Botswana visa for South African citizens
Botswana visa for South African citizensWhat South African citizens need to enter Botswana, with the official source for every fact.
Visa-freeMaximum stay: 90 days
Verified Oct 5, 2026 · Source: evisa.gov.bw (opens in a new tab)How to apply
No visa application is needed for a short visit.
Yellow fever certificate
Arriving from South Africa, no yellow fever certificate is required: WHO does not list South Africa as a transmission risk. It can still be demanded if you have been in a risk country shortly before arriving.
Driving on a South Africa license
Botswana and South Africa are both party to the 1949 Geneva Convention, so an International Driving Permit issued in South Africa is one Botswana is bound to recognize.
Whether a permit is required alongside your national license is set by national road law, which we have not checked for this pair.
Verified Oct 3, 2026 · Source: treaties.un.org (opens in a new tab) · Convention on Road TrafficOther entry requirements
- Passport validity — Botswana's eVisa application terms say the passport must have at least six months' validity left and at least three unused pages.
- Onward or return ticket — Required of visa applicants only — not of South African citizens.
No official source states a rule on: travel insurance and proof of funds.
Full wording and sources of these rules: All Botswana entry requirements
The other way round
Botswana citizens travelling to South Africa: Visa-free. Up to 90 days.
Compare this across every country
Each of these tables states one rule for all 199 destinations, with the government source behind every row. Botswana has a row in each.
- How long your passport must be valid, country by country
- Vaccination certificates required at the border
- Which International Driving Permit each country recognizes
- What a tourist visa costs, country by country
- Where you must show a return or onward ticket
- How much cash you can carry before you must declare it
All Botswana entry requirements · Everywhere South African citizens can travel
Frequently asked questions
Do South African citizens need a visa for Botswana?
No. South African citizens can enter Botswana without a visa for up to 90 days.
How long can South African citizens stay in Botswana?
Up to 90 days per entry.
Sources & verification
- Botswana eVisa — Visa Application Terms (general and per-category requirements) (opens in a new tab)
- Government of Botswana — Extension of days of visit (opens in a new tab)
Who is visa-exempt: the eVisa portal's nationality list (https://evisa.gov.bw/bw-evisa-api/api/v1/dictionary/nationalities)
- UN Treaty Collection — Convention on Road Traffic (Geneva, 1949), status of parties (opens in a new tab)
Convention on Road Traffic, Geneva, 19 September 1949 (UNTS vol. 125, p. 3)
- WHO — Vaccination requirements and recommendations for international travellers, country list (ITH 2022) (opens in a new tab)
Something wrong or out of date? Tell us, with the official source