PassportSouth Africa

Trip checklist: Botswana

For South African passport holders. Last checked 5 October 2026.

Visa requirement

South Africans don't need a visa for Botswana.

Permitted stay

You can stay up to 90 days per year.

Before you go

  • Purpose of visit

    Tourism and short visits. Visitors may not work or seek employment; work, study and volunteering need the correct permit or visa.

  • Passport validity

    At least 6 months after arrival. FCDO says 3 blank pages; The GSA says 2. Make sure your passport is stamped on entry.

  • How to apply

    Nothing to apply for. If you need a visa for another purpose, Botswana's e-Visa portal is evisa.gov.bw (processing 7–14 days per the gov.bw tourism visa page).

  • Where South Africans apply

    Not applicable for visits. For permits, Botswana High Commission in Pretoria or the evisa.gov.bw portal.

  • Travel insurance

    Not mandatory; comprehensive health insurance recommended because medical care must be paid for.

  • Proof of funds

    The GSA says visitors must be able to show sufficient funds.

  • Vaccinations, including yellow fever on return to South Africa

    BOTSWANA: yellow fever certificate only if arriving from a risk country. RETURN TO SOUTH AFRICA: Botswana is not on South Africa's yellow fever risk-country list, so no certificate is needed on return unless you transited a risk country (or a risk-country airport for more than 12 hours) on the way.

  • Extending your stay and overstaying

    Overstaying can delay your departure (FCDO). Extension procedure not published online.

  • Travelling with children

    Children aged 17 or under need an original or certified copy of their full (unabridged) birth certificate. If one parent is not travelling, carry a signed affidavit from that parent authorising travel.

  • Confirm with the embassy

    Rules change. Check the official source before you book.

Where to apply

Research sources

  1. 1. Government of Botswana (Official, gov.bw) https://www.gov.bw/visa-applications/visa-application-tourism-visa
  2. 2. UK FCDO (Other government, gov.uk) https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/botswana/entry-requirements
  3. 3. National Department of Health, South Africa (Other government, health.gov.za) https://www.health.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Protocols-for-Travellers.pdf
  4. 4. DIRCO (South African High Commission, Canberra) (Other government, dirco.gov.za) https://dirco.gov.za/canberra/yellow-fever/
  5. 5. Wikipedia (Reference, en.wikipedia.org) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Botswana
  6. 6. Wikipedia (Reference, en.wikipedia.org) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_requirements_for_South_African_citizens
  7. 7. The GSA (South African visa agency) (Commercial, thegsa.co.za) https://www.thegsa.co.za/visa-and-country-info/2572-botswana-country-guide

From doineedavisa.co.za/botswana. Always confirm with the embassy before you travel.