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Permanent Residence - Investor Exception

BotswanaStay, Settle or Change Status

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

Official link

Explore pathways in Botswana Read the five questions ↓

What exact status does accumulated residence lead to?

Recorded expiry date

. Confirmation is required after this date. Check the linked sources before relying on this recorded answer.

This route is for non-citizen investors applying for permanent residence under the investor category.

See recorded sources

What qualifying residence period is required and when does the period begin?

Recorded expiry date

. Confirmation is required after this date. Check the linked sources before relying on this recorded answer.

Investor applicants may apply for permanent residence even after less than five years in Botswana, unlike the general group.

See recorded sources
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    This category of applicants may apply for Permanent Residence even if they have stayed for a period of less than five years.

Which types of residence count fully, partially or not at all where the official rules specify this?

Recorded expiry date

. Confirmation is required after this date. Check the linked sources before relying on this recorded answer.

Investor applicants may apply for permanent residence even if they have stayed in Botswana for less than five years, and they submit previous permits or exemption certificates as proof of length of stay. The official source does not state which types of residence count fully, partially or not at all.

See recorded sources

What absence/continuity rules affect accumulation of the qualifying residence period?

Investor applicants may apply for permanent residence even if they have stayed in Botswana for less than five years. The official source does not state any absence or continuity rules for this category.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • General work rights after permanent residence are not stated.
  • content
    Come and collect your Permanent Certificate from the office where an application was made

What other major conditions apply, how is the status obtained, and what renewal, document-validity, retention or loss rules matter?

On the same Botswana permanent-residence service, an investor may apply for permanent residence even after staying less than five years, which is the stated exception to the general requirement of five years' lawful continuous residence. The investor is still routed through the same process: go to any Immigration and Citizenship Office, complete Form 21 and submit it with the required documents and fees to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. The investor checklist requires a work or residence permit or exemption certificate valid for not less than six months, previous permits as proof of length of stay, and certified company evidence - valuation of shares, share certificate, certificate of incorporation, Form 2 list of directors, current financial statements, title deed or lease agreement and trading licence - plus an employee wages record sheet showing duration of employment, certified copies of employees' Omang, a certified passport data page and a BURS tax return form. The official source does not state how long a Permanent Residence Certificate is valid, whether it must be renewed, or when permanent residence can be revoked or lost.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The page contradicts itself on processing time: it says both 'This service takes 56 working days.' and 'This service takes six months.' and does not say which applies.
  • No minimum investment amount, no minimum company size and no minimum residence period for investors is stated; the page says only that investors may apply after less than five years, without saying how much less.
  • The page presents one 'Who is eligible?' list for the whole service and then a separate note for investors, and does not say whether the general criteria (good character, significant contributions, good standing, enough means) are applied to investor applicants as well.
  • The page does not state how long a Permanent Residence Certificate is valid, whether it has to be renewed, or when permanent residence can be revoked or lost.
  • The investor checklist ends with a line reading '12. P3000.00' with no currency name and no statement of what the amount is for; it is not asserted here as a fee.
  • The investor checklist still requires a work or residence permit or exemption certificate, so the page does not describe a route for an investor who has never held a Botswana permit.
  • https://gov.bw/residency-and-work/permanent-residence-application?page=1 — 'What supporting documents are required?', INVESTOR
    INVESTOR 1.    Form 21 completed. 2.    Covering letter from applicant 3.    One recent passport sized photo. 4.    Certified Marriage Certificate if applying for spouse or Birth Certificate in case of children. 5.    Copy of Work/Residence Permit or Exemption Certificate with validity not less than 6 months. 6.    Previous Permits/Exemption Certificate as proof of length of stay in Botswana. 7.    Valid and certified copies -    Valuation of shares -    Share certificate -    Certificate of incorporation -    List of directors (form 2) -    Current financial statement -    Title deed/lease agreement -    Trading license 8.    Wages record sheet of employees and it should indicate the duration of employment. 9.    Certified copy of Omang of employees. 10.    Certified copy of a data page of applicant’s valid passport. 11.    Tax return form BURS. 12.    P3000.00 NB: This category of applicants may apply for Permanent Residence even if they have stayed for a period of less than five years.
  • https://gov.bw/residency-and-work/permanent-residence-application?page=1 — 'Requirements Applicable to All', Investors
    Investors Wages sheet of employees which indicates the duration of employment of   employees Certified copies of identity cards for citizen employees Submit valid and certified copies of the following: Valuation of shares. Share certificate. Certificate of incorporation. Form 2 - List of directors. Current year’s financial statements. Title deed/lease agreement of business premise(s). Trading license. Most recent year’s tax return.
  • https://gov.bw/residency-and-work/permanent-residence-application?page=1 — 'Who is eligible?'
    Non-citizens who meet the following criteria are eligible for this service. Resided lawfully in Botswana continuously for at least 5 years Be of good character Have made significant contributions to Botswana Be of good standing in the society Have enough means to support oneself and dependents
  • https://gov.bw/residency-and-work/permanent-residence-application?page=1 — 'How do I get this service?'
    In order to access this service, applicants must complete the following steps. Go to any Immigration and Citizenship Office Complete Form 21 Submit required documents (listed below), fees and completed form to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (address provided below) Applicants are also allowed to track the application via phone A letter will be sent by post Come and collect your Permanent Certificate from the office where an application was made

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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