Botswana is a quiet country with incredible wildlife, breathtaking nature, different species of animals, and the perfect place for mounting biking lovers. The Republic of Botswana is heaven on earth for those lucky enough to experience what this country offers. If you want to be one of the lucky ones, check whether you need to apply for a Botswana visa to visit the country.
Who Needs a Visa for Botswana?
Foreign citizens of all the countries listed below do not need to apply for a visa to enter and visit Botswana. With just a valid passport, they can enter the country and stay there for three months within one year:
- All EU citizens
- Japan
- Saint Lucia
- Angola
- Kenya
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Kiribati
- San Marino
- Argentina
- South Korea
- Saudi Arabia
- Australia
- Kuwait
- Seychelles
- Bahamas
- Lesotho
- Sierra Leone
- Bahrain
- Liechtenstein
- Singapore
- Barbados
- Malawi
- Solomon Islands
- Belize
- Malaysia
- South Africa
- Brazil
- Maldives
- South Sudan
- Brunei
- Mauritius
- Switzerland
- Canada
- Mexico
- Tanzania
- Chile
- Monaco
- Tonga
- Costa Rica
- Mozambique
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Cuba
- Namibia
- Turkey
- Dominica
- Nauru
- Tuvalu
- Dominican Republic
- New Zealand
- Uganda
- Eswatini
- Norway
- United Arab Emirates
- Gambia
- Oman
- United Kingdom
- Grenada
- Papa New Guinea
- United States
- Guyana
- Paraguay
- Uruguay
- Holy See
- Peru
- Vanuatu
- Hong Kong
- Qatar
- Venezuela
- Iceland
- Russia
- Zambia
- Israel
- Samoa
- Zimbabwe
- Jamaica
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
Everyone else needs to apply for a Botswana visa before entering the country. Indian citizens can obtain a visa on arrival, valid for 14 days.
How to Apply for a Botswana Visa?
There are two options for applying for a Botswana visa:
- Apply online.
- At the embassy/consulate of Botswana.
Apply Online
Follow these steps to apply for a Botswana e-Visa:
- Fill out the Botswana online application form.
- Provide a recent passport-type photo.
- Provide the information of your email address and your passport.
- Include the information of your valid credit card so you can finish the application visa fee payment.
- Wait until you receive an email with your visa application result.
- If you receive a positive answer, print a copy of your e-Visa. You must present this letter to the Immigration Authorities at the port of entry.
Apply At the Embassy/Consulate of Botswana
Follow these steps to apply for a visa at the embassy/consulate of Botswana:
- Contact the nearest embassy or consulate of Botswana in your home country and book an appointment.
- Visit the embassy of Botswana in person. There you will be issued a Botswana application form.
- Complete the Botswana application form and sign it at the end.
- Submit other supporting documents that are requested from the Botswana Embassy. See ‘Botswana Visa Requirements’ for more information.
- Wait for a response. You will receive a response from the embassy of Botswana within seven working days. After that, they will send you an approval or denial letter depending on their decision.
- If you receive an approval letter, you can travel to Botswana with your approval letter. You will be issued your official visa printed at the Airport/Immigration Ports of Entry.
General Botswana Visa Requirements
When applying for a Botswana visa, submit the following documents:
- A valid passport with a validity of at least six months after the return date and photocopies of previous visas (if applicable).
- Recent passport-type photo taken at least within the last six months.
- A cover letter explaining the purpose of your visit to the country.
- A trip itinerary.
- An accommodation proof document such as a letter of invitation, a rental agreement, or a hotel reservation.
- Booked / Confirmed Flight Itinerary.
- A return flight ticket.
- A bank statement.
- A medical certificate.
There can be some other additional documents that the embassy of Botswana needs depending on the type of visa you apply for, so make sure you contact the embassy before submitting your documents. However, the documents mentioned above apply to all the applicants.
Duration of a Botswana Visa
The duration of a Botswana visa depends on the type of visa you are applying for:
- Single entry visa valid for 30 days.
