12 Aug 2021

Government’s continuous efforts to improve service delivery yesterday saw the Ministry of Immigration, Nationality and Gender Affairs launching the country’s first electronic visa (e-Visa). 

This means visa applications for Botswana can now be done from anywhere around world with customers no longer needing to visit the nearest embassy to get a sticker on their passport. 

The new system is expected to streamline services for greater efficiency and customer satisfaction. Officially launching the platform, Minister Anna Mokgethi said it would stimulate the country’s global competitiveness in tourism, business and investment. 

“Not only do citizens, tourists and businesses compare our public service delivery with what they receive overseas, they also compare the quality of government services with what they receive in the private sector,’ she said. 

Therefore products and services have to reflect customer tastes, preferences and expectations.

Minister Mokgethi expressed delight at her ministry’s adaptation to ever-shifting needs and expectations of its customers. 

The minister noted that government was relentlessly searching within and outside, for new ways to cut lead-time through exploitation of technology and innovation. 

She said quality service was now recognised as a distinct competitive advantage that attracted businesses and investments to countries  therefore Botswana needed to adequately position itself. 

Ms Mokgethi said the success of the e-visa platform was of paramount importance as it would set a benchmark for other service providers. 

She said the application process had been manual and laborious as the applicant had to fill in forms, attach required documents, submit and make payment at the nearest immigration office. 

Those outside relied on aides to submit application forms and process payments on their behalf which had to be done at Botswana diplomatic missions. 

Ms Mokgethi said in some situations, visitors had to apply for a VISA at ports of entry, which was taxing. 

Botswana Investment and Trade Center (BITC) chief executive officer, Mr Keletsositse Olebile said the system would make travel to Botswana easier while at the same time making the country competitive. 

He said the launching of the platform at a time the world was grappling with COVID-19, and when global travel remained subdued, showed the country’s preparedness post the pandemic. 

Further, he said the application would be easy-to-use, even from the comfort of one’s home or office. 

Mr Olebile said for BITC, which was mandated to attract foreign direct investment, the launch was worth celebrating as it would take Botswana up the global competitiveness ladder, thereby positioning it to effectively compete for investors.

 The online visa application platform, http://evisa.gov.bw is also expected to cut at least by half the turnaround time which is currently 14 working days. ends