Botswana - Apply for Citizenship

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Procedure

Apply In Person

1. Any foreign nationals intending to acquire Botswana Citizenship either by Registration or Naturalization should visit the Ministry of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs, Department of Immigration and Citizenship head office, nearest Regional or District Immigration Offices or Botswana Missions abroad for the application process for the citizenship {see address/contact details below}.
2. Express your interest to the receptionist/ secretariat front desk and Collect the relevant Citizenship Application form and fill out all required sections accurately. Forms are available for free at the front desk at any of the immigration offices or Botswana Missions abroad
3. Submit the completed forms, attach to the relevant supporting document file {as listed under the required document section below} to the department concerned 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 the order you will be required to pay the application fee at the cash counter.
5. It is only after the deposit of the complete file and the payment of the required fee, that the application file will be registered and recorded and applicants will be issued with an acknowledgment letter containing details of their application.
6. The completed application file will then be forwarded to an authorized officer (via designated channels) at the Department of Immigration and Citizenship office in Botswana for assessment and processing, based on the information and documents that have been provided.
7. Upon receipt of the application, the citizenship request will be publicized in the Government Gazzette by the department, this is to give those, who are against your citizenship application to voice out their concerns.
8. If there is no pubic objection, the department of immigration and Citizenship office is entitled to summon the applicant for an interview by way of a letter via mail; if called upon;
9. Applicants are then required to avail themselves for the interview at the immigration and citizenship office in Botswana, at the scheduled appointment date and time as outlined in the letter.
10. If your application is successful, a letter will be sent to you by mail, requesting you to renounce your foreign citizenship in the presence of a magistrate, Commissioner for Oaths/Notary Public) in Botswana, or a Botswana ambassador/consul if abroad.
11. If your application is rejected a rejection letter will be sent to you via mail. You can re-apply if you wish. (There is no time restriction for re-submission).
12. The certificate of Citizenship will then be drawn by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship and issued to the applicant at the immigration offices or embassy/consulate office, upon payment of the required certificate fee and against the applicant identification document and acknowledgment slip

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Required Documents

The following documents should accompany the application:
APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION AS A CITIZEN OF BOTSWANA OF ADOPTED CHILD OVER 3 YEARS

• Completed Application Form C “ Citizenship by Registration of Adopted Child Over 3 Years”
• Two recent passport size photos (not computer-generated photos)
• Certified copy of adoption certificate
• Certified copy of child’s birth certificate
• Proof of parents’ citizenship status e.g. Omang (Certified copies)
• Set of Police report forms for children over 16 years old
• Certified copy of adoptive parents’ marriage certificate
• Application fee of P 50

DECLARATION CONCERNING CITIZENSHIP OF BOTSWANA BY SETTLEMENT

• Completed Application Form A “Citizenship by settlement”
• Two passport size photos (not computer-generated photos)
• Certified copy of a birth certificate or affidavit in lieu of birth certificate
• Personal declaration to establish nationality
• Certified copy of valid residence permits if available
• Proof that the applicant has been in Botswana for such a period i.e., letter from Tribal Authority
• Application fee of P 200

APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION AS A CITIZEN OF BOTSWANA

• Completed ApplicationForm H “Citizenship by Registration”
• Two recent passport size photos (not computer-generated photos)
• Certified copy of valid Residence Permit/Exemption Certificate/Permanent Residence
• Letter addressed to His Excellency the President
• Set of Police report forms
• Certified copy of birth certificate/affidavit in lieu of birth certificate
• Application fee of P 500

APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF NATURALISATION

• Completed Application Form K ”Citizenship by Naturalization”
• Two passport size photos (not computer-generated photos)
• Certified copies of previous/valid residence permit
• Set of police report forms
• Certified copy of the birth certificate
• Certified copy of marriage certificate if applicable
• Certified copies of educational qualifications and spouses
• Copy of C.V. Please state no. of children
• Application fee of P1000

APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF NATURALISATION BY FOREIGN SPOUSE

• Completed Application Form N” Citizenship by Naturalization by a Foreign Spouse”
• Two recent passport size photos (not computer-generated photos)
• Form M supplement
• Set of Police report forms
• Certified copy of valid residence permit
• Certified copy of marriage certificate
• Spouse identity card certified copy
• Application fee of P 250

APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF DUAL CITIZENSHIP

• Two passport-sized photos.
• Certificate of the Declaration form.The applicant will be given a letter as proof of renunciation from their country of origin
• Proof that one has renounced the other country's citizenship.
• Copy of birth certificate
• Registration Certificate (For children who were born by foreign citizens but later registered as citizens of Botswana).
• Proof of parent’s citizenship (certified copies of valid Parent national Identity card/s and certified copies of citizenship certificates if they acquired Botswana Citizen).
• Application fee of P 10.00

