Botswana Citizenship by Investment 2026: What Investors Need to Know About the Impact Investment Program

Introduction

Botswana has announced its intention to establish its first citizenship by investment program, marking a significant development in Africa's growing investment migration landscape. NTL International is monitoring this program closely as it progresses through legislative and regulatory development stages.

The initiative, officially branded as the Botswana Impact Investment Program, was formalized when President Duma Boko signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Arton Capital during the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 26, 2025. The program is being positioned as a strategic component of Botswana's economic transformation, aimed at reducing the nation's long-standing dependence on diamond exports.

NTL is Authorized agent for citizenship by investment programs across Caribbean and Pacific jurisdictions, and operates in compliance with all applicable laws through specialized legal teams for residency by investment programs worldwide. Through established relationships with local legal counsel in each jurisdiction, NTL provides comprehensive program assessment, documentation preparation, application support, and compliance guidance, ensuring that every application meets the statutory requirements of the host nation.

Program Overview and Structure

The Botswana Impact Investment Program is designed as a donation-based citizenship scheme, channeling foreign capital into pre-approved national development projects. Unlike some established programs that offer real estate or business investment routes, the Botswana program, based on available announcements, operates exclusively through sovereign contributions directed toward a government development fund.

Target sectors for investment funds include housing infrastructure, renewable energy development, luxury tourism expansion, mining sector diversification, financial services modernization, and digital innovation. These priorities align with Botswana's broader Economic Transformation Program, which aims to build a sustainable economic base beyond the diamond sector that has historically accounted for the majority of export revenues.

The program is being developed in partnership with Arton Capital, a Canada-based investment migration advisory firm that has been contracted to design the operational framework and manage the official registration portal at BotswanaCitizenship.com. The portal began collecting pre-registrations immediately after the September 2025 announcement, reporting 464 registrations from applicants across 77 countries within its first week of operation.

A notable structural feature is the limited annual quota system, which restricts the number of citizenship grants issued each year. While the specific quota figure has not been publicly disclosed, this approach mirrors the controlled-issuance models adopted by other newer CBI jurisdictions and is intended to maintain program integrity and passport value.

Investment Requirements and Estimated Costs

The USD 75,000 to USD 90,000 contribution range for the main applicant has been confirmed through the official program portal. According to the program developer, the variation in contribution amount reflects family size rather than different investment tiers. The final fee schedule, including dependent fees, government processing charges, and agent remuneration structures, has not been officially published and is expected to be codified in the regulations that Parliament must pass.

Comparative context: At the confirmed minimum of USD 75,000, the Botswana program would represent one of the most accessible citizenship by investment options globally. For comparison, São Tomé and Príncipe requires a minimum contribution of USD 90,000, while Caribbean CBI programs set thresholds starting from USD 200,000 for single applicants through government fund options.

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Legislative Prerequisites: The Dual Citizenship Question

A critical regulatory hurdle facing the Botswana CBI program is the country's existing restriction on dual citizenship. Under the current Citizenship Act, Botswana nationals generally cannot hold citizenship of another country simultaneously, a provision that would make a CBI program impractical for most international investors who wish to retain their original nationality.

For the Impact Investment Program to function as designed, Parliament must pass an amendment to the Citizenship Act that explicitly permits dual nationality for CBI applicants. The program developer indicated in late 2025 that Parliament was expected to pass new citizenship legislation that would introduce the program framework, establish the regulatory supervisory authority, and allow dual citizenship for the first time.

The status of this legislative reform is the single most important factor determining whether the program can begin accepting formal applications on the announced timeline. Prospective investors should verify the current status of this amendment through official Botswana government channels before committing to any application process.

The Botswana CBI initiative represents a notable addition to the African investment migration landscape. However, the program's viability is directly tied to the passage of dual citizenship legislation. Investors evaluating this opportunity should focus first on confirming the legislative status before assessing the program's merits against established alternatives that are already operational and accepting applications.

Due Diligence and Application Process

The Botswana program's due diligence framework has not been fully disclosed. Based on available announcements, the application process is expected to follow a structured sequence: expression of interest and registration, formal application submission, documentation review and comprehensive due diligence, investment contribution, legal and immigration compliance verification, and approval with citizenship issuance.

The program developer has indicated a target processing timeline of 60 days from application filing to approval. If achieved, this would position the Botswana program among the faster CBI processing options globally. However, the due diligence process specifics, including which entity will conduct the screening and whether biometric requirements will apply, remain under discussion between the government and the program developer.

