Do South African Citizens Need a Botswana Visa in 2026?

South African citizens generally do not need a visa to visit Botswana for tourism for up to 90 days. A tourist visa is listed as not required for South African passport holders, although the 90-day allowance should be confirmed with Botswana Immigration before travel because entry rules can change. Visa-free travel does not remove passport, health, transit or border-control requirements.

For a safari, the practical preparation is to travel with a valid South African passport, supporting accommodation and itinerary details, and enough blank pages. Botswana's published tourism-visa guidance also shows the documents immigration may request from applicants who do need a visa, while a current travel advisory states that passports should have six months' validity beyond arrival and departure dates and at least three blank pages.

Last checked July 2026 — always confirm with official sources before travelling.

Quick answer: Botswana visa for South African citizens

Question	Answer
Do South African citizens need a visa?	Not generally for a short tourist visit; South African citizens are listed as visa-exempt for tourism.
How long can they stay?	The published visa summary lists up to 90 days. Confirm the period granted at the border.
Which visa type is needed?	No tourist visa is generally required. A different visa or permit may be needed for work, study, residence or another non-tourism purpose.
What is the visa cost?	There is normally no tourist-visa application fee when no tourist visa is required. Confirm any applicable entry, permit or service charge with the official Botswana portal.
How long does processing take?	There is no pre-travel tourist-visa processing time for a visa-exempt visit. If a visa is required for your purpose, Botswana's government tourism-visa page states seven to 14 days, while Botswana embassy guidance advises allowing 21 working days.

If you are still choosing a destination, SafariFind lets travellers compare safari packages, including Botswana itineraries, before committing to flights or border crossings.

Botswana visa types and who needs one

Tourism and safari visits

A South African citizen travelling to Botswana for a holiday, wildlife viewing or a safari generally does not need to apply for a tourist visa in advance. The available nationality summary lists South African citizens as not requiring a tourist visa and gives an allowed stay of 90 days.

That exemption applies to the traveller's nationality and travel purpose, not automatically to every person departing from South Africa. A non-South-African passport holder who lives in South Africa may have different requirements. The passport used for entry is the document immigration authorities assess.

Before booking, compare the entry position for every passport in your party. This matters for mixed-nationality families, permanent residents, dual nationals and travellers joining a cross-border itinerary through Namibia, Zimbabwe or South Africa.

Work, study, residence and other purposes

Visa-free tourist entry should not be treated as permission to work, study or live in Botswana. Botswana's visa application guidance separates visitors, business travellers, employment, investors, tourists and other categories, indicating that the purpose of travel determines the relevant application route.

If your trip includes paid work, volunteering, an internship, formal study, long-term residence or business activity, ask Botswana Immigration or the nearest Botswana mission which permit or visa applies before travelling. Do not rely on the tourist exemption for a non-tourist activity.

Step-by-step application: what South African travellers should do

Most South African tourists do not need to complete a tourist-visa application. The following checklist is therefore a pre-departure and border-preparation process rather than a visa application.

1. Check your passport nationality. Confirm that you are travelling on a South African passport. The published visa summary identifies South African citizens as not requiring a tourist visa for a short visit.
2. Confirm the purpose and duration. Check that the journey is tourism and that your intended stay fits within the period Botswana grants to visa-exempt visitors. The available summary states 90 days, but the border officer's admission conditions control your visit.
3. Check passport validity. A current travel advisory states that the passport must have six months' validity beyond the arrival date and six months' validity beyond the departure date. Because this is a strict and unusually specific formulation, confirm it with Botswana Immigration before departure if your passport is close to expiry.
4. Check blank pages. The same advisory states that travellers should have three blank passport pages at entry. This is especially important if your route includes several countries or airport connections.
5. Prepare trip evidence. Keep your accommodation booking, flight or onward itinerary and safari confirmation accessible. Botswana's official tourism-visa guidance lists flight itinerary, accommodation bookings, trip itinerary and evidence of intent to depart among supporting documents for visa applications.
6. Check health and transit rules. Yellow-fever documentation may be required when entering Botswana from a country where yellow fever is endemic. The rule depends on your travel history and routing, not simply on holding a South African passport.
7. Confirm before departure. Use Botswana's official government visa service or contact the Department of Immigration and Citizenship if your circumstances are unusual, your stay is long, or your itinerary involves work, study or multiple border crossings. The government page identifies online applications, immigration offices and missions abroad as service channels.

