🇧🇼Botswana Visa 2026: Entry Requirements
Africa· Updated 10/10/2026
Do you need a visa for Botswana?
It depends on your passport. Out of 196 nationalities documented by IziVisas, 103 enter Botswana visa-free and 93 obtain an e-visa or a visa on arrival.
Visa-free
103
nationalities
E-visa
93
nationalities
Check the rule for your nationality
Pick your passport for the exact 2026 rule: fee, processing time, allowed stay and documents.
- 🇬🇧United Kingdom
- 🇺🇸United States
- 🇳🇬Nigeria
- 🇬🇭Ghana
- 🇮🇳India
- 🇵🇰Pakistan
- 🇰🇪Kenya
- 🇺🇬Uganda
- 🇿🇦South Africa
- 🇵🇭Philippines
- 🇨🇦Canada
- 🇦🇺Australia
- All nationalities
Botswana tourist e-visa
Botswana publishes an online tourist visa. Eligibility depends on your nationality, check your route for the rule that applies to your passport.
Botswana eVisa
300-500 BWPStay: 90 daysProcessing: 5-7 business days
Transit visa for Botswana
A transit visa exists for travellers changing planes or passing through without entering the country.
- Stay:
- 7 days
- Fee:
- 300-1,500 BWP
Data updated on · Official source
Rules by nationality cross-checked against the official list (botswanaembassy.org), read on .
Pick your nationality to see the rule
Indicative information, drawn from official sources and Wikipedia, and updated automatically. Rules change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before booking. Our methodology · Official portal
Botswana visa requirements by nationality
The entry regime Botswana applies to the passports most often checked on IziVisas. Open a row for the fee, the processing time, the documents and the allowed stay of that exact route.
Botswana visa types, fees and processing times
Every visa category Botswana publishes, with the official fee, the allowed stay and the processing time when the source states them. Eligibility depends on your nationality: open your route for the rule that applies to your passport.
| Visa | Category | Allowed stay | Official fee | Processing time | Entries | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short-stay (tourism) | Short stay | Portal | ||||
| Botswana eVisa | Short stay | 90 days | 300-500 BWP | 5-7 business days | Portal | |
| Business visa | Business | 90 days | 500-1,500 BWP | 7-10 business days | Multiple | Portal |
| Work visa | Work | 2 years (renewable) | 30 business days | Multiple | Portal | |
| Student visa | Study | Duration of programme | 0 BWP | 14 business days | Multiple | Portal |
| Family Reunification | Family | 2 years | 1,500 BWP | 21 business days | Portal | |
| Transit visa | Transit | 7 days | 300-1,500 BWP | 7 business days | Portal |
Visas
Visas from this country
Tours and activities (GetYourGuide)
Book excursions ahead, with free cancellation on most activities.
Partner link: IziVisas earns a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you.
Information
Capital
Gaborone
Population
2,570,000
Currency
Pula (BWP P)
Languages
English, Tswana
Continent
Africa
Calling code
+267
Timezone
Africa/Gaborone
Area
581,730 km²
Government
Parliamentary republic
National day
30 September - Independence Day
Internet domain
.bw
About
Botswana is a landlocked Southern African country renowned for its political stability and vast diamond reserves. It features the Kalahari Desert and Okavango Delta, key wildlife sites. The nation emphasizes digital transformation and private sector-led economic growth.
Nomad Insurance travel cover (SafetyWing)
Medical cover and repatriation, can be taken out mid-trip.
Partner link: IziVisas earns a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you.
Safety
Risk areas
Crime(Medium)
- Avoid walking alone at night in the city
- Do not display personal valuables
Terrorism(Low)
- Low risk, stay vigilant in public places
Transport
- Drive during the day, use 4x4 vehicles off main roads
Natural risks(Moderate risks of drought and seasonal floods)
- Follow weather alerts, avoid flood-prone areas
Health(Limited public healthcare system, private recommended)
- Vaccinations against hepatitis A/B, typhoid, rabies; malaria in lowland areas
- Comprehensive health insurance mandatory
Practical tips
- Register with the national digital ID system
- Respect anti-corruption rules
- Use e-government services to avoid queues
Accommodation (Hotels.com)
Hotels and other stays, with a free-cancellation filter.
Partner link: IziVisas earns a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you.
Cost of living
Accommodation
Food
Transport
Leisure
Health
Others
Indicative prices in USD in Gaborone · estimated in October 2026
eSIM data (Saily)
Stay connected on landing, with no roaming charges. Requires an eSIM-compatible phone.
Partner link: IziVisas earns a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you.
Practical information
Electricity
Emergency numbers
Practical information
Left
unsafe
10-15% in restaurants, not mandatory
Tours and activities (GetYourGuide)
Book excursions ahead, with free cancellation on most activities.
Partner link: IziVisas earns a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you.
Photos
Botswana
Roger Brown
Botswana
Roger Brown
Botswana
Roger Brown
Botswana
Derek Keats
Botswana
Roger Brown
Botswana
Maurício Mascaro
Botswana
Robert Clark
Botswana
fish socks
Botswana
Sebastian Voortman
Botswana
Jervine
Botswana
Fredrick Bk Gasentsima
Botswana
Benjamin Olivier Schaeuffele
Botswana
mr. Yin
Botswana
Maria Orlova
Botswana
Peter Xie
Gaborone, Botswana
Phenyo Deluxe
Gaborone, Botswana
ThePLUG ...
Gaborone, Botswana
ThePLUG ...
Gaborone, Botswana
ThePLUG ...
Gaborone, Botswana
Magda Ehlers
Plan your trip
Tours and activities (GetYourGuide)
Book excursions ahead, with free cancellation on most activities.
Nomad Insurance travel cover (SafetyWing)
Medical cover and repatriation, can be taken out mid-trip.
eSIM data (Saily)
Stay connected on landing, with no roaming charges. Requires an eSIM-compatible phone.
Car rental (DiscoverCars)
Compare local rental companies, free cancellation on most offers.
Accommodation (Hotels.com)
Hotels and other stays, with a free-cancellation filter.
Partner links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Guides to prepare your trip
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Frequently asked questions
Do you need a visa to travel to Botswana?▾
It depends on your passport. IziVisas documents the entry regime for Botswana across 196 nationalities: 103 visa-free, 93 with an e-visa. Pick yours for the exact rule, with documents, fees and processing times.
Check by my nationality →How much does a Botswana visa cost?▾
Fees vary by visa type and nationality. The lowest published official fee is 300 BWP (Botswana eVisa). These are government fees only, providers and visa application centres add their own service charge.
Do you need a transit visa for Botswana?▾
Botswana issues a transit visa for travellers connecting or crossing the country without staying, valid 7 days. Conditions depend on your nationality, the length of the layover and whether you leave the airport's international zone.
Is it dangerous to travel to Botswana?▾
The overall risk level is currently rated "Overall moderate risk level, with limited urban crime and natural hazards.". See the Safety tab on this page for details by topic (crime, transport, health, areas to avoid) and practical tips.
What currency is used in Botswana?▾
The official currency is Pula (BWP P). See sample prices (accommodation, meals, transport) in the cost of living section above.
What is the capital of Botswana?▾
The capital of Botswana is Gaborone. The main spoken languages are: English, Tswana.
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