Work Permit (Department of Labour) and Residence Permit
Department of Immigration and Citizenship
Botswana handles work and residence separately. The Work Permit gives a non-citizen permission to work for reward, or to invest for profit. It is filed with the nearest Labour Office. The Residence Permit, filed at Immigration offices, allows a non-citizen to live in Botswana beyond the visitor period. An Emergency Work Permit route also exists for jobs of up to 3 months.
1 entry rule for Botswana based on recent travel
These apply to people who were recently in certain countries. Sign in and add your trips to see whether any apply to you.
Yellow fever certificate needed after a stay in countries with risk of yellow fever transmission (WHO list)
Travellers aged 1 year and over arriving from a yellow fever risk country or having transited any airport in one need a valid yellow fever certificate.
WHO International Travel and Health, Annex 1: Countries with risk of yellow fever transmission and countries requiring proof of vaccination against yellow fever (18 Nov 2022, revised 3 Jan 2023) WHO ITH Country List: Vaccination requirements and WHO recommendations for international travellers, 2022 edition (18 Nov 2022, revised 3 Jan 2023) Checked October 19, 2026
Life in Botswana
Money
3
Currency
Botswanan Pula
BWP
Botswanan Pula
Cost of living
39
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2025
Tax
5–27.5%
Income tax (national)
VAT 14%
2026/27 resident table (from 1 July 2026): 0% up to BWP 48,000, then 5/12.5/18.75/25%, and 27.5% above BWP 400,000.
Living
1
Happiness
#141 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
Your edge here Members
What gives you an edge here: passports, visas and permits you hold, work, study, language and family ties
Who it’s for
Non-citizens with a job offer from a Botswana employer, or investors running a business in Botswana.
Eligibility
Job offer and contract
The applicant needs a letter of offer or appointment and a contract of employment.
Local advertisement
Include a copy of the job advert that is no older than six months.
- Advert must be a local advertisement
Official wording
A copy of the job advert, no older than six months, must be included.
Qualifications
Certified educational certificates are required. Foreign-language certificates must be translated into English and confirmed by the Botswana Qualifications Authority.
A sneak peek at what's inside
- Next requirementProfessional clearance
- Document checklistCompleted Work Permit application form
- FeesResidence Permit application
The full requirements are for members
Create an account and subscribe to see every requirement, the full document checklist, fees, steps, processing times and conditions, and how your profile compares.
- 5 more requirements
- 11 documents
- 4 fees
- 8 steps
- Processing times and conditions
Places to visit in Botswana
Attractions picked for you, based on your profile and interests.
Finding places for you…
Official sources
Other routes to Botswana
- Visit & tourismTourism visa (for nationalities that need a visa) and 90-day visitor stay
- StudyResidence permit for students
- FamilyResidence permit for spouses of citizens and dependants
Work permits in other countries
- BelarusLong-term visa (type D) for employment with special work permit
- BelizeTemporary Employment Permit
- CanadaInternational Experience Canada (IEC): Working Holiday, Young Professionals, International Co-op
- Central African RepublicLong-stay visa (visa long séjour, 45-90 days) for work, business and other purposes
- Republic of the CongoOrdinary resident card (carte de résident ordinaire), including for salaried workers
- SwitzerlandWork and residence permit for non-EU/EFTA nationals
