Visa policy of Botswana
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Visitors to Botswana require a visa unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries.
Visa policy map
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Visa exemption
[edit]Holders of passports of the following jurisdictions do not require a visa to visit Botswana for up to 90 days within a 365-day period (unless otherwise stated):[1][2][3][4]
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ID - May enter Botswana using an ID Card in lieu of a passport valid for 6 months.
1 - 30 days each visit, but 90 days within any 365-day period.
- All visitors (Except Namibia) must hold a passport valid for 6 months.
- In addition to countries who are already visa-exempt, holders of diplomatic, official or service passports of China and diplomatic passports only of India do not require a visa to enter Botswana for up to 30 days.
- Botswana and Namibia signed an agreement in February 2023 allowing citizens to travel between the two countries using only identity cards, with passports no longer needed.[5] Botswana has held talks with Zimbabwe to achieve a similar deal, and expects to open talks with Zambia.[6]
Visa on arrival
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 Botswana international border crossing points |
On 15 November 2018, the Government of Botswana announced that tourists would be able to obtain visas on arrival from 24 November 2018.[7][8] The plan was put on hold on 27 November 2018.[9] Visa on arrival for Indians was made official in 2019.[10]
E-visa
[edit]On 12 August 2021, Botswana launched an electronic visa system, all countries that needed prior visa, are now eligible for e-Visa.[11][12][13][14]
Ministry of foreign affairs of Botswana stated that they introduced an e-Visa system to boost tourism and business in country.[12]
Visitor statistics
[edit]Most visitors arriving to Botswana were from the following countries of nationality:[15]
| Country | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Zimbabwe |
874,169 | 967,322 | 784,720 | 825,717 |
 South Africa |
759,564 | 808,118 | 600,387 | 742,639 |
 Zambia |
220,649 | 202,289 | 188,351 | 331,799 |
 Namibia |
187,044 | 170,326 | 162,453 | 169,733 |
 United States |
52,171 | 49,451 | 49,961 | 139,752 |
 United Kingdom |
42,534 | 41,011 | 39,675 | 47,929 |
 Germany |
35,288 | 32,230 | 34,576 | 43,674 |
 India |
19,297 | 17,413 | 18,342 | 13,543 |
 Lesotho |
18,773 | 18,842 | 12,408 | 10,839 |
 Malawi |
17,102 | 20,607 | 15,175 | 17,386 |
| Total | 2,401,786 | 2,501,616 | 2,082,521 | 2,598,158 |
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ List of countries that require visa to enter Botswana
- ^ "Visa and passport". Timatic. International Air Transport Association through Emirates. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
- ^ "Guidelines for Completing a Visa Application | Embassy of the Republic of Botswana in Washington, D.C." www.botswanaembassy.org. Retrieved 2016-10-27.
- ^ IMMIGRATION VISA REGULATIONS
- ^ Silence Mugadzaweta (20 February 2023). "Botswana, Namibia to abolish passports: Citizens of the two countries will now use identity cards". NewsDay Zimbabwe. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
- ^ Mqondisi Dube (13 March 2023). "Botswana, Zimbabwe to Discuss Eliminating Use of Passports". VOA. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
- ^ "theafricanprogressiveeconomist.com". www.theafricanprogressiveeconomist.com. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
- ^ "Botswana Offers Visa-on-Arrival to Africans". 18 November 2018.
- ^ "Southern & East African Tourism Update". Southern & East African Tourism Update. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
- ^ "Botswana visa for Indian citizens to travel in 2021".
- ^ "Botswana-evisa".
- ^ a b "Travelnews.africa - Botswana rolls out e-visa regime to boost tourism and investments". 19 August 2021.
- ^ @OfficialMasisi (10 November 2021). "Investors can now be granted permanent residence status by the Minister even before they have reached the minimum f…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Guidelines for Completing a Visa Application | Embassy of the Republic of Botswana in Washington, D.C."
- ^ "Statistical Publications".