The United Kingdom has announced introduction of visa requirement (revoking visa free ETA) to botswana nationals effective from Nov 25 as per statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 1333, 14 October 2025 due to high number of asylum cases registered in the UK.
High Asylum Cases
In 2024, 21% of asylum claims were made at port. All asylum claims made at port add significantly to operational pressure at the border, diverting staff from other priorities, said the UK Government.
Transition Period
The introduction of the visa requirement will include a transition period for nationals of Botswana to travel to the UK without a visa where they hold a confirmed travel booking made prior to the introduction. This period will commence at the same time as the visa requirement is introduced and run until six weeks after the introduction date: 15:00 GMT on 25 November 2025. During this period, nationals of Botswana who hold a confirmed travel booking at the time of the introduction and an ETA, for travel to the UK within the six-week transition period, will not be required to obtain a visit visa before travel. Applications for an ETA for nationals of Botswana will close at 15:00 BST on 14 October 2025. Nationals who hold confirmed bookings for travel to the UK on a date after the transition period ends will need to obtain a visa in advance of travel.
The Home office said. visa national status of Botswana will be kept under review;
Transit Visa
The UK introduction of a visa requirement will be accompanied by amendments to the Immigration (Passenger Transit Visa) Order 2014, to ensure that nationals of Botswana will require a direct airside transit visa (DATV) when conducting airside transit travel.
Recently Botswana made headlines to launch a citizenship by investment program.
