28 Jun 2016

The Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs has adopted the 'Apply, Wait & Collect' strategy, whereby applicants make passports applications at the ministry headquarters and wait for them to be processed.

A press release from the ministry says they are working “determinedly to ensure efficient and effective delivery of services to our customers.”  

Due to the improved turnaround time in production of passports, in October 2015, the ministry terminated express and extra service for application of passports as the services were deemed unnecessary.

“At the time, the service standard was two days for Gaborone, and its periphery, and five days for other localities in Botswana. Today, the turnaround time has yet improved to a minimum of two hours or a day in Gaborone and its periphery,” said the release. 

The turnaround time for other localities in Botswana has also improved to a minimum of three days.

 However, the release says application fee required for the service remains at the cost of P260 for individuals aged 16 years and above and P100 for children below the age of 16 years. 

“Applicants should not pay more than the stipulated fees under any circumstance,” said the release. 

The public is also advised that the lifespan for children's passports is five years and therefore should check the expiry dates of their children's passports before travelling. Ends