Documents, passport validity and photos

For a normal visa-exempt safari visit, the key document is your South African passport. Carry copies or digital backups of your passport identity page, accommodation details, onward arrangements and travel insurance, although the research does not establish that every item is mandatory for visa-exempt entry.

Botswana's official tourism-visa page requires a certified copy of the passport pages showing a validity period of at least six months, two recent colour passport photographs, a covering letter, flight itinerary, accommodation bookings, a trip itinerary and evidence of intent to depart. Those are visa-application documents, not a statement that every visa-exempt tourist must submit them at the border.

The official guidance supplied for visa applications does not specify a photograph size in the available research. Do not assume a particular dimension; follow the current instructions in the official application system if you are applying for a visa or permit.

Passport validity deserves particular attention. The government tourism-visa page refers to at least six months' validity for an application, while the travel advisory states six months beyond both arrival and departure. When sources use different wording, the safer approach is to meet the stricter requirement and confirm it with the Botswana authorities.

Fees and payment

Because South African citizens are listed as not requiring a tourist visa for a short tourist stay, there is normally no tourist-visa application fee to pay. The research does not provide a confirmed Botswana tourist-visa fee for South African citizens, so this article does not quote a fee amount.

If your purpose requires a visa or permit, confirm the current fee on the official portal before submitting payment. Botswana's embassy guidance mentions a P1,500 reproduction charge for a lost or damaged visa or permit, but that is not a tourist-visa application fee and should not be confused with the cost of visa-free entry.

Use only the official Botswana application channel when a visa is required. Save your application reference and payment receipt, and check whether the portal accepts your preferred payment method before final submission.

Processing times and validity

A visa-exempt tourist does not wait for a tourist visa to be processed before travel. The relevant decision is made at the border, subject to the traveller's documents, purpose and admissibility.

For travellers who do need a Botswana tourism visa, the official government service page states that an outcome takes seven to 14 days. Botswana embassy guidance advises applicants to allow 21 working days. These figures conflict, so applicants should plan around the longer period and confirm the current estimate with the office handling the application.

The available research does not state a separate visa validity period or number of entries for South African visa-exempt tourists. Do not infer that a 90-day stay automatically means multiple entry or that it can be divided across visits. Ask immigration about the admission granted for your specific entry.

On arrival: what immigration may check

At a Botswana border post or airport, expect immigration officials to assess your passport, nationality, purpose of travel and planned departure. Keep your safari booking and accommodation information available in case an officer asks about your itinerary.

Officials may also consider your routing. A yellow-fever vaccination certificate is required when entering from a country where yellow fever is endemic, according to the travel advisory. If you are connecting through another country, check that country's transit and entry rules separately.

Travellers should also comply with Botswana's customs and currency-declaration rules. The travel advisory states that there is no maximum amount for entry or exit, but amounts exceeding 10,000 BWP, or approximately 1,000 US dollars, must be declared. Confirm the applicable declaration procedure and threshold with Botswana customs before travelling, particularly if carrying cash in different currencies.

Transit, extensions and overstays

Transit through Botswana

Transit requirements depend on whether you pass immigration, leave the airport or border-control area, collect baggage, change tickets or continue overland. A traveller who enters Botswana during a transit itinerary may be treated differently from a passenger who remains airside. Confirm the route with the airline and Botswana Immigration before departure.

Do not assume that a visa exemption for tourism covers employment, study or a long stopover. The purpose and length of the stay remain important.

