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Republic of Botswana · investor

Investor Work Permit

By · Last reviewed:

Source check: all 1 official citation reconfirmed 13 September 2026

For non-citizens investing in a business in Botswana: the investor category of the work permit lets you reside and run or invest in a Botswana business, applied for through the Department of Immigration and Citizenship on gov.bw.

No sponsorship requiredDoes not lead to permanent residencyIssued for a fixed period tied to the investment and renewable; confirm current validity on the official page.In flux
Processing time
Indicative only - confirm current timelines on the official Department of Immigration and Citizenship page on gov.bw.
Government fees
Indicative only - government fees apply and investment is assessed case by case; confirm current amounts on the official gov.bw page.
Typical duration
Issued for a fixed period tied to the investment and renewable; confirm current validity on the official page.
Sponsorship required
No
Leads to permanent residency
No
Reviewed Department of Immigration and Citizenship ↗

In short

As of 11 July 2026, the Investor Work Permit for Republic of Botswana is an unsponsored Botswana immigration route. Sources: official Republic of Botswana government pages, reviewed 11 July 2026.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/botswana/investor-work-permit#answer

What is the Investor Work Permit in Republic of Botswana?

Investor Work Permit is an unsponsored Botswana route. Indicative government fees are Indicative only - government fees apply and investment is assessed case by case; confirm current amounts 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 Issued for a fixed period tied to the investment and renewable; confirm current validity on the official page. This route does not lead to permanent residence.

Verified against Department of Immigration and Citizenship on 28 June 2026.

Overview

If you are putting money into a Botswana business rather than taking a salaried job, this is the investor version of the work permit. The work permit gives a non-citizen permission to work in Botswana for reward or to invest in Botswana for profit, and investor applicants typically show their investment, for example through bank statements and business documents, when applying to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. As with the employment work permit, non-citizens normally hold a residence permit alongside it. It is renewable rather than permanent, so on its own it does not lead to settlement, though years of lawful residence can later support a permanent residence application. Good to know: a separate citizenship-by-investment framework is being developed, but it is not the same thing as this permit - see the note below.

Eligibility

Typical criteria

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Check the route fit

    Confirm your investment in a Botswana business and that the investor work permit (with a residence permit) is the right route on the official gov.bw page.

  2. Build the evidence pack

    Complete the investor work permit application and gather proof of investment, company documents and your passport.

  3. Submit through the official channel

    Submit the application with supporting documents through the official Department of Immigration and Citizenship process.

  4. After approval

    Hold the permit with a residence permit, keep both valid, and renew before expiry while the investment continues.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Investor Work Permit, 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. 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. 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. 3. Confirm what you may do. Check whether employment, self-employment, remote work or study is permitted under the status granted. Do not infer unrestricted work rights from the absence of an employer sponsor.
  4. 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. 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.
Official Investor Work Permit instructionsBuild my moving plan for this routeMoving to Botswana

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

Government links only

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.

  1. Official guidanceApplicant
    Use official Investor Work Permit route page ↗

    Use this official page to confirm requirements and follow the government filing route for Investor Work Permit.

    Department of Immigration and Citizenship · verified

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Frequently asked questions

Can I get residence in Botswana by investing in a business?+

Yes. The work permit covers investing in Botswana for profit, and investor applicants show their investment through bank statements and business documents, usually alongside a residence permit. We do not quote a fixed amount - confirm the current requirements on the official gov.bw page.

Is this the same as Botswana citizenship by investment?+

No. This investor work permit is about residence and running or investing in a business. Botswana is separately developing a citizenship-by-investment framework, which is not yet fully in force - see the note on this page and confirm the current status on the official gov.bw page.

Can I move to Botswana by investing in a business instead of getting a job offer?+

Yes. The investor category of the work permit is for non-citizens investing in a Botswana business for profit rather than taking a salaried job, and unlike the employment permit it does not require an employer sponsor. You evidence the investment with documents such as bank statements and business records; we do not quote a fixed amount, so confirm the current requirements on the official gov.bw page.

Do I also need a residence permit if I hold an investor work permit in Botswana?+

Yes. As with the employment work permit, investor permit holders normally also hold a residence permit alongside it to live in Botswana lawfully. Confirm the current requirements 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.

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How 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: 28 June 2026

See the full evidence trail and methodology

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