Travel can be done by foot, bicycle, automobile, train, boat, bus, airplane, ship, or other means, with or without luggage, and can be one-way or round trip. Travel can also include relatively short stays between successive movements, as in the case of tourism.
On August 28, 2022, the Government of Botswana announced that the wearing of masks, proof of vaccination, and testing at the port of entry for unvaccinated travelers are no longer required in Botswana. A negative COVID-19 test (PCR and/or serology) is not required and there are no health screening procedures at airports and other ports of entry.
A passport with at least six months of validity remaining is required. U.S. citizens are permitted stays up to 90 days total within a 12-month period without a visa. The total stay permitted for each visit is recorded on the entry stamp by Botswana immigration officials and may be less than 90 days. Travelers who attempt to enter Botswana with a temporary passport must have a visa to enter. Visas cannot be obtained upon arrival in Botswana, and U.S. citizens without a visa in a temporary passport will face fines and long administrative delays.
The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of Botswana. However, students beginning their studies at the University of Botswana are required to take an HIV test.
For additional information on entry requirements and the most current visa information, contact the Embassy of the Republic of Botswana, 1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20036, telephone (202) 244-4990/1, fax (202) 244-4164 or the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Botswana to the United Nations, 103 E. 37th St., New York, N.Y., 10016, telephone (212) 889-2277, and fax (212) 725-5061. There are also honorary consuls in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Houston. Travelers are advised to carry a photocopy of the photo/bio information page of their passport and keep it in a location separate from their passport. Visit the Embassy of Botswana’s webpage for the most current visa information.
Vaccinations: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if entering from a country where yellow fever is endemic. The Government of Botswana does not require other vaccinations. See the CDC’s website for additional information.
Requirements for Minors Entering Botswana
Botswana requires:
- a certified copy of the child’s unabridged birth certificate;
- a valid passport with at least 1 blank page per entry;
- a parental consent form from the parent or parents not accompanying the child.
See the Embassy of Botswana’s webpage for complete details.
Requirements for Minors Transiting South Africa
South Africa requires:
- an unabridged birth certificate for minors traveling to or through South Africa;
- a parental consent form from the parent or parents not accompanying the child;
- at least two blank passport pages per entry.
See South Africa’s Country-Specific Information for further information.
Residency Applicants and Document Certification for Botswana
Original or certified copies of one’s birth and marriage certificates are required for residency applications, per Botswana’s Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs website. U.S. citizens applying for residency in Botswana should have their birth and marriage certificates apostilled by the U.S. state where the documents were issued before coming to Botswana.
Only the Secretary of State in the State where the birth or marriage certificates were issued is authorized to apostille those documents. A list of these authorities in each state can be found on the Hague website. Teachers moving to Botswana to teach should contact the issuing educational institution registrar’s office to obtain certified copies of their transcripts.
Please see also the Department of State website regarding the types of documents that can and cannot be authenticated by the U.S. Embassy.
Find information on dual nationality, prevention of international child abduction, and customs regulations on our websites.
Do you still need a Covid test to enter Botswana?
There is no requirement for a COVID-19 test to enter Botswana.
Do I need vaccinations for Botswana?
Courses or boosters usually advised: Hepatitis A; Tetanus. Other vaccines to consider are Hepatitis B; Rabies; Typhoid. Selectively advised vaccines – only for those individuals at highest risk: none.
Do I need a visa to enter Botswana?
U.S. citizens are permitted stays up to 90 days total within a 12-month period without a visa. The total stay permitted for each visit is recorded on the entry stamp by Botswana immigration officials and may be less than 90 days.
Do you need malaria pills for Botswana?
CDC recommends that travelers going to certain areas of Botswana take prescription medicine to prevent malaria. Depending on the medicine you take, you will need to start taking this medicine multiple days before your trip, as well as during and after your trip.