Botswana
BWABotswana stands out as one of Africa's most stable democracies and best-governed economies, transformed since independence by its vast diamond reserves into a middle-income nation with solid institutions. The country maintains low corruption levels by regional standards, a freely convertible currency, and consistent GDP growth. Its sparse population of around 2.6 million is spread across a largely arid landscape dominated by the Kalahari Desert and the wildlife-rich Okavango Delta.
Gaborone offers a clean, low-crime capital environment with improving infrastructure. Naturalisation is lengthy at ten years, dual citizenship is not permitted, and there is no dedicated residency-by-investment programme, making Botswana primarily attractive to skilled workers, regional business operators, and conservation-sector professionals rather than lifestyle migrants seeking fast second-residency routes.
- Naturalisation
- 10 years
- Tax system
- Residence Based
- Currency
- Botswana Pula (BWP)
- Dual citizenship
- Not allowed
- Capital
- Gaborone
- Region
- africa
- Population
- 2,630,000
- Cost-of-living
- 34 /100
Passport Rank
#76
Visa-Free
71
destinations
Visa-free travel
A Botswana passport has visa-free access to 71 destinations. See the full Botswana passport breakdown →
Passports that enter Botswana without a prior visa (102)
Visa-free, visa on arrival, or on an eTA.
Community-sourced (passport-index, synced 2026-08-18) — verify with the embassy before travel.
Immigrating to Canada from Botswana
Current IRCC processing times for Botswana nationals, by application type.
| Visitor visa (outside Canada) | 567 days |
| Super visa | No processing time available |
| Study permit | No processing time available |
| Work permit | No processing time available |
| Sponsor a dependent child | No processing time available |
| Adopted child (citizenship) | Not enough data |
| Government-assisted refugees | Not enough data |
| Privately sponsored refugees | sponsor: Not enough data / refugee: Not enough data |
Your application may take longer than the times shown here. They’re not a maximum or a guarantee.
As of 2026-10-07 (IRCC). See all Canada processing times →
Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — “Check processing times”. This is a copy of the version available at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html. Reproduced under the Government of Canada’s non-commercial reproduction terms; not endorsed by or affiliated with IRCC.
Sources & last verified
Government of Canada — non-commercial reproduction (canada.ca Terms and conditions)
Country Details
- Capital
- Gaborone
- Currency
- Botswana Pula (BWP)
- Languages
- Setswana, English
- Population
- 2,630,000
- Tax System
- Residence Based
- Dual Citizenship
- Not allowed
- Naturalisation
- 10 years
- Schengen / EU
- No
- Climate
- Semi-arid / Savanna
- English Proficiency Rank
- #55
- GDP per capita
- $7,778
- Life expectancy
- 69.29 yrs
- Population growth
- 1.61%/yr
GDP per capita, life expectancy, and population growth: World Bank (2025).
Indices
Cost of Living
34
Safety
51
Healthcare
40
Quality of Life
110
Tax Summary
- Tax System
- Residence Based
- Territorial Taxation
- No — worldwide income taxed for residents
- Naturalisation
- 10 years of legal residency
- Dual Citizenship
- Not allowed
Cost of Living by City
← scroll the table →
| City | Rent 1BR centre | Rent outside | Groceries | Utilities | Transit pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaborone | — | — | — | — | $28 |
| Francistown | — | — | — | — | $22 |
| Maun | — | — | — | — | $18 |
Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.
Climate
Gaborone
Rainfall range: 0–95 mm/month · Daylight 10.5h (winter) to 13.6h (summer)
Visa Categories & Immigration Authority
Major Visa Categories
- Tourist
- Work Permit
- Investor
- Student
- Family
- Residence Permit
- Authority
- Department of Immigration and Citizenship
- Official Portal
- www.gov.bw/ministries/immigration-and-citizenship
- Phone
- +267 368 1100
- immigration@gov.bw
Naturalisation Details
- Residence Years
- Language Test
- Yes (level n/a)
- Civic Test
- No
- Oath Required
- No
- Dual Allowed
- No
- Fee
- $200
- Processing
- ~18 months
Safety
GPI Rank
#34
Global Peace Index ranking (lower is safer)
Common Risks
- ⚠Overcharging minibus taxis for foreigners
- ⚠Fake charity collectors in Gaborone CBD
- ⚠Wildlife tour deposit scams targeting tourists in Maun
Regulators & official sources
Bodies that regulate immigration advice in Botswana, and the official sources indexed for it by Visa Atlas. Descriptions are verbatim; each links to its source.
Law Society of Botswana
LSBStatutory body regulating attorneys in Botswana. There is no dedicated immigration-adviser regulator; representation is by licensed attorneys.
Related Guides
Related on The Citizenship Desk
Visa routes
Official visa and residence routes for Botswana, indexed from Visa Atlas. Each links to its government source. This is a licensed external index, distinct from our own curated visa guides.
Residence
Permanent Residence
ResidenceFor non-citizens with a long, lawful stay in Botswana: permanent residence is the discretionary, durable status you can apply for after years in the country, going beyond the renewable work and residence permits.
Residence Permit
ResidenceFor non-citizens who want to live in Botswana beyond a visit: the residence permit is the general permit that lets immigrants, and certain other categories, reside in the country, applied for through the Department of Immigration and Citizenship on gov.bw.
Work (sponsored)
Work Permit
Work (sponsored)For non-citizens taking up employment in Botswana: the work permit gives you permission to work for a Botswana employer, applied for through the Department of Immigration and Citizenship on the national portal gov.bw.
Family
Residence Permit - Dependants
FamilyFor dependent family members of someone living in Botswana: this category of the residence permit lets dependants, including younger adults (18-25) and older relatives (65+), reside on the basis of their sponsor, applied for through the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.
Residence Permit - Spouse of a Botswana Citizen
FamilyFor the foreign husband or wife of a Botswana citizen: this category of the residence permit lets you live in Botswana on the basis of your marriage, and it can place you on the path toward longer-term settlement.
Investor
Investor Work Permit
InvestorFor non-citizens investing in a business in Botswana: the investor category of the work permit lets you reside and run or invest in a Botswana business, applied for through the Department of Immigration and Citizenship on gov.bw.
Sources & last verified
Route index from Visa Atlas (CC BY 4.0), as of 2026-10-08. Each route links to its official government source.
Sources & last verified
- Last verified