Last checked: November 2026.
Do You Need a Visa for Botswana?
Many tourists don’t need a visa for Botswana. Citizens of the US, UK, EU countries, Canada and Australia can enter without one, usually for up to 90 days, and a long list of other countries qualifies too. Everyone else applies online through the official eVisa portal at evisa.gov.bw. Your passport should be valid for at least six months with blank pages.
Rules differ by nationality, and they change. Check yours on the official portal before you book.
Who Needs a Visa, by Group?
- Visa-exempt nationalities: can enter for tourism without a visa, usually for up to 90 days. This includes the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, EU countries and most Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries.
- Other nationalities: some countries are not on the exempt list, including some Commonwealth countries. Don’t assume your passport is exempt, and check the official list.
- Visa-required nationalities: must apply before travel, usually online at evisa.gov.bw, or at a Botswana embassy or high commission.
We don’t list every country here, because the list changes. The official portal publishes the current list of countries that need a visa. Look up your nationality there.
How to Apply for a Botswana Visa
- Check your nationality on the official eVisa portal, evisa.gov.bw.
- Create an application and upload your passport page, photo and any documents the portal asks for.
- Pay the fee online if one applies, and keep your receipt.
- Print your approval and carry it with your passport.
A few nationalities cannot use the online system and must apply in person at an embassy. Paper applications can take longer, so apply early, and don’t pay unofficial websites that charge extra fees.
Passport Rules
The UK FCDO and the Botswana embassy both say your passport must be valid for at least six months and have three blank pages. Other guides quote two blank pages. The safest choice is to carry a passport with at least six months of validity and three blank pages.
Documents to Carry
- Your passport, with blank pages for the entry stamp.
- A printed copy of your eVisa approval, if you needed one.
- A return or onward ticket.
- Proof of accommodation or a booked itinerary.
- A yellow fever vaccination certificate, if it applies to your route.
Officers can ask about your trip plans and funds. Answer simply, and keep your bookings handy.
Yellow Fever Certificate
Botswana requires a yellow fever vaccination certificate from travelers arriving from or passing through countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission. One travel guide notes that Botswana doesn’t state a minimum transit time, so even a short connection through an affected country could trigger the rule. Check the current list and your routing before you fly.
Children and Cash
If you travel with children, carry their birth certificates, and check the current UK FCDO entry requirements for extra documents when only one parent travels. The FCDO also advises that large amounts of cash must be declared on entry, with a limit of 10,000 pula. Confirm both rules before you travel.
Border Checks and Land Crossings
If you cross by land, for example from Zambia over the Kazungula Bridge or from Zimbabwe near Victoria Falls, keep your passport, visa documents and vehicle papers ready. Border posts can change their hours, and flooding can close crossings, as the UK FCDO has reported in the past. Check conditions before you travel.
Fees and Extensions
Fees depend on visa type and nationality, and sources disagree on the amounts. We don’t list prices. Confirm the fee on the official portal before you pay.
To stay longer than your permitted period, apply for an extension from the Department of Immigration before it ends. Extensions are granted at the officers’ discretion, usually with a valid reason, so don’t count on one.
Safety Notes Before You Apply
- The US State Department rates Botswana Level 2, “Exercise increased caution,” because of crime. Read the US advisory before you book.
- Check the UK foreign travel advice for current weather, health and border notes.
- Buy travel insurance that covers medical care and evacuation, especially for remote camps.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming your nationality is exempt without checking the official list.
- Traveling with a passport that has less than six months left.
- Forgetting the yellow fever certificate when your route passes through an affected country.
- Using a look-alike visa website. The official address ends in gov.bw.
Botswana Visa FAQs
How long can I stay in Botswana as a tourist?
Visa-exempt visitors can usually stay up to 90 days. Some nationalities have shorter limits, and sources differ on how the days are counted over a year, so check your passport’s rules on the official portal.
Do US citizens need a visa for Botswana?
No. The Botswana embassy lists US citizens as exempt from the visa requirement. You still need a valid passport, and it should have at least six months of validity.
Do I need a yellow fever certificate?
Only if you arrive from or pass through a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission. Carry the certificate if your route includes one, and ask your airline about transit rules.
Can I apply for a Botswana visa online?
Yes. Botswana launched an electronic visa system on 12 August 2021, and the official portal is evisa.gov.bw. A few states cannot use it and must apply at an embassy.
Once you’re in the country, our guide to getting around Botswana explains domestic flights, coaches and driving. You can also compare flights to Botswana and read the Botswana travel guide for background.