New Botswana Travel Requirements for Minors

New Frontiers has clarified the news that has been coming out of Botswana regarding the government’s recent introduction of requirements for children travelling in and out of the country, very similar to those previously implemented by South Africa.

The below information is extremely important for all families travelling to and from Botswana. Please ensure that all guests are fully aware of this at the time of booking so that, as far as possible, we are able to eliminate any unnecessary complications.

As of 1 October 2016 ALL minors travelling through any of the countries border posts are required to produce the following:

• Valid passport
• Certified copies of unabridged birth certificate
• In the event that one parent is not present, the missing parent’s affidavit consenting to such travel. However, an affidavit will not be required if the father’s name does not appear on the child’s birth certificate.

Please note: the South African immigration requirements for minors more than covers the Botswana requirements, so if pax are transiting through South Africa, they will already have the necessary documentation.

Please see below the statement released by the Botswana Government on Friday:

Requirements for minors travelling through all Botswana ports of entry:

‘The Ministry of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs informs the general public that it has imposed requirements for minors (children under 18) travelling through the country’s ports of entry.

Effective from the 1st October 2016 minors travelling through the country’s borders will be required to produce certified copies of unabridged birth certificates in addition to their valid passports. In the event that one parent is not travelling with the child, the other parent’s affidavit consenting to such travel should be availed. However, an affidavit will not be required if the father’s name does not appear on the child’s birth certificate.

The development, which is aimed at managing the movement of children across the country’s borders, has an ultimate goal of tackling human trafficking which is a global challenge. Botswana, like other countries is affected by this problem and as such has enacted the United Nations Anti-Human Trafficking Protocol; which calls upon governments to come up with deliberate measures aimed at combating human trafficking.’

For more information contact the Director of Immigration and Citizenship at
+267 3611301 / +267 71327608.