Botswana business visa

The business visa is for attending or organising meetings, negotiating, visiting partners or attending conferences in Botswana. It does not allow employment: taking up a job or running an investment for profit requires a work permit, followed by a residence permit.

The Government of Botswana describes the business visa as the entry route for prospective investors, entrepreneurs and traders exploring opportunities in the country. Its listed activities include consulting business associates, attending business meetings, taking part in scientific, educational, professional, sports or festival events and conventions, settling estates and negotiating contracts.

In addition to the general eVisa requirements, provide the host's business profile or invitation letter from the host or facilitator in Botswana, a meeting schedule if you are attending or organising a meeting, and certified copies of the host's trade licence, certificate of incorporation and share certificate if the host operates a business.

The government service page lists the full set: certified copies of passport pages 1 and 2 with at least six months' validity, two recent colour photos, a covering letter giving the reasons for the trip, flight itinerary and accommodation bookings or a residential address in Botswana, a re-entry permit for your country of residence if it requires one, a certificate of incorporation in Botswana where applicable, a business plan, a trading licence, a share certificate, the meeting schedule with the host organisation and both business (overseas) and personal bank statements. Online, all of it goes into one PDF.

BWP 500 for a single entry of up to three months, BWP 1,000 for multiple entries up to three months and BWP 1,500 for multiple entries up to one year, according to the schedule published by the Botswana Embassy in Berlin. Fees are non-refundable.

Missions may quote the fee in local currency: the Botswana Embassy in Tokyo lists JPY 17,880 for a business visa for the period from 9 July 2026 to 31 March 2027.

Apply on evisa.gov.bw, uploading the host's documents in the single PDF, and pay by card. The decision follows in 7 to 14 working days; print the emailed visa or travel with the approval letter.

Besides the eVisa portal, business visas are handled by all regional and district immigration offices and by Botswana missions abroad, open 07:30 to 12:45 and 13:45 to 16:30 on weekdays except public holidays. The Department of Immigration and Citizenship of the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs answers on +267 361 1323, 1340, 1371 and 1372, and on the toll-free number 0800 600 777.