Republic of Botswana · family
Residence Permit - Dependants
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Source check: all 11 official citations reconfirmed 13 September 2026
For dependent family members of someone living in Botswana: this category of the residence permit lets dependants, including younger adults (18-25) and older relatives (65+), reside on the basis of their sponsor, applied for through the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.
- Processing time
- Indicative only - confirm current timelines on the official Department of Immigration and Citizenship page on gov.bw.
- Government fees
- Indicative only - a government fee applies; confirm the current amount on the official gov.bw page.
- Typical duration
- A renewable residence permit tied to the dependency and the sponsor's status; confirm current validity on the official page.
- Sponsorship required
- Yes
- Leads to permanent residency
- No
In short
As of 11 July 2026, the Residence Permit - Dependants for Republic of Botswana is a sponsor-led Botswana immigration route. Sources: official Republic of Botswana government pages, reviewed 11 July 2026.
Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/botswana/dependants-residence#answer
What is the Residence Permit - Dependants in Republic of Botswana?
Residence Permit - Dependants is a sponsor-led Botswana route. Indicative government fees are Indicative only - a government fee applies; confirm the current amount on the official gov.bw page; indicative processing time is Indicative only - confirm current timelines on the official Department of Immigration and Citizenship page on gov.bw; typical duration is A renewable residence permit tied to the dependency and the sponsor's status; confirm current validity on the official page. This route does not lead to permanent residence.
Verified against Department of Immigration and Citizenship on 1 June 2026.
Overview
If you depend on a family member who lives in Botswana, this is the residence route for you. It is the dependants category of the residence permit, granted by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship to family members - including dependants aged 18-25 and older relatives aged 65 and over - who rely on a supporter already established in the country. The permit follows the sponsor's status and is renewable rather than permanent, so on its own it does not lead to settlement. You apply through the same residence permit process, choosing the dependants category. Good to know: the permit rests on a genuine dependency and on the sponsor remaining in order, and the documents you need centre on proving both.
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓A genuine dependency on a sponsor who is lawfully established in Botswana.Department of Immigration and Citizenship ↗
- ✓Falling within a recognised dependant category, such as dependants aged 18-25 or older relatives aged 65 and over.Department of Immigration and Citizenship ↗
- ✓A completed residence permit application in the dependants category with the required documents.Department of Immigration and Citizenship ↗
- ✓The sponsor maintaining their own status and supporting the dependant.Department of Immigration and Citizenship ↗
Common blockers
- !No genuine, documented dependency on a qualifying sponsor.Department of Immigration and Citizenship ↗
- !The sponsor losing or lacking the status the dependant relies on.Department of Immigration and Citizenship ↗
- !Falling outside the recognised dependant categories.Department of Immigration and Citizenship ↗
Typical evidence
- ·Documents evidencing the relationship and the dependency, such as birth certificates.Department of Immigration and Citizenship ↗
- ·The sponsor's identity and status documents.Department of Immigration and Citizenship ↗
- ·A valid passport and a completed residence permit application.Department of Immigration and Citizenship ↗
- ·Evidence of the sponsor's means to support the dependant.Department of Immigration and Citizenship ↗
Application pathway
Check the route fit
Confirm the dependency and that the dependants category (such as 18-25 or 65+) fits the family member on the official gov.bw page.
Build the evidence pack
Gather the relationship and dependency documents, the sponsor's status documents and the dependant's passport.
Submit through the official channel
Submit the residence permit application in the dependants category through the official Department of Immigration and Citizenship process.
After approval
Hold the permit in line with the sponsor's status and renew before expiry while the dependency continues.
After approval: prepare for your next step
For Residence Permit - Dependants, use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.
- 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
- 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
- 3. Confirm what you may do. Check the conditions for your own permission, including work, and keep evidence of the qualifying relationship. The principal applicant’s conditions may differ.
- 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
- 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Plan the practical side of your stay
Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in Botswana. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- Official guidanceApplicant + sponsorUse official Residence Permit - Dependants route page ↗
Use this official page to confirm requirements and follow the government filing route for Residence Permit - Dependants.
Department of Immigration and Citizenship · verified
Also explored by
Compare Republic of Botswana with
Related routes
Residence Permit
For non-citizens who want to live in Botswana beyond a visit: the residence permit is the general permit that lets immigrants, and certain other categories, reside in the country, applied for through the Department of Immigration and Citizenship on gov.bw.
Residence Permit - Spouse of a Botswana Citizen
For the foreign husband or wife of a Botswana citizen: this category of the residence permit lets you live in Botswana on the basis of your marriage, and it can place you on the path toward longer-term settlement.
Permanent Residence
For non-citizens with a long, lawful stay in Botswana: permanent residence is the discretionary, durable status you can apply for after years in the country, going beyond the renewable work and residence permits.
Frequently asked questions
Which dependants can get a residence permit in Botswana?+
The dependants category covers family members who rely on a sponsor in Botswana, including dependants aged 18-25 and older relatives aged 65 and over. Confirm which dependants qualify and the documents needed on the official Department of Immigration and Citizenship page on gov.bw.
Does a dependant's permit lead to permanent residence?+
Not on its own. It is renewable while the dependency and the sponsor's status continue, but it is not permanent. Permanent residence is a separate, discretionary status. Confirm the current rules on the official gov.bw page.
Can my adult child in their early twenties join me in Botswana as a dependant?+
Yes. The dependants category recognises dependants aged 18-25 who genuinely rely on a sponsor lawfully established in Botswana. Confirm which dependants qualify and the documents needed on the official Department of Immigration and Citizenship page on gov.bw.
Can I bring my elderly parent to live with me in Botswana?+
The dependants category covers older relatives aged 65 and over who genuinely depend on a sponsor lawfully established in Botswana. Confirm whether your relative qualifies and the documents needed on the official gov.bw page.
What happens to my dependant's permit if my own status lapses?+
A dependant's permit follows the sponsor's status, so it rests on the sponsor remaining in order; if the sponsor loses or lacks the status the dependant relies on, that is a common reason applications are refused. Confirm the current rules on the official gov.bw page.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
Find a regulated advisor in BotswanaHow we verified this
We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.
Primary source: Department of Immigration and Citizenship
Last checked: 1 June 2026