The program is expected to operate through a licensed agent system, similar to the model used by São Tomé and Príncipe, where qualifying advisory firms receive authorized agent licenses to market the program and process applications on behalf of clients.

Botswana Passport Strength and Global Mobility

The Botswana passport currently ranks approximately 59th globally in the 2026 passport indices, providing visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to approximately 91 destinations worldwide. Within Africa, the Botswana passport consistently ranks among the top four on the continent, sitting behind South Africa in regional mobility rankings.

This positioning offers meaningful regional travel advantages but falls short of the global mobility provided by established CBI jurisdictions. Caribbean CBI passports, for instance, typically offer visa-free access to 140 to 155 destinations, including the United Kingdom and the Schengen Area. Investors whose primary objective is maximizing global travel freedom may find that the Botswana passport, at its current strength, serves better as a complementary addition to a mobility portfolio rather than a primary travel document.

However, the Botswana government has publicly stated a goal of making the Botswana passport the strongest in Africa by 2027 through negotiation of new visa-waiver agreements with major global markets. If this ambition is realized, the program's value proposition could change substantially over time.

Note: Visa-free destination counts are approximate and subject to change. Investment figures reflect minimum government fund or donation options for single applicants. Figures should be verified with official program sources.

Comparison with Other African CBI Programs

Botswana's announcement arrives within a broader trend of African nations introducing citizenship by investment programs. Sierra Leone launched its CBI program in 2025, and São Tomé and Príncipe officially opened its program in September 2025 with a minimum contribution of USD 90,000 to the National Transformation Fund.

At USD 75,000, Botswana's contribution threshold would position it as the most affordable universally available CBI program globally. Pakistan technically offers a lower entry point at approximately USD 18,000, but that program is restricted to nationals of 54 Commonwealth countries, limiting its scope considerably.

Botswana's comparative advantages lie in its governance credentials: the country is consistently ranked among Africa's least corrupt nations, maintains a stable democratic system since independence in 1966, operates under a robust legal framework, and uses English as an official language, facilitating integration for international investors. These institutional strengths lend credibility to the program's design, provided that implementation matches the announced standards.

The primary uncertainty, however, remains the program's unproven status. Unlike Caribbean CBI programs that have operated for decades with established due diligence standards, regulatory frameworks, and international recognition, the Botswana program is pre-operational. Investors considering this option should weigh the lower entry cost against the inherent risks of a program that has not yet processed a single application and lacks a track record.

Key Considerations for Prospective Investors

Investors evaluating the Botswana CBI opportunity should assess several factors that distinguish this program from established alternatives. The legislative requirement for dual citizenship reform introduces timing uncertainty that does not exist with operational programs. Until Parliament passes the relevant amendment and the supervisory authority is established, the program cannot accept formal applications regardless of pre-registration status.

The absence of published details on critical program elements, including final fee schedules, residency requirements, dependent qualification criteria, and the identity of the due diligence provider, means that the total cost and processing experience remain unclear. Only the main applicant contribution of USD 75,000 to USD 90,000 has been confirmed; all other fees are pending official publication.

For investors who already hold or are pursuing citizenship through established Caribbean programs, Botswana could represent a complementary addition offering African regional mobility and a positioning in one of the continent's most stable economies. For investors whose primary need is immediate global travel access, the current passport strength of approximately 91 visa-free destinations may not meet their requirements compared to Caribbean alternatives offering 140 to 155 destinations.

NTL continues to monitor this program's development and will provide updated guidance as the regulatory framework is finalized. Investors interested in understanding how Botswana fits within a broader global mobility strategy are encouraged to schedule a consultation with our specialized team.

Conclusion

Botswana's planned Citizenship by Investment Program represents a notable entry into the global investment migration market, combining one of the most accessible contribution thresholds with the institutional credibility of one of Africa's most stable democracies. The program's focus on economic diversification, limited quota issuance, and transparent governance positioning differentiates it from some other emerging CBI jurisdictions.

However, the program remains pre-operational at the time of publication. The passage of dual citizenship legislation, establishment of the supervisory authority, and publication of the full regulatory framework are prerequisites that must be completed before the program can deliver on its announced structure. Investors who approach this opportunity should do so with clear awareness of these preconditions and with professional guidance to ensure their decisions are based on confirmed regulatory facts rather than preliminary announcements.

NTL will publish updates as the Botswana CBI regulatory framework progresses. For investors seeking operational programs with established track records and immediate processing capability, our specialized team can provide comparative assessments across all active citizenship by investment jurisdictions.