Entry and residence
Visa, passport, vaccination required at the border, customs and consular assistance. Rules depend on your nationality: each point says who it applies to.
Visa
- Passport: France, United Kingdom
No visa is needed for French and British nationals for up to 90 days; the length granted is at the officer's discretion: check the stamp. Work, study or volunteering require a visa or permit.
Verified factVerified on 10/2/26High confidenceFrance Diplomatie, Travel advice: Botswana, entry and residenceGOV.UK (FCDO), Botswana travel advice: entry requirements - Passport: United States
Visa-free for up to 90 days in total within 12 months; the stay written on the entry stamp may be shorter. Passport valid for at least 6 months. With a temporary passport, a visa is required and is not issued on arrival.
Verified factVerified on 10/2/26High confidenceU.S. Department of State, Botswana International Travel Information - Passport: Germany
Visa-free with a regular passport: a free permit is issued at the border, for at most 90 days per calendar year. With a temporary passport, a visa is needed.
Verified factVerified on 10/2/26High confidenceAuswärtiges Amt, Botsuana: Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise - Passport: Spain
Visa-free for tourist stays under 90 days. For any other purpose (work, technical assistance, volunteering), apply for a visa or work permit before departure at the Botswana High Commission in London.
Verified factVerified on 10/2/26High confidenceMinisterio de Asuntos Exteriores (España), Recomendaciones de viaje: Botsuana - Passport: China
According to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a visa is issued on arrival with an ordinary Chinese passport (November 2023 list: check before departure).
Verified factVerified on 10/2/26Medium confidenceMinistry of Foreign Affairs of China, Service consulaire: entry facilities for holders of an ordinary Chinese passport (list of November 2023)
Passport and documents
Passport valid for at least 6 months after entry, with 3 blank pages according to the UK.
Verified factVerified on 10/2/26High confidenceFrance Diplomatie, Travel advice: Botswana, entry and residenceGOV.UK (FCDO), Botswana travel advice: entry requirements- Families travelling with minors
A minor must carry a certified full copy of the birth certificate (or a multilingual extract); if travelling with one parent, an authorisation from the other parent.
Verified factVerified on 10/2/26High confidenceFrance Diplomatie, Travel advice: Botswana, entry and residence
Customs and currency
Declare cash from 10,000 pula or equivalent, or face prosecution.
Verified factVerified on 10/2/26High confidenceGOV.UK (FCDO), Botswana travel advice: entry requirementsGovernment of Canada, Travel advice: Botswana
Useful contacts
Contact details taken from the official sources cited. Check them before going.
Embassy of France in Botswana
Passport: FranceFrench embassy in Gaborone; out of hours, consulate general in Johannesburg +27 82 467 2588.
France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Botswana, safety· Oct 2, 2026
Sources for this guide
- France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Botswana, entry and residence · Source updated: September 15, 2026 · Checked on October 2, 2026
- GOV.UK (FCDO), Botswana travel advice: entry requirements · Source updated: June 1, 2026 · Checked on October 2, 2026
- U.S. Department of State, Botswana International Travel Information · Source updated: June 25, 2026 · Checked on October 2, 2026
- Auswärtiges Amt, Botsuana: Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise · Source updated: September 4, 2026 · Checked on October 2, 2026
- Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores (España), Recomendaciones de viaje: Botsuana · Source updated: May 26, 2026 · Checked on October 2, 2026
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, Service consulaire: entry facilities for holders of an ordinary Chinese passport (list of November 2023) · Source updated: December 7, 2023 · Checked on October 2, 2026
- Government of Canada, Travel advice: Botswana · Source updated: May 26, 2026 · Checked on October 2, 2026
AfriPilot is not an official body. Information comes from the sources cited and may change: each source's date is shown.