Botswana visa requirements for Rwandans

Travel and visa requirements

Basic Travel Requirements for Rwandans visiting Botswana

Travelers are required to fulfill the following requirements in order to apply for a Botswana Visa.

  • Original Rwandan passport valid for at least 6 months from departure date. It should have at least one blank page for visa stamp.
  • Completely filled and signed visa application form.
  • Two recent coloured 3 cm x 4 cm passport-sized photograph.
  • Travel itinerary.
  • For minors, a certified unabridged birth certificate accompanied with a signed letter of consent from their parents is needed.
  • Round trip or onward ticket.
  • Proof of accommodation.
  • Proof of financial sustenance for the duration of stay in Botswana.
  • Letter from relevant authority in Rwanda showing awareness and approval of trip. E.g for employees, a letter from your employer and students a letter from your school.
  • Entry will be denied to you if you're a citizen of Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. If you've recently visited any of these countries, you might be denied entry as well due to the current Ebola virus outbreak.
  • There's no Botswana embassy in Rwanda. The visa applications can go through the British embassy in Kigali.

Botswana Visa for Rwandans

Facts about Botswana

Botswana is a country known for its beautiful landscape and nature reserves. The nature reserves in Botswana are defined by the Kalahari Desert and the Okavango Delta. During the rainy season, the Okavango Delta becomes a maze of waterways, islands, and lakes. The massive Central Kalahari Game Reserve houses animals like giraffes, cheetahs, hyenas, and wild dogs. Other popular destinations in Botswana include Chobe National Park, Okavango’s Moremi Game Reserve, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, and Tsodilo Hills.
 
Botswana attracts over 2 million tourists each year.
 
Citizens of all European Union member states, Angola, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, New Zealand, Russia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Switzerland, Turkey, United States, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe can gain entry into Botswana visa-free for 90 days within a 12-month period.

Types of Botswana Visa

Types of Visa Processing Time Duration of Stay
Tourist visa 7-14 days 90 days
Business visa 7-14 days 90 days

General Requirements for Botswana Visa

  • Original Rwandan passport valid for at least 6 months from departure date. It should have at least one blank page for visa stamp.
  • Completely filled and signed visa application form.
  • Two recent coloured 3 cm x 4 cm passport-sized photograph.
  • Travel itinerary.
  • For minors, a certified unabridged birth certificate accompanied with a signed letter of consent from their parents is needed.
  • Round trip or onward ticket.
  • Proof of accommodation.
  • Proof of financial sustenance for the duration of stay in Botswana.
  • Letter from relevant authority in Rwanda showing awareness and approval of trip. E.g for employees, a letter from your employer and students a letter from your school.
  • Entry will be denied to you if you're a citizen of Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. If you've recently visited any of these countries, you might be denied entry as well due to the current Ebola virus outbreak.
  • There's no Botswana embassy in Rwanda. The visa applications can go through the British embassy in Kigali.
Botswana Tourist visa Botswana Business visa

Botswana Tourist Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • This visa is for Rwandans travelling for the purpose of sightseeing, visitation, relaxation and other recreational activities.
  • With this visa, you can visit friends and family while in Botswana.
  • A letter of invitation from a host in Botswana is required if staying with friends or family in the country. This letter should contain full contact details of your host and must be accompanied with a valid means of identification.
  • Otherwise, you're to provide hotel reservations that cover your entire stay in the country.
  • For non-Rwandans, a residence permit is required for this visa application.
  • Your recent bank statement is needed as proof that you can cater for your stay and leave Botswana at the expiration of your visa.
  • You cannot take up paid employment with this visa.
  • This visa is usually processed in 7-14 days and it costs P1000 for a single entry visa while the multiple entry visa costs P1500.
  • The single entry visa is valid for a period of 90 days but can be extended at a cost of P100. The multiple entry visa is valid for up to 2 years.
  • The application for the extension should be lodged 14 days before the 90 days expire. 

Botswana Business Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • This visa allows Rwandans carry out business activities in Botswana.
  • With this visa, you can attend summits & conferences, meet up with business partners, negotiate and sign business contracts.
  • Non-Rwandans are to provide a valid residence permit while applying for this visa.
  • A letter of introduction from your company in Rwanda detailing its business activities, financial responsibility covering the trip if any, your position and purpose of trip is needed.
  • You're also required to present an invitation letter from the company in Botswana. This letter should contain full details of your visit and affirmation of any financial responsibility. 
  • Both letters must be written on the respective companies letterhead.
  • If you're hoping to set up a business in Botswana, you must provide a comprehensive business profile.
  • A labour exemption certificate is required if you're staying for over a month.
  • If there are any previous relations with the host company in Botswana, it's important that you show proof of this business relationship.
  • You cannot seek public funds with this visa while in the country.
  • You are expected to exit Botswana before the expiration of your visa.
  • This visa costs P1500 and is usually processed in 7-14 days.
  • This visa allows a stay of up to 90 days but can be extended at a a cost of P100.

Botswana Visa Fees

Visa Type

Sub Types

Visa Fees

Tourist visa

1000.00 (BWP)

Business visa

1500.00 (BWP)

Botswana Visa Application Centres & Embassies in Rwanda

Location

Address

Kigali

Parcelle No 1131, Boulevard de l'Umuganda, Kacyiru Sud BP 576, Kigali, Rwanda.

www.gov.uk/government/world/rwanda

bhc.kigali@fco.gov.uk

(+250) 252 556 000

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best places to visit while in Botswana?

Botswana is well known for its wildlife so it offers a variety of options for visitors to see while in the country. Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park, Morei Game Reserve, Linyati Wetlands, Savutui National Park are some of the great locations to experience Botswana's wildlife.

Do they speak English in Botswana?
Yes, English is an official language of Botswana and most people in the urban areas can speak it with the exception of the older generation. The other official language of Botswana is Tswana.
How safe is it to visit Botswana?
Botswana is a very safe country. It's often regarded as one of the safest countries in Africa with no civil war, less corruption, human rights respected and no natural disasters. The people of Botswana are very friendly and there isn't  usually much to worry about. However, travellers are advised to exercise normal caution in protecting personal properties.
What's the accepted currency in Botswana?
The widely accepted currency is the pula and it's symbolised as P or BWP placed directly before the amount. Travellers’ cheques are accepted at some banks. It's worth noting that ATM's are available in the major towns and larger villages but most only accept Visa. Maestro cards are also not generally accepted.