Document checklist
Turks and Caicos Islands → Botswana: Short-stay tourist
What you need before you submit, checked against official requirements, not guesswork.
Checked by our automated verification on 20 Oct 2026: every source on this page resolves and the data is structurally complete. This does not confirm a person re-read the source text for accuracy.
Required documents
10 itemsIdentity
If you're under 18: a certified copy of your unabridged birth certificate
RequiredThe Embassy of Botswana in Washington, D.C. says minors travelling through any Botswana point of entry will be required to produce certified copies of unabridged birth certificates. The notice on its visa guidelines page shows no date, so confirm the current rule with the Botswana Department of Immigration or your nearest Botswana mission before you travel.
Photo
RequiredA recent color photo, 28mm x 36mm, JPG format, 30KB or smaller, plain light background, no glasses glare or head coverings obscuring your face.
Valid passport
RequiredA passport valid for at least 6 months from your travel date, with at least 3 unused pages.
Financial
Visa fee
Required300 Botswana Pula for a single-entry visa (up to 1 month), or 500 Pula for multiple entry (up to 3 months), paid online by Visa or Mastercard. Non-refundable, even if the application is refused.
Accommodation
Hotel or lodge booking confirmation
RequiredConfirmed bookings at your hotel or lodge for your stay.
Travel
Return ticket
RequiredProof of your return or onward travel.
Travel schedule and flight bookings
RequiredYour tour plan or travel schedule, plus flight booking confirmations.
Other
If you travel with one parent: an affidavit from the other parent
The Embassy of Botswana in Washington, D.C. says that when one parent is not travelling with the child, the other parent's affidavit consenting to the travel should be available. It adds that an affidavit is not required if the father's name does not appear on the child's birth certificate. The page does not say who must swear it or where, so confirm the details with the Botswana Department of Immigration or a Botswana mission.
If you travel without a parent: a consent letter from both parents
The Botswana e-Visa portal's Visa Application Terms say that for unaccompanied minors (under 18) travelling without their biological parents, a consent letter from both parents is required. The portal lists this under its Visitors category rather than under Tourists, so confirm with the Botswana Department of Immigration how it applies to a tourist application.
Source: Government of Botswana e-Visa Portal: Visa Application Terms
If you travel without either parent: temporary guardianship, on top of the other documents
The Embassy of Botswana in Washington, D.C. says that when both parents are not travelling with the minor, temporary guardianship must be given, as well as the other requirements in its notice (the certified unabridged birth certificate and the affidavit of consent). The page does not describe what form the guardianship takes, so ask the Botswana Department of Immigration or a Botswana mission what they accept.
Why applications on this route get refused
Incomplete documentation
All supporting documents must be combined into a single PDF (under 5MB) with certified copies where required, a missing or uncertified document is a common cause of delay.
How to avoid it: Combine every document into one certified PDF under 5MB before starting the application.
Passport or photo image not clearly readable
If your passport scan or photo doesn't meet the exact size/format rules, it will be rejected at verification and you'll need to resubmit, delaying your application.
How to avoid it: Check your passport scan is a clear image (not a photocopy) under 1MB, and your photo is exactly 28mm x 36mm, under 30KB, in JPG format.
Sources
- Government of Botswana, e-Visa Portal · checked 9 Sept 2026
- Embassy of the Republic of Botswana in Washington, D.C.: Guidelines for Completing a Visa Application (notice on minors travelling through all Botswana points of entry; the page shows no date) · checked 6 Oct 2026
- Government of Botswana e-Visa Portal: Visa Application Terms · checked 6 Oct 2026
Check your documents against this list before you pay the Botswana application fee.
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