Office Locations & Contacts

Ministry of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs
Address: Block 8, Government Enclave, Khama Crescent
Private Bag 002
Gaborone
Botswana
Tel: (+267)3611115 / 3611234 / 3611132
Fax: (+267) 3907426
Email: [email protected]
Toll-Free. 0800 600 777

Department of Immigration and Citizenship
Ministry of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs
Departmental HQ
Address: Government Enclave, Block 8, Khama Crescent
P. O. Box 942
Gaborone
Botswana
Tel. (+267) 361 1373/ (+267) 361 1375
Toll-Free. 0800 600 777

Ministry contact details: Link
Regional Immigration Offices

• South Central Region (Block 8 Universal House) (+267) 3909996
  
• South East Region (Loapi House) (+267) 3952591
  
• Lobatse Immigration Region (+267) 5330247
  
• Francistown Immigration Region (+267) 2414204
  
• Serowe Immigration Region (+267) 4632519
  
• Selibe-Phikwe Immigration Region (+267) 2611677
  
• Tsabong Immigration Region (+267) 6540225
  
• Maun Immigration Region (+267) 6860369
  
• Kasane Immigration Region (+267) 6250252
  

District Immigration Offices

• Mochudi District Immigration Office (+267) 5777285
  
• Molepolole District Immigration Office (+267) 5920339
  
• Ramotswa District Immigration Office (+267) 5391527
  
• Tutume District Immigration Officer (+267) 2987459
  
• Masunga District Immigration Office (+267) 2489272
  
• Sowa Pan District Immigration Office (+267) 6213435
  
• Palapye District Immigration Office (+267) 4920377
  
• Mahalapye District Immigration Office (+267) 4710484
  
• Orapa District Immigration Office (+267) 2970211
  
• Letlhakane District Immigration Office (+267) 2978308
  
• Sefhare District Immigration Office (+267) 4948096
  
• Kanye District Immigration Office (+267) 5440656
  
• Jwaneng District Immigration Office (+267) 5880348
  
• Gantsi District Immigration Office (+267) 6596233
  
• Hukuntsi District Immigration Office (+267) 6510202
  
• Bobonong District Immigration Office (+267) 2619249
  
• Gumane District Immigration Office (+267) 6874674
  

Opening hours: 7:30 to 12:45, and 13:45 to 16:30, Monday to Friday, except no public holidays.
For abroad applications, please contact your nearest Botswana Embassy or High Commission to help you.

All Botswana Mission Abroad contact link;: Link

Eligibility

• Foreign nationals intending to acquire Botswana Citizenship by way of Registration and Naturalization
  

Fees

The legal fee are as follows;

• Citizenship by Settlement - P200.00
• Dual Citizenship - P10.00
• Citizenship by Naturalization - P1000.00
• Citizenship by Naturalization of Foreign Spouse - P250.00
• Citizenship by Registration of an Adopted Child over 3 years old - P50.00
• Citizenship by Registration of a Minor Child of a Citizen - P25.00
• Citizenship by President's Power to Register Citizens - P500.00

Validity

• The Certificate is Valid Forever and it is issued once i.e. there is no replacement, if it get lost/stolen/damaged.

Documents to Use

Please attach documents that can be used by people. e.g. links

Sample Documents

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Processing Time

The time round for processing of the application by the immigration and citizenship department office varies as follows;

• For citizenship; by settlement, by adopted child or by Dual citizenship, the time around is within one month.
• For citizenship; by naturalization and Registration by President's Power, the time around is within one year

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
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Instructions

Determine the type of citizenship in Botswana you are qualified for;

• Citizenship by Settlement - people who have settled in Botswana immediately before 30 September 1966 and have lived as members of a particular tribe or community or have been customarily accepted as a member of a tribe or community.
• Dual Citizenship - applies to people who are Botswana citizens by birth descent who are also citizens of other countries. These people are required to renounce other citizenship upon attainment of age 21 years.
• Naturalization - applies to foreigners who have resided in Botswana for ten (10) years in aggregate or more.
• Naturalization of Foreign Spouse - applicant must be married to a citizen and must have continuously lived in Botswana for five (5) years or more.
• Registration of an Adopted Child over 3 years old - applicant must be a Motswana and must have an adopted child who is over three (3) years old.
• Registration of a Minor Child of a Citizen - applies to children under the age of twenty-one (21) years who were not citizens of Botswana either by birth or by descent. One of the parents should have acquired Botswana citizenship.
• President's Power to Register Citizens - The President of the Republic of Botswana may order for registration of a foreign national as a citizen of Botswana on the grounds of special considerations.

Required Information

• Full names of the applicant
• Contact details
• Other nationality details
• Spouse/parent details
• Occupation details
• Residential address in Botswana/abroad
• Witness details

Need for the Document

• Citizenship is issued to a foreign national who intends to acquire Botswana Citizenship either by Registration or Naturalization

Information which might help

Enter other informations which might help.

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

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

External Links

• Government procedure portal: Link
  

Others

More information which might help people.