUR OPERATOR

Revival Safaris And Tours is a leading tour operator in Zambia that offers an outstanding selection of tours to Botswana. We have a close association with the most reputable tour operators in Botswana who make safety a priority.