Foreign travellers, investors and business people heading to Botswana will now dig deeper into their pockets after government introduced sweeping new visa charges in what is likely to spark debate over the country’s openness to tourism and investment.
In regulations signed recently, Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Pius Mokgware has unveiled a new visa fee structure that dramatically increases the cost of entering Botswana for work, business, study and tourism.
The new Immigration (Visa) (Amendment) Regulations, 2026 replace Schedule 3 of the Immigration (Visa) Regulations and introduce charges ranging from P300 to as high as P3,000 depending on the category and duration of the visa.
Business travellers appear to have taken the hardest hit.
Under the new structure, a single-entry Business Visa valid for up to three months will now cost P1,000, while a multiple-entry business visa for up to one year will cost P2,000. Investors seeking long-term access to Botswana will also pay heavily, with a multiple-entry Investment Visa valid for up to five years now pegged at P3,000.
Tourists, long regarded as a critical pillar of Botswana’s economy, are also not spared. A single-entry Tourist Visa for up to one month will now cost P500, while a multiple-entry tourist visa for up to three months rises to P1,000.
Reports show that the new charges could trigger concern within the tourism industry which has repeatedly warned that high travel costs and restrictive immigration measures risk undermining Botswana’s competitiveness against regional rivals such as South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
Business operators are also expected to closely scrutinise the regulations amid ongoing government efforts to attract foreign direct investment and diversify the economy away from diamonds.
Employment visas have also been revised upward. A single-entry Employment Visa for up to three months will cost P300, while a multiple-entry version for the same duration rises to P500.
Dependents of foreign residents will pay P2,500 for a multiple-entry Visitor’s Visa valid for periods exceeding three months up to two years.
Students have not escaped the fee overhaul either. Undergraduate study visas will range from P300 to P500 depending on whether they are single or multiple entry, while graduate students will pay between P700 and P1,000.
The regulations also impose hefty charges on emergency and transit travel. Emergency visas will now cost P1,500, while tour operators and transporters seeking multiple-entry transit visas valid for up to three years will pay P2,500.
Diplomatic and Official visas remain exempt from charges.
Government has not publicly explained the rationale behind the new fees, but the move comes amid mounting pressure on public finances and growing calls for tighter immigration controls.
Critics are likely to question whether the new visa regime could discourage visitors and investors at a time when Botswana is battling sluggish economic growth, youth unemployment and declining mineral revenues.