Boko gives wealthy foreigners easier citizenship path
Lewanika Timothy | Monday October 6, 2025 06:00
The arrangement grants foreign nationals' citizenship for as little as US$75,000, roughly P1 million, according to a live website endorsed by Arton Capital.
The announcement was made on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York last week, where President Duma Boko said that the initiative will unlock the much-needed capital for the country's diversification push, while also creating opportunities for investors.
“The initiative will secure the long-term financial future of Botswana, unlocking opportunities for business owners and Batswana throughout our nation,” he said
The programme is already live through the website BotswanaCitizenship.com and promises foreign investors the chance to acquire Botswana citizenship by contributing between US$75,000 and US$90,000 into national priorities such as housing.
The pricing raises eyebrows over whether it is a fair one or if Botswana is just selling itself short. Botswana enjoys Africa’s strongest sovereign credit rating according to Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s, a distinction that underscores its reputation for financial stability and political order.
Botswana’s passport is ranked as the fourth strongest in Africa by Arton’s Passport Index, offering visa-free access to some parts of Asia and many African countries. With the government aiming for the top continental ranking by 2027, questions arise on whether a P1 million price tag undervalues the strategic worth of local citizenship.
By comparison, St. Kitts and Nevis, the Caribbean pioneer of citizenship-for-sale schemes, charges US$250,000 for a development fund contribution, while Antigua and Barbuda set their floor at US$100,000. Mauritius, one of Africa’s few comparators, requires US$500,000 in real estate. The United States EB-5 programme in comparison demands investments ranging from US$800,000 to US$1 million before permanent residency, with citizenship priced at nearly $5 million by the President Trump administration.
Armand Arton, founder and CEO of Arton Capital, said that the programme will deliver robust results for the diversification aim and generate investment leads that will catapult the country from the diamond slump to marry clay.
“Botswana stands at the edge of a new dawn, putting itself on the map for investors around the globe. The programme has the potential to deliver immediate impact for key sectors of the economy and will help build the investment necessary to make Botswana a new regional hub,” he said.
The country hopes to channel the funds into sectors such as luxury tourism, renewable energy, mining, and financial services as part of efforts to diversify away from its heavy dependence on diamonds, which have long been the backbone of the national economy but face long-term decline.
The launch comes at a time when citizenship-by-investment schemes are under growing international scrutiny. US President Donald Trump repeatedly criticised what he called “golden passports,” branding them a threat to national security and a loophole for money laundering.
Some quarters may argue that Botswana needs bold solutions to secure new revenue streams as it navigates away from diamonds, and that the country’s reputation for transparency and good governance will distinguish its programme from others. To others, however, it is warned that selling citizenship at a bargain price could undermine national identity, invite reputational risks, and leave Botswana with little to show for opening its doors to wealthy foreigners. With applications now possible through the BotswanaCitizenship.com, the country will soon discover whether its cut-price offer will attract the kind of high-value investors it hopes to draw, or whether it has discounted its sovereignty too steeply. For now, the deal positions Botswana as Africa’s cheapest entry point for foreign investors seeking citizenship, leaving the nation to balance the promise of foreign capital against the risk of selling its most valuable asset for too little.