Botswana has launched an online visa application platform (E-Visa), enabling citizens and tourists to obtain a visa online from their own homes.
During the launch of E-Visa in Botswana’s capital, Gaborone, Anna Mokgethi, Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs, said the new platform will improve efficiency, customer satisfaction, and Botswana’s digital footprint.
The ruler said the old system was very time consuming because applicants had to fill out forms, attach other required documents, submit them and pay the required fee to the nearest immigration office. In addition, applicants from outside Botswana were required to have assistants submit application forms and process payments on their behalf.
The new digital system will replace the manual system and is expected to reduce the government’s investment in money, time, paperwork, and manpower allocated to visa applications, while better serving its visitors.
E-Visa is believed to move the entire visa application process into the digital domain. The traveller goes to the country’s E-Visa portal, completes the application and supporting documents, pays online, and communicates with the authorities via the internet.