- Multiple entry visa is valid for 30 days.
- Multiple entry visa valid for 90 days.
Important: You can only use a single entry visa for one entry and exit to the country of Botswana. Once the visa has been used, you can not use it again.
Botswana Visa Fees
Here are all the Botswana visa fees:
| Visa Types | Duration | Fee Amount |
| TOURIST VISA | ||
| Single entry | One-month | €23 |
| Multiple entries | Three-months | €38 |
| VISITOR’S VISA | ||
| Single entries | Three-months | €23 |
| Multiple entries | Three-months | €38 |
| Multiple entries | Three months to ten years | €114 |
| BUSSINES VISA | ||
| Single entries | Three-months | €38 |
| Multiple entries | Three-months | €76 |
| Multiple entries | Six months to one year | €114 |
| INVESTOR’S VISA | ||
| Multiple entries | Six months | €38 |
| Multiple entries | Five years | €190 |
| TRANSIT VISA | ||
| Single entry | One-week | €23 |
| Multiple entries | Three-months | €38 |
| Multiple entries | Three years | €114 |
| STUDY VISA | NA | |
| EMPLOYMENT VISA | NA | |
| DIPLOMATIC VISA | NA | |
| OFFICIAL VISA | NA |
You can finish the visa fee payment online with a credit card, or you can finish the payment by cash at the embassy/consulate of Botswana.
Botswana Visas Types
Here are all the Botswana visa types:
- Tourist visa.
- Business visa.
- Transit visa.
- Visitor visa.
- Study visa.
Tourist Visa
A tourist visa is issued to foreigners who want to visit the Republic of Botswana. To apply for a Botswana visa, submit these documents:
- Return flight ticket.
- Accommodation proof.
- Travel plan.
Business Visa
A business visa is issued to foreigners who want to visit Botswana for business purposes. To apply for a business visa, submit these documents:
- Invitation letter from a business company hosting your visit to Botswana.
- Meeting schedule.
- Trade license.
- Certificate of incorporation.
Transit Visa
To apply for a Botswana transit visa, submit the following documents:
- A document proving that you have the right to enter Botswana.
- A ongoing flight ticket.
- A cover letter.
Visitor Visa
Foreigners who want to visit Botswana need to apply for a visitor visa. To apply for a visitor visa, submit the following document:
- Invitation letter.
- Return flight ticket.
- Certified copy of the host’s National Identity Card, Residence Permit, or equivalent.
- Marriage certificate (if applicable).
- Birth certificate (if applicable).
Study Visa
international students wishing to study in Botswana must apply for a student visa. They must submit the following documents when applying for a Botswana student visa:
- A letter of approval from a University in Botswana.
- A bank statement.
Residence Permit for Botswana
Foreign citizens who want to stay longer than the time issued on their visa must apply for a Botswana residence permit at the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. To apply for a residence permit, the foreign citizen must follow these steps:
- Fill out the application form.
- Finish the application fee payment.
- Wait for a response. If you receive a positive answer, you will be issued a stamped residence permit sticker on your passport.
Why Should You Visit Botswana?
Here are a few reasons why you should visit the Republic of Botswana, also known as the best travel destination in Africa:
- It is very quiet, and there are no crowds of people.
- The country has the highest number of elephants in Africa.
- One of the most beautiful places in Botswana is Okavango which has a place of 15.000 square kilometers filled with different animals and species.
- The famous desert of Kalahari, known as one of the wonders of Africa, is located in Botswana. Every year thousands of Zebras travel through the Kalahari desert to their destinations.
- It is home to different types of big cats such as leopards, lions, cheetahs, etc.
- It is known as a perfect place for mountain biking.
- There are more than 500 species of birds, making the land of Botswana a birding paradise.
- The sunsets are breathtaking.
- The weather in the country is mostly sunny throughout the year. The wintertime is very short.
- The Republic of Botswana offers peace, luxury, and exclusivity.
- It is one of the world’s biggest diamond producers.
- The name Botswana means ‘rain.’