16 Aug 2021

The recently launched e-VISA will make Botswana competitive in the global market, says Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs, Ms Annah Mokgethi.

Minister Mokgethi said this in a statement she delivered in Parliament on Friday.

She said  the e-VISA would also enable Botswana to benefit from universal permit arrangements with other countries offering similar services.

Again, she said the e-VISA would guard against fraud and forgery, reduce inconveniences, improve turnaround time as well as increase customer satisfaction.

She also indicated that review of VISA application process was also meant to ensure that it attracted foreign direct investment and tourism, among other things.

She added that the design and development of the online system (e-VISA) for processing VISA applications as an extension of the existing system was part of the reforms aimed at leveraging on increasing outreach to the general public and facilitate ‘the ease of doing business’ in the country.

“The e-VISA can be applied for at the convenience of one’s home through a web portal (VISA website) and is not necessarily different from other types of travel VISA documents, apart from the fact that one completes the application form online,” she said.

Such, she said, would make VISA application a customer-friendly process because one could apply anywhere and at any time.

“This has various other benefits such as reducing contact especially during this time when we are experiencing deadly COVID-19 pandemic,” she added.

Ms Mokgethi further stated that the web portal provided more details about the process for online VISA and that some of the information in the portal included general information about Botswana, workflow of the VISA application process and list of countries that required such document to enter Botswana.

The portal, she said, also had guidelines on how to take the picture of the passport data page, provided guidelines on how to take the photograph for uploading as well as addresses and telephone numbers of some key ministries and foreign missions.

“Once the application has been submitted, the applicant will be able to check the status of the application online using a unique reference code that will be provided.

The whole process, from filling application forms to making payment takes place online. Once approved, the e-VISA is delivered to one’s e-mail,” she stated.

Ms Mokgethi however, acknowledged that the e-VISA, like all other processes, may have challenges as a result of poor or low Internet connections, administrative challenges and may compromise identity as there would be no face to face contact.

“However, the ministry is exploring options to boost connectivity and address administrative challenges, among other things, to sustain efficiency,” she said. ENDS