Nigerians dominate Botswana visa applications

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Wednesday April 1, 2015 11:26

Out of 2,721 who applied, 1,714 were approved and 1,007 were rejected.Indians second the Nigerians on the list, the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Edwin Batshu told Parliament yesterday in response to a question from Selebi-Phikwe West MP Dithapelo Keorapetse.

“As a country, we have a list of countries whose citizens are not required to apply for visa and those whose citizens are required to apply for visa. The lists are provided for in a schedule in the Immigration regulations. The list comprises 181 countries and out of these, nationals of 84 countries require a visa to enter Botswana and nationals of 97 countries do not require visa,” Batshu said.

He said a review in 2013 resulted in nationals from Angola, Kuwait, Turkey, Bahrain, Cuba, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Sudan and United Arab Emirates being removed from the visa requirements list.

He told Parliament that exempting nationals of some countries from applying for a visa was determined by a number of economic, political, security factors. The minister said the number of people who applied for visa as tourists during the stated period and were not approved include 44 from Nigeria, 54 from Indian and 54 from China. He said his ministry received 4,882 applications out of which 3,869 were approved and 1,013 rejected.

“In 2014, total applications received were 4,071 out of which 2,524 were approved and 1,547 rejected. This shows a decrease of approvals from 80% in 2013 to 62% in 2014.”