Do US citizens need a visa for Botswana?

Deep breath. Here's the answer.

As a US passport holder, you can enter Botswana without a visa for tourist purposes for a stay of up to 90 days. You will need a passport valid for at least six months beyond your departure date and at least three blank pages.

Key facts

For United States passport holders, tourism or short business trips.

You may need a visa if…

• Your passport must have at least 3 blank pages for entry and transit through neighboring countries.
• Botswana does not accept the 12-page U.S. emergency passport for visa-free entry.
• If traveling with a child, specific notarized consent letters are required if one parent is absent or if the child is traveling with someone else.
• A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if entering from a country where yellow fever is endemic.
• You must declare currency amounts exceeding 10,000 BWP (or approximately 1,000 USD) upon entry or exit.

Before you travel

• ✓Ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned departure date.
• ✓Verify your passport has at least 3 blank pages for entry stamps.
• ✓Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) with the U.S. Embassy.
• ✓Purchase travel insurance, including medical evacuation insurance, especially for remote areas.
• ✓Check with your doctor for required vaccines and review the latest CDC Travel Health Information.
• ✓If traveling with minors, prepare notarized consent letters as required by Botswana authorities.

Common questions