Botswana - Register a Society

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Procedure

Apply In-Person

1. To register a Society in Botswana, you should submit your application to the nearest local Civil and National Registration office. View the local Civil and National Registration office contact details in the “Office Location and Contacts” section below
2. Write a Letter of Intent stating your intention to form the society. The letter should be addressed to the register of society
3. Then obtain all the required supporting documents as mentioned in the “Required Documents” section below and attach them to the Letter of Intent.
4. Pay the required fees and obtain the payment receipt. Note that the fee is non-refundable regardless of the outcome of your application
5. Submit the complete application to the local Civil and National Registration office
6. Upon receipt of your application, the register will review the application, and if it is complete and meets the required standard, the register will send you the following documents for completion:

   • Form A which you should complete in triplicate and signed by two office-bearers of the society
   • Membership list
   • Guidelines for forming the Society’s constitution (submit three copies of the constitution)

7. Complete the documents as instructed and return them to the local Civil and National Registration office
8. The registrar will assess the complete documents to confirm that they are completed as required and after a successful assessment and the application is complete as required, the registrar will issue you a Certificate of registration, Form A, and an Approved Constitution by the society

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Required Documents

Required documents to be submitted along with the Letter of Intent

• Letter of intent
• Minutes of the formation of the society with three or more objectives
• List of signatures and national identity numbers of attendees at the formation of society meeting
• Ten suggested names for the society in order of preference. The names should be reflective of the nature of the society whether it is an association, club, church, or society
• Fee’s payment receipt

In case of non-citizens serving on the executive committee, provide the following:

• Certified copies of resident permit
• Certified work permit
• Certified copy of page 1 and 2 of passport, showing their picture and personal details should also be submitted

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
Call Centre Number – 0800 600 777
Email:[email protected]
Ministry contact details link:Link

Department of Civil and National Registration
Ministry of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs
Head Office,
Address: Block 8, Government Enclave,
Khama Crescent,
Private Bag 00240, Gaborone, Botswana
Tel. (+267)361 1400
Fax. (+267) 395 9998
Toll-Free Number. 0800 600 777

ALL DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL & NATIONAL REGISTRATION – OFFICES CONTACT LINK DETAILS : Link

Opening hours: 7:30 to 12:45, and 13:45 to 16:30, Monday to Friday, except public holidays.

Eligibility

• Citizens, Residents, or visitors in Botswana are eligible

Fees

• Service cost for associations and churches is BWP 500
• Service cost for all other societies is BWP250

Note that the cost is non-refundable

Validity

• The validity of the certificate of registration is valid as long the society exists.
• The validity of the society is stated in its constitution. In case the society seeks to cease to exists, measures to take to facilitate its termination are outlined in its constitution.

Documents to Use

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

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing Time

• The application will be processed in fourteen days

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
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Please remove the '&' inside the tags during implementation.
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sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
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Instructions

You should now make the application for the registration of the society. This is done by

• Filling form A (Application for Registration or Exemption from Registration of a Society) in triplicate.
• The forms should be signed by two office-bearers of the society;
• The forms are sent or submitted to the Registrar of societies
• The forms should be accompanied by three copies of the constitution and rules, regulations, or bye-laws of the society;
• The forms should be accompanied by a prescribed fee which shall not be returnable whether or not the application is granted or refused

Applications can be made in person in any Civil and National Registration Office countrywide.

Required Information

• Full names and address of founders/members
• Nationality of founders
• Name of organization
• Residential Address Postal Address.
• Particulars of the area of intended operation
• Details of specific activities to be done by the organization
• The class or classes of person to whom members of the Society is restricted
• The date of commencement of the Society's financial year
• Source of funding of the organization
• The name of each organization or group of a political nature is established outside the Republic of which the Society is a branch or is affiliated to or connected with.
• The immovable property owned by the Society and how much property is held or vested

Need for the Document

• Society needs to be registered for it to carry out its objectives in Botswana. After registration, the society is given a certificate of registration, which allows it to operate within Botswana.

Information which might help

Society Act: Link

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

• A registration certificate is required when opening a bank account for a society.
• The certificate is also required when the society wants to buy an immovable property or when entering into contractual agreements.

External Links

• GOV.BW: Link

Others

The service registers non-profit making societies and non–governmental organizations. These include:

• Religious Organisations
• Professional Associations
• Burial Societies
• Recreational and Sporting Clubs
• Political Parties
• Charitable Organisations
• Others