Extensions and overstays

The available research does not provide a confirmed extension fee, extension procedure or overstay penalty for South African citizens. If you need more time, contact Botswana Immigration before your permitted stay expires and confirm the current process and fee on the official portal.

Never deliberately overstay based on an online summary. The permission granted at entry may contain a date or conditions that differ from a general 90-day nationality listing. Keep a record of your admission date and leave before the authorised period ends.

Common mistakes and possible problems

• Relying on residence instead of nationality: living in South Africa does not necessarily give a foreign passport holder the same exemption as a South African citizen.
• Arriving with an expiring passport: the advisory states six months beyond arrival and departure, plus three blank pages.
• Confusing visa-free entry with unrestricted entry: immigration can still assess purpose, documents, routing and the intended departure.
• Using the tourist exemption for work or study: those activities may require a different visa or permit category.
• Ignoring yellow-fever routing: a certificate may be required when arriving from a yellow-fever-endemic country.
• Planning around the shortest processing estimate: the government page says seven to 14 days, while embassy guidance says allow 21 working days.
• Trusting an unofficial fee: the research does not establish a current tourist-visa fee for South African citizens. Confirm the current fee on the official portal if an application is required.

Planning the safari after entry

Visa preparation is only one part of a Botswana trip. If you are comparing destinations, our guide to Botswana vs Tanzania safari can help frame the choice around itinerary style and traveller priorities. For trip budgeting, see Botswana safari cost in 2026.

Travellers interested in the conservation context can read about how safari tourism funds conservation in Botswana. Check entry rules again shortly before travel, especially if your route changes or you hold more than one nationality.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do South African citizens need a visa for Botswana?

No, South African citizens generally do not need a tourist visa for a short visit to Botswana. The available visa summary lists tourism as visa-exempt for South African citizens, with an allowed stay of up to 90 days; confirm the period granted at entry.

How long can South Africans stay in Botswana without a visa?

The published visa information lists up to 90 days for South African citizens visiting Botswana as tourists. Confirm the admission date and conditions stamped or recorded by immigration because general summaries can change.

How much is a Botswana visa for South African citizens?

There is normally no tourist-visa fee when a South African citizen qualifies for visa-free tourist entry. If your purpose requires a visa or permit, confirm the current fee on the official Botswana portal because the research does not establish a current amount.

How long does a Botswana visa take for South Africans?

A visa-exempt tourist does not have a pre-travel tourist-visa processing period. If a visa is required for another purpose, Botswana's government page states seven to 14 days, while embassy guidance recommends allowing 21 working days.

What passport validity do South Africans need for Botswana?

The available travel guidance states that the passport must have six months' validity beyond both the arrival date and the departure date. It also states that travellers should have three blank passport pages.

Do South African citizens need proof of accommodation for Botswana?

Keep accommodation and itinerary evidence available even though South African tourists generally do not need a visa application. Botswana's official tourism-visa guidance lists accommodation bookings, a flight itinerary and a trip itinerary among supporting documents for visa applications.

Do South Africans need a yellow-fever certificate for Botswana?

A yellow-fever vaccination certificate is required when entering Botswana from a country where yellow fever is endemic. The requirement depends on your travel history and route, so check transit countries as well as Botswana.

Can South African citizens work in Botswana without a visa?

Do not assume that visa-free tourist entry permits work. Botswana's guidance distinguishes visitors, business, employment, investors and tourist applications, so contact Botswana Immigration about the correct work visa or permit before travelling.

Can South Africans extend their stay in Botswana?

An extension may depend on your admission conditions and purpose, but the available research does not confirm the current procedure or fee. Contact Botswana Immigration before your authorised stay expires and confirm the process through the official portal.

What happens if a South African overstays in Botswana?

The available research does not provide a confirmed current overstay penalty. Do not overstay; check your permitted departure date at entry and contact Botswana Immigration before expiry if your plans change.