Do United Kingdom passport holders need a visa to visit BW?

UK ordinary passport holders do NOT need a visa for tourism in Botswana. You may enter visa-free and stay up to 90 days, granted by an entry stamp on arrival. The 90 days are cumulative within any 12-month period. As of May 2026, British citizens holding an ordinary passport can travel to Botswana for tourism or short visits without a visa. On arrival, an immigration officer stamps the passport granting a stay of up to 90 days, and this allowance is cumulative across any 12-month period (so multiple short trips count toward the same 90-day cap). No advance application, eVisa or visa-on-arrival fee is required for a qualifying short tourist visit. To be admitted, travelers must hold a passport valid for at least six months beyond the arrival date with at least three blank pages, and should be prepared to show a return or onward ticket and evidence of sufficient funds. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required only if arriving from, or having recently transited, a country listed as a yellow fever transmission risk. Travelers with children aged 17 or under must carry an original or certified copy of the child's full birth certificate, and any absent parent must provide a signed affidavit of consent. Note that the reciprocal picture changed in late 2025 in the opposite direction: the UK introduced a visa requirement for Botswana nationals, but this does not affect British citizens visiting Botswana, who remain visa-exempt. To extend a stay beyond 90 days, contact Botswana's Department of Immigration before the permitted period expires; overstaying can cause delays or penalties on departure.