Botswana - Apply for Diplomatic Vehicle Registration Numbers

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Procedure

Apply In-Person

1. Members of the Diplomatic Communities who need to apply for diplomatic vehicle registration numbers should visit the Department of Road Transport and Safety (DRTS) office. DRTS offices contact details.
2. In the case where the vehicles are to be imported, the vehicles must be registered and approved by the Ministry of International Affairs and Cooperation (MIAC), to be approved for importation by the Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS), and then issued with the diplomatic vehicle registration number by the DRTS office upon arrival into the country.
3. Applicants are therefore first required to collect and complete the Application for BURS Certificate A - Diplomatic Importation Form, available at any of the BURS offices located countrywide or download it via the BURS website; or directly download it using this BURS Certificate A - Diplomatic Importation Link.
4. The completed BURS Certificate A - Diplomatic Importation form and the attachment, should then be submitted to the Department of Protocol and Consular Services housed at the MIAC office, the authorized officer will verify if all the necessary information and documentation has been provided and that the applications comply with the selection criteria before registering the file for processing.
5. Applicants will be issued with an acknowledgment letter as proof of submission of the application.
6. Once processing is completed; which is usually within 2 working days, the applicant will be contacted via phone/mail/ fax and notified of the outcome.
7. If importation is approved the vehicle is registered by the MIAC office and, a clearance certificate will be drawn up, signed, and stamped by the MIAC authorized official and made available to be issued to the applicant, upon producing proof of identity document and the acknowledgment letter at the MIAC offices. The applicant can then proceed with the importation process.
8. Upon the arrival of the vehicle to the country, in the case of importing a vehicle, the applicant should then proceed to the nearest Department of Road Transport and Safety Offices (DRTS) office to apply for the diplomatic vehicle registration number.
9. Applicants will be required to collect and complete the Application for Registration of Diplomat-Motor Vehicle form.Forms are available at any DRTS office located countrywide DRTS Registration of Diplomat-Motor Vehicle form.
10. Submit the duly completed application form and the attachments as mentioned under the “Required Documents” section of this page, to the nearest DRTS office, Registration, and licensing unit for approval. Any omission of the supporting documents will render the registration process incomplete.
11. On receipt of the application file, the Registration and licensing officer will then verify, if all the necessary information and documents have been provided for processing.
12. The Licensing officer will issue the client with an invoice indicating the prescribed fee i.e., the vehicle weight including a levy of BWP50, which is to be paid at the DRST cash counter, and obtain a payment receipt.
13. Present the payment receipt to the Registration and Licensing Officer, the vehicle and the owner's particulars will be registered in the Government vehicle registration system.
14. The vehicle registration booklet and license will be drawn up signed and stamped by the authorized official and issued to the applicant immediately, against his/her identification document.

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Required Documents

• Note Verbale requesting for facilitation to purchase, import, and export, or sell a vehicle.
• Application for Registration of Diplomat-Motor Vehicle form.
• Copy of BURS Certificate A - Diplomatic Importation, if the vehicle is imported.
• Copy of Vehicle Registration Book.
• Certificate of roadworthiness obtained from DRTS vehicle testing station for:
  • Vehicles 3 years old and above
  • All re-imported vehicles
• Residence permit / exemption certificate and passport for non-citizens
• A clearance certificate from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on International Cooperation.
• Customs clearance (CE 109) obtained from Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS)
  

Office Locations & Contacts

Ministry of International Affairs and Cooperation (MIAC)
Department of Protocol and Consular Services
Private Bag 00368 
Gaborone
Botswana
Government Enclave
Tel. (+267) 3600700
Fax. (+267) 3973067
Email. [email protected]/ [email protected]
Tel. (+267) 3600744
Fax. (+267) 3974516
MIAC contact link details

Ministry of Transport and Communications
Department of Road Transport and Safety
physical address: Tshomarelo House
Botswana Savings Bank Building
postal address: Private Bag 0054 
Gaborone
Botswana
Tel. (+267) 368-8600
Fax. (+267) 397-1117/1114
Toll-Free Number: 17779
Email: mtcpro​@gov.bw
Ministry contact details

Department of Road Transport and Safety Offices (DRTS) across the country contact details link: DRTS offices contact details
Opening hours are from 07:30 to 16:30, Monday to Friday, except for public holidays.

Eligibility

Members of the diplomatic community.

Fees

• DRTS pricing schedule / offences and charges information.
  

Note: The fees charge is dependent on the type and mass of the vehicle

Validity

• The vehicle registration book is valid forever, however, it should be updated in case of any modification to the vehicle or change of ownership.
• The vehicle license is valid for one year and should be renewed annually, ideally 3 months before expiry.
  

Documents to Use

• BURS Certificate A - Diplomatic Importation
  
• DRTS Registration of Diplomat-Motor Vehicle form
  

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing Time

The time frame for processing the clearance certificate by the MIAC is within 2 working days, will the vehicle registration process by the DRTS is within a day

Related Videos

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'.

Instructions

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• All imported vehicles must be registered with the Ministry of International Affairs and Cooperation, and only a maximum of two vehicles are allowed per married couple and one for an unmarried Diplomat.
• Vehicles registered to the individual members of the Diplomatic Corps are to be retained in their possession in Botswana for a minimum period of 2 years to enjoy VAT exemption benefits.
• To dispose locally or export Diplomatic vehicles requires written permission from the Ministry of International Affairs and Cooperation.
  

Required Information

• Full name of the mission/embassy
• Physical/Postal Address of the mission
• Owner details
• Diplomatic no.
• Contact details
• Vehicle details
• Police clearance certificate no.
• Customs clearance certificate no.
• Roadworthiness certificate no.
• Declaration by the applicant
  

Need for the Document

Members of the Diplomatic Corps are entitled to purchase/import motor vehicles other than trucks, tractors or other commercial types of vehicles without any charges for duty or VAT. These are then provided with diplomatic vehicle registration.

Information which might help

• Botswana's diplomatic privileges and immunities act_0.pdf
  
• (Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations
  

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

• Gov.BW
  
• Gov.BW
  

Others

More information which might help people.