High commission
High commission of South Africa in Botswana
29 Queens Road
Botswana visa requirements for South African citizens
South African citizens do not need a visa for Botswana. Show your passport at the border and stay up to 90 days.
Passport
ZAF
South Africa
Going to
BWA
Botswana
No visa needed
People from some countries can visit without a visa.
- Visa
- Not required
- Max stay
- 90 days (3 months)
- Fee
- Free
- Last updated
- 11 November 2026
What to do
Check your passport is valid for the whole stay, ideally six months beyond it.
Carry proof of onward travel and of funds; border officers can ask for both.
Note the maximum stay and count your days in Botswana.
Ways into Botswana
Some tourists need a visa. Check before you travel.
Visa not required For your passportVisa-free visitPeople from some countries can visit without a visa.
- Stay
- 90 days
- Fee
- Free
How to apply
- Check the official nationality lists.
- Ask Botswana Immigration to confirm any list conflicts.
- Follow the stay allowed when you enter.
Documents required
- Valid passport
- Proof of enough money
- Yellow fever certificate, when needed
- Official nationality lists disagree. Confirm your status before travel.
- Your allowed stay is set when you enter.
eVisaOnline visa portalThe government website lets people apply for their required visa online.
- Fee
- Fee depends on your visa
How to apply
- Choose your visa on the official portal.
- Fill in the form and upload documents.
- Pay the fee that applies.
- Check the decision and carry your approval.
Documents required
- Passport
- Documents for your visa type
- 3 blank pages
- The portal is an application tool, not a separate visa.
eVisaTourist eVisaAn online visa for tourists who need a visa.
- Fee
- Fees differ; confirm before paying
- Processing
- 7–14 days
How to apply
- Fill in the online form.
- Upload your documents together as one PDF.
- Check the portal for approval.
- Carry the approval letter if your visa is not printed.
Documents required
- Certified passport pages 1 and 2
- Passport valid 6 months
- 2 recent colour passport photos
- Letter explaining your trip
- Flight and trip plans
- Place to stay
- Proof you plan to leave
- Home-country re-entry permit, if needed
- Return ticket
- Hotel booking
- Processing takes 7–14 working days.
- Visa dates do not clearly show how long each visit can last.
Sources (14)Last updated 11 November 2026
- Department of Immigration and Citizenship — Tourism visa
- Department of Immigration and Citizenship — Transit visa
- Department of Immigration and Citizenship — Business visa
- Department of Immigration and Citizenship — Study visa
- Department of Immigration and Citizenship — Employment visa
- Department of Immigration and Citizenship — Visitor's visa
- Department of Immigration and Citizenship — Extension of days of visit
- Ministry of International Relations — Consular services
- Botswana government eVisa portal
- Botswana Embassy, Washington — Visa application guidelines
- Botswana Embassy, Washington — Consular and immigration fees
- Botswana Embassy, Berlin — Visa
- Botswana Tourism Organisation — Countries requiring visas
- Botswana Tourism Organisation — Entry formalities
Embassies for this trip
For lost passports and emergencies.
Coming from South Africa
- Plugs D G MAdapter for some
- MoneyBWP P
- TimeSame timeSame as home
- DrivingOn the leftSame as home
- LanguageEnglishSpoken at home too
- Emergency999 police997 ambulance
Planning your Botswana trip
- Okavango DeltaThe world's largest inland delta attracts wildlife to its channels and wetlands in the Kalahari. Floods arrive in July and August.
- Moremi Game ReserveThis reserve is one of Botswana's wildlife attractions in the Okavango Delta.
- Chobe National ParkThe park has a large elephant population. Zebras and lions are also easy to spot.
- Makgadikgadi Pans National ParkIts salt pans attract many kinds of birds throughout the year.
About Botswana
Botswana is a landlocked republic in Southern Africa, much of it in the Kalahari Desert basin.
- Capital
- Gaborone
- Money
- Botswana pula (P)
- Languages
- English, Tswana
- Time zone
- UTC+02:00
- Cars drive on the
- left side
- Calling code
- +267
Other Africa passports
Going to Botswana
Easier trips nearby
Places close to Botswana with simpler entry for you.
Questions
Do south african citizens need a visa for Botswana?
South African citizens do not need a visa for Botswana. Show your passport at the border and stay up to 90 days.
How long can south african citizens stay in Botswana?
Up to 90 days each visit with the no visa needed rule. Staying longer can mean a fine or a ban from coming back.
Do motswana citizens need a visa for South Africa?
Motswana citizens do not need a visa for South Africa. Show your passport at the border and stay up to 90 days.
Do other Africa passports get easier entry to Botswana?
Angola, Eswatini, Gambia, Ghana Kenya, and 5 more can enter without applying before they travel.
Which countries near Botswana are easier for south african citizens?
Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, Zimbabwe Angola, and 3 more let south african citizens in without applying before travel.
What should I carry to Botswana?
Check your passport is valid for the whole stay, ideally six months beyond it. Carry proof of onward travel and of funds; border officers can ask for both.
What money is used in Botswana?
Botswana pula (P). Carry some cash for arrival, especially if a visa fee is paid at the border.
What language do people speak in Botswana?
English and Tswana.
How strong is the South Africa passport?
It ranks #51 and reaches 91 destinations without applying ahead.
Reviewed by @snuck