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Entry & visa

Entry requirements depend on your nationality. Check your own position early — some delegates will need to apply weeks in advance.

General requirements

  • All delegates need a passport valid for at least six months beyond the date of entry, with at least two blank pages available.
  • Botswana grants visa-free entry to nationals of a substantial number of countries, typically for visits of up to 90 days. Nationals of other countries must obtain a visa before travelling.
  • Botswana operates an online visa application system alongside applications through diplomatic missions. Where an e-visa is available for your nationality it is usually the faster route.
  • Requirements change. Confirm your own position with the Botswana Department of Immigration and Citizenship, or with the Botswana diplomatic mission or consulate responsible for your country, before booking non-refundable travel.

Documents to prepare

Requirements vary by mission, but delegates are generally asked for some combination of the following. Prepare them before you start an application.

  • A passport meeting the validity requirement above
  • A completed visa application form, where a visa is required
  • Confirmation of accommodation in Botswana
  • Return or onward travel booking
  • Evidence of sufficient funds for your stay
  • Your congress registration confirmation
  • A letter of invitation from the congress secretariat, where required by the mission

Letter of invitation

The congress secretariat issues letters of invitation to support visa applications. A letter of invitation confirms that you are registered for the congress. It is not a guarantee of a visa, and it does not commit the organisers to funding any part of your travel, accommodation or subsistence.

Requests are processed only for delegates who have completed registration and paid the applicable fee.

Request your letter at least eight weeks before you intend to travel. Visa processing times vary considerably between missions, and appointment availability is often the real constraint rather than the decision itself.

Request yours from your delegate account. You will need your passport to hand: the letter carries your name, passport number and nationality exactly as printed, because a mission will reject one that does not match.

REQUEST A LETTER OF INVITATION

If your visa is refused

Registration fees are refundable in the event of a documented visa refusal, subject to the cancellation terms published with registration. Notify the secretariat as soon as you have a written decision. Accommodation cancellation is governed by the hotel's own terms, which is one more reason to keep bookings flexible until your visa is granted.

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