The government has quietly rolled out a sweeping new visa fee regime that will see foreign students, tourists, transporters and tour operators digging deeper into their pockets to enter the country.
The move is likely to reignite debate about the country’s attractiveness as a study destination and tourism hub.
Through the Immigration (Visa) (Amendment) Regulations, 2026, published on May 22, government introduced a new schedule of visa fees covering virtually every category of foreign visitor, including undergraduate and graduate students as well as tourism operators who bring visitors into Botswana.
The regulations, signed by Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Major General (Rtd) Pius Mokgware, mark one of the most comprehensive revisions of visa charges in recent years.
Under the new fee structure, foreign undergraduate students will pay P300 for a single-entry study visa and P500 for a multiple-entry visa. Graduate students will pay significantly more, with single-entry visas set at P700 and multiple-entry visas at P1000.
The introduction of visa charges for students is expected to affect international enrolment at Botswana’s tertiary institutions, particularly at a time when universities across the region are competing aggressively to attract foreign students.
Education stakeholders have long argued that international students contribute not only tuition fees but also spending on accommodation, transport, food and other services that support local economies.
Business travellers have been hit even harder. A single-entry business visa will cost P1000, while multiple-entry business visas will range between P1500 and P2000 depending on duration. Visitor visas have similarly been revised upward, with dependents of residents seeking visas exceeding three months and up to two years required to pay P2500.
The tourism industry has also been drawn into the new visa net.
Tour operators and transporters seeking multiple-entry transit visas valid for up to three years will now be required to pay P2500. Observers say the charges could add to operational costs for businesses already grappling with rising fuel prices, regional competition and post-pandemic recovery challenges.
Tourists themselves will not escape the changes. Single-entry tourist visas for stays of up to one month will cost P500, while multiple-entry tourist visas valid for up to three months will attract a fee of P1000.
Business travellers have been hit even harder. A single-entry business visa will cost P1000, while multiple-entry business visas will range between P1500 and P2000 depending on duration. Visitor visas have similarly been revised upward, with dependents of residents seeking visas exceeding three months and up to two years required to pay P2500.
Government has maintained free visas for diplomatic and official travellers, while employment visa fees will range from P300 to P500 depending on whether applicants require single or multiple entries.
The revised fee structure comes as Botswana seeks to diversify its economy away from diamonds while simultaneously positioning itself as a regional centre for education, investment and tourism.
Critics are likely to question whether imposing additional costs on foreign students and tourism operators sends the right signal at a time when neighbouring countries are aggressively marketing themselves as affordable destinations for study, business and leisure.
The regulations do not provide reasons for the fee adjustments, but immigration authorities have previously argued that visa charges help recover administrative costs and strengthen migration management systems.
With the amendments now in force, prospective students, tourists and transport operators planning to enter Botswana will have little choice but to factor the new visa charges into their budgets.
