Check your Botswanavisa application status.

The Botswana government says all citizens of Commonwealth countries do not need a visa "except those from Bangladesh, Cameroon, Ghana, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka" ¹. Visas issued at a border post are valid for 14 days at most ¹.

Applying for the study visa

You can apply online at evisa.gov.bw, or use Form 1 at any regional or district immigration office, or at a Botswana embassy or consulate ². You must also hold a valid study or research permit to be eligible ². The documents listed are:

• Form 1 (in person), or the online application with documents saved as one PDF
• a certified copy of pages 1 and 2 of the passport, valid for at least six months
• two recent coloured passport-size photos
• a covering letter giving the reasons for the visit
• a flight itinerary and accommodation bookings, or a residential address in Botswana
• a re-entry permit to the country where you normally live, if that country requires one
• a letter of acceptance from the educational institution
• the study or research permit
• proof of sponsorship ²

Time and where to ask

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship gives 7 to 14 working days. After that you check the outcome online or at the office where you applied ². Approval or rejection letters are sent to that office or can be downloaded from the eVisa portal ². If your visa is approved but not yet printed, you can travel with the approval letter and the visa is printed at the port of entry ².

The department's phone numbers are +267 361 1327/40/71/72 and toll-free 0800 600 777, open 7:30 to 12:45 and 13:45 to 16:30, Monday to Friday ².

Checking your eVisa status

The official eVisa status check asks for three details: the email you applied with, your application number, which is exactly 13 characters, and your passport number ³. If the three do not match an application, the portal finds nothing ³. When they match, it shows one of these:

• "Application is in progress": still being handled.
• "Verification is in progress": the verification step is still under way.
• "Application is approved": the visa is approved.
• "Application is rejected": the visa was refused.
• "Application is not verified: the form, passport or photo needs correcting": fix the form, passport scan or photo ³.

Two early stages come before these. One means the visa fee has not been paid yet, and the other means the application was started but not submitted ³.

Have your 13-character application number, application email and passport number ready for the check above this article.