Apply In-Person

1. To obtain a Prospecting License, the applicant should visit the Department of Mines office, which is under the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security. (Contact details listed below).
2. Applicants are required to complete the Prospecting License Application Form, forms are available for free at the Enquiries Desk at any of the offices of the Department of Mines, or directly download it using this link;Link
3. Submit the duly completed application forms along with the relevant attachments (mentioned below under the ‘Required Documents’ section) to the Department of Mines, section concerned to be verified by the attending officer.
4. The officer will then verify, if all the necessary information and documents have been provided and that the applications comply with the selection criteria, if everything is in order, the application file will be registered and recorded and you will be issued with an acknowledgment letter containing details of the application.
5. The completed application file is then submitted to an authorized officer (via designated channels) where the application is reviewed and a recommendation made which is within 60 days.
6. The authorized officer is entitled to call in the applicant to undergo financial competency and technical competency interview.
7. Applicants will then be notified of the outcome of their application by way of a letter.
8. In case of application deficiency, the application is given 21 days to rectify the deficiency. If submission is not received within 21 days rejection is instituted.
9. If the license has been approved, the applicant can collect the license from the office they applied at upon payment of applicable license fees and against the acknowledgment letter, approval letter and identity document.

• Clearance from Department of Wildlife and National Parks if area is in a conservation area.
• One (1) copy of certified company registration.
• One (1) copy of certified shareholder’s certificate.
• One (1) copy of environmental management plan.
• Proof of adequate financial capability (latest three months banks statements or audited financial statements).
• Company profile showing the company origin, eligibility and history.
• CV of geologist(s).
• Binding agreement for Joint Ventures.
• Binding agreement between applicant and financiers.
• Police clearance and affidavit for precious metals and precious stones.

Ministry of Mineral Resources, Green Technology, and Energy Security
Private Bag 0018
Gaborone
Botswana
Address: Fairground Office Park, Plot 50676, Block C
Gaborone
Tel: (+267) 365 6600
Fax: (+267) 3167695
Toll free number: 0800600235

Department of Mines
Chief Inspector of Explosives
Headquarter Office
Gaborone Regional Office
Ministry of Mineral Resources, Green Technology, and Energy Security
Address: Government Enclave, Block 6, Khama Crescent
(Housed at the Ministry of Basic Education building floor 4)
P/Bag 0049
Gaborone
Botswana
Tel. (+267) 365 7000
Fax. (+267) 395 2141
Email: mines@gov.bw

Department of Mines
Francistown Regional Office
P/Bag F0081
Francistown
Botswana
Address: Plot 1280, Government Camp
Tel. (+267) 245 0200
Fax. (+267) 240 6004
Email: mines@gov.bw

• Ministry contact details link: Link
  
• Opening hours: 7:30 to 12:45 and 13:45 to 16:30, Monday to Friday, except public holidays
  

Citizen or non-citizen companies that have:

• Established domicilium citandi et executandi (the place where legal notices can be served on you) in Botswana.
• Not been in liquidation or under judicial management except where such liquidation or judicial management is part of scheme for reconstruction or amalgamation of such company.
• None of the Directors or Shareholders are disqualified as an individual under above requirements of an individual.

• For industrial minerals fee is BWP 5.00 per square kilometer or part thereof, subject to a minimum of BWP500.00.
• The minimum fee associated with other commodities is BWP 1,000.00 These fees will then be paid on annual anniversary of the license.

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

(Prospecting License Application Form)

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

• The time around for processing the application is within Sixty (60) days
• In case of application deficiency, the application is given 21 days to rectify the deficiency. If submission is not received within 21 days rejection is instituted.

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type='website'>video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the '&' inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver,
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 'Y0US7oR_t3M'.

Please provide other instructions related to the certificate/documents.
e.g. The state office holds birth records since january 1908.

• Full name of the applicant/company/business { partners/directors/members of association, shareholder
• Nationality
• Authorized share capital and issued capital
• Name(s) of Shareholder who is a beneficial owner of more than 5% of the issued capital and Nationalities
• Details of Financial Status
• Technical Competence (established mining track record is an advantage but is not essential)
• Name(s) of mineral which it is intended to mine
• Declaration by the applicant

• The Prospecting Licence allows a company to prospect or explore mineral deposits within specified geographic coordinates in Botswana.
  

Enter other informations which might help.

Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

• Government procedure portal: Link
  

More information which might help people.