Botswana - Applying for a Temporary Work Visa

ProcedureEdit

Apply In-Person:

Persons whose nationalities require a visa to enter Botswana for employment reasons will be required to apply for an Employment Visa as Botswana does not issue a “ Work Visa”.
The Visa application shall be made to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Headquarter, or the nearest Regional/District Immigration Offices which is under the Ministry of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs (For Botswana Application) or the nearest Botswana Mission Abroad (For overseas application)
- Ministry Office Location & Contact Details
- Botswana Mission Abroad (Embassies/ Consulates) Office Location & Contact Details
The application shall be made in writing using a prescribed application form-Visa Application Form 1, forms are available for free at the Enquiries Desk at any of the immigration offices or the Botswana Embassy/ Consulate abroad, or directly download the form using this link Visa Application Form 1
Upon obtaining the application form, the applicant should legibly complete the form, attach all relevant supporting documentation as listed under the “Required Documents” section of this page and submit the complete application file to the nearest Immigration Office, Visa Application service section, or Embassy/ Consulate Office, for processing and consideration. Any omission of the required documents or information will render the application process incomplete.
The application shall be accompanied by an applicable visa entry fee. Please refer to the “Fees” Section of this page for more information regarding the fees. All fee payments should be made as per the Authority's preferable payment mode.
On submission of the application file, the receiving officer will check for discrepancies or ineligibility in the application documents. If a discrepancy that cannot be immediately corrected exists in any of the documents, the application and all the submitted documents will be returned to the applicant and should not be re-submitted until the discrepancy has been rectified.
It is only after the deposit of the complete file and the payment of the required fee, that the application file will be registered and recorded and applicants will be issued with an acknowledgment letter containing details of their application.
The completed application file is then submitted to an authorized officer (via designated channels) where the application is reviewed and a recommendation made between 07-14 working days.
Upon a successful document, the evaluation phase has been completed, an approval/rejection letter is sent to the office where the application was made.
After the lapse of the processing time, applicants should check the outcome of their application from the office where the application was submitted and present their passport and identification document to be validated by the immigration officer.
If the Visa application is approved, it will be printed at that office where the application was made and affixed to the client's passport if not printed the applicant can travel with the approval letter as proof of a Visa to Botswana and the Visa will be printed at the Airport/Immigration Ports of Entry.

Apply Online

Applicants should browse the site e-Visa Botswana portal.
Hover the mouse cursor over the “Apply Now” tab towards the top right of the Home page and click on it.
This will navigate the applicant to the Registration page, Populate all the available fields, under “Type of Visa Required” select “Employment”, check to Accept Terms and Conditions, and then click on the “Continue” tab.
Click on the “Payment” tab, this will navigate the applicant to the payment page and cause an invoice for payment of the Visa application fees to be generated.
On the invoice, page click on the “Pay Now” button, and the applicant will be transferred to the Payment System to pay for the application.
Proceed to make the payment using the instructions given online. The Payment instructions will be generated and displayed automatically in the portal.
Complete the visa application process, and upload all supporting documentation on the site before clicking on the “Submit” button.
Upon successful submission of the application, the applicant will receive a confirmation mail.
After a successful document evaluation phase, an approval/rejection letter is sent to the applicant's email address.
If the Visa application is approved, the approval letter should be printed and the applicant can use the approval letter as proof of a visa to travel to Botswana.
Upon entry to Botswana present the approval letter and valid passport to be validated by the immigration officer at the Airport/Immigration Ports of Entry, who shall then print the visa and affix it to the client's visa.

Please Note:
For abroad applications, clients who want the visa approval/rejection letter sent to them by post are advised to attach one of the following to their request(s):

A registered self-addressed envelope with the appropriate stamps (letter recommendée);
A pre-paid envelope from any recognized courier service provider.
It should be noted, not all embassies offer the post/mail return service (please consult with the embassy)
Applicants can file their application via mail, in some embassies, please confirm with the nearest embassy, and if they offer this service since not all embassies offer the service.

Required DocumentsEdit

General Requirements for Visa Application

Duly Completed and signed: Visa Application Form 1
Certified (notarized) copy of passport page of the applicant (showing names, validity & photograph of bearer)
Cover letter from the applicant
If the applicant previously applied for a visa, Please Attach the Copy of the Visa Outcome.
If coming by road, specify on the cover letter and include your contacts, e.g. telephone number.
Travel schedule/flight itinerary/hotel bookings
Include a prepaid/self-addressed shipping label or envelope to return your passport
The passport must have a validity of six months and more with three or more unused pages.
Applicants who would not be collecting their visa (endorsed in the passport) should write a letter authorizing someone to collect their visa and passport. The letter should include full names, ID or passport numbers, and contact numbers.

NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR MINORS TRAVELLING THROUGH ALL BOTSWANA POINTS OF ENTRY

Minors traveling through the country's borders will be required to produce certified copies of unabridged birth certificates
In the event that one parent is not traveling with the child, the other parent's affidavit consenting to such travel should be availed. Temporary guardianship must be given if both parents are not traveling with the minor, as well as the abovementioned requirements. However, an affidavit will not be required if the father's name does not appear on the child's birth certificate.

Additional Requirements for Employment Visa

A re-entry permit to the country where the applicant is ordinarily resident if such a permit is required by that country.
Waiver from Department of Labour.
An employment contract or confirmation letter of employment if applicable.
Offer letter of volunteer position if applicable.
Proof of financial means of support for volunteers if applicable.
For extension of a valid visa - a letter of justification and a copy of a previously issued visa.

Please note: The immigration/embassy office reserves the right to request additional document/s as applicable.

Office Locations & ContactsEdit

Department of Immigration and Citizenship(Ministry of Nationality, Immigration, and Gender Affairs)
Departmental HQ
Address: Government Enclave, Block 8, Khama Crescent
P. O. Box 942
Gaborone
Botswana
Tel. (+267) 361 1373/ (+267) 361 1375
Toll-Free. 0800 600 777

Regional Immigration Offices

South Central Region (Block 8 Universal House) (+267) 3909996
South East Region (Loapi House) (+267) 3952591
Lobatse Immigration Region (+267) 5330247
Francistown Immigration Region (+267) 2414204
Serowe Immigration Region (+267) 4632519
Selibe-Phikwe Immigration Region (+267) 2611677
Tsabong Immigration Region (+267) 6540225
Maun Immigration Region (+267) 6860369
Kasane Immigration Region (+267) 6250252

District Immigration Offices

Mochudi District Immigration Office (+267) 5777285
Molepolole District Immigration Office (+267) 5920339
Ramotswa District Immigration Office(+267) 5391527
Tutume District Immigration Officer (+267) 2987459
Masunga District Immigration Office (+267) 2489272
Sowa Pan District Immigration Office (+267) 6213435
Palapye District Immigration Office (+267) 4920377
Mahalapye District Immigration Office (+267) 4710484
Orapa District Immigration Office (+267) 2970211
Letlhakane District Immigration Office (+267) 2978308
Sefhare District Immigration Office (+267) 4948096
Kanye District Immigration Office (+267) 5440656
Jwaneng District Immigration Office (+267) 5880348
Gantsi District Immigration Office (+267) 6596233
Hukuntsi District Immigration Office (+267) 6510202
Bobonong District Immigration Office (+267) 2619249
Gumane District Immigration Office (+267) 6874674

Ministry Office Location & Contact Details
Botswana Mission Abroad (Embassies/ Consulates) Office Location & Contact Details
Opening hours: 7:30 to 12:45, and 13:45 to 16:30, Monday to Friday, except on public holidays

EligibilityEdit

All foreigners who require visas to enter Botswana for the purpose of employment are eligible for this service.

FeesEdit

The cost associated with this service is as follows:

Single entry- for a period up to 3 months BWP500.00(US $50)
Multiple entries- for a period of up to 3 months BWP 1, 000.00(US$100)
Multiple entries – for a period of up to six months BWP 1,500.00(US$150)

ValidityEdit

An Employment visa different validity period as listed below and is extendable with justification.

Single entry- for a period of up to 3 months
Multiple entries- for a period of up to 3 months
Multiple entries – for a period of up to six months

Documents to UseEdit

Please attach documents that can be used by people. e.g. links

Sample DocumentsEdit

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Processing TimeEdit

It takes seven to fourteen days to process the application.

InstructionsEdit

Please provide other instructions related to the certificate/documents.
e.g. The state office holds birth records since January 1908.

Required InformationEdit

Full name of the applicant
Contact details (abroad/in Botswana)
Residential details (abroad/in Botswana)
Birth certificate details
Nationality
Type of visa required
Number of entries
Occupation /qualification
Reasons for the visa request
State the Validity period of the visa you wish to request?
Preferred mode of communication of the visa application outcome
Declaration by the applicant

Need for the DocumentEdit

The employment visa is issued to individuals who wish to travel to Botswana for purposes of employment, internship, research, work, or voluntary services.

Information which might helpEdit

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External LinksEdit

Visa Application – Employment Visa

OthersEdit

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