Duty-Free Allowances

Customs duties are not charged on the following goods imported as accompanied or unaccompanied passengers’ baggage: The following articles and consumables (excluding any goods whose importation is prohibited), declared at the place where the traveler enters Botswana and not imported on behalf of other persons or for trade purposes, may be admitted free of duty and, where applicable, Value Added Tax (VAT).

  • Wine - 2 Litres
  • Spirituous and other alcoholic beverages - 1 Litre
  • Cigarettes - 200
  • Cigars - 20
  • Cigarette or Pipe Tobacco - 250 grams
  • Perfume - 50 ml
  • Toilet Water - 250ml

Other new or used goods of a total

  • Value not exceeding (from outside SACU) - 3000UA*
  • Value not exceeding (from SACU) - 500 UA*
  • UA is equivalent to One South African Rand
  • Personal effects, sporting and recreational effects, new or used
  • Imported by non-residents of Botswana for their own use;
  • Exported by residents of Botswana for their own use whilst abroad and subsequently reimported by such residents. The goods must be identified as those exported from Botswana

Additional goods imported from outside SACU, new or used of a total value not exceeding 12 000 UA* per person, excluding the consumable items detailed above, are admissible at a flat rate of 20% , if the owner so elects.

Ristricted Goods

These are goods that you cannot import without authority such as a license or a permit. Further details regarding restrictions on the importation of agricultural products can be obtained from:

  • Director of Animal Health and Production, Private Bag 0032, Gaborone
  • Director of Crop Production and Forestry, Private Bag 003, Gaborone

The following consumer goods may be imported for private use without an import permit provided they do not exceed the maximum allowable quantities.

  • Red meat, goat/lamb - 25kg per family
  • Poultry meat - 5kg per person
  • Tinned poultry meat - 20kg per person
  • Eggs - 36 eggs per person
  • Fresh milk - 2 litres per person
  • Maize and maize products - 25kg per person
  • Wheat - 25 kg per person
  • Pulses (beans, peas, lentils) - 25 kg per person
  • Sorghum and sorghum products - 25kg per person
  • Cabbage, onions, potatoes, oranges - 1 bag per person
  • Tomatoes - 1 box per person
  • Spinach - 2 kg per person
  • Bread loaves - 6 per week
  • Sugar - 12kg per person

Important Note

The regulations on importing meat and meat products change frequently because they are based on disease outbreaks in different countries. Always ask your nearest customs office before importing meat and meat products.

Other Notes

  • Duty will be payable at the applicable rates where travellers import goods exceeding the above allowances. Travellers importing goods for business or commercial purpose will not qualify for the above allowances.
  • The concession for new and used goods specified above do not apply to such foods imported by residents of Botswana returning after an absence of less than 48 hours;
  • With the exception of those relating to tobacco and alcoholic products, the concessions may be claimed by children under the age of 18 years, whether or not their parents or guardians accompany them, provided the goods are for use by the children themselves.

Prohibited and Restricted Goods

Certain goods are prohibited or restricted to protect public health, domestic plant and animal life, or the environment. We have been entrusted with enforcing the laws for other government agencies relating to the prohibition and restrictions of such goods. It is not possible to list all prohibited and restricted goods.

If you are in doubt whether the importation of other goods are prohibited or restricted, please contact your nearest customs office in Botswana before travelling outside the country.

Prohibited Goods

The importation of the following goods into Botswana is completely prohibited. It is illegal to be found in possession of prohibited goods and may result in seizure and prosecution. These include, but are not limited to:

  • Narcotic, habit forming drugs and related substances in any form
  • Military firearms, ammunition and explosives
  • Indecent and obscene material such as pornographic books, magazines, films, videos, DVD’s and software.
  • Semi-precious stones such as agate, amethyst, Botswana pink, jade, rose quartz, carnelian, chalcedony, crystal quartz, tourmaline, jasper, tanzanite, garnet, moss agate, tiger’s eye, sodalite, aquamarine, azurite and malachite.

Domestic Pets

Importing animals is closely regulated for public health reasons and also for the well being of the animals. Domestic pets and livestock may be imported subject to animal health restrictions.
Details in this regard can be obtained from:

  • Director of Animal Health and Production, Private Bag 0032, Gaborone.

Note

A valid certificate of identity, rabies vaccination and movement permit issued in Lesotho, Malawi, South Africa, Swaziland, Namibia or Zimbabwe will be accepted at the time of importation into Botswana.

Plants

These may be imported subject to plant and health restrictions. Details on this regards can be obtained from:

  • The Chief Agricultural Research Officer, Private Bag 0033, Gaborone.

Note

South African transit permits may also be required in respect of plants shipped through South Africa. Details of this regard may be obtained from:

  • The Director of Plant Control and Quarantine, Private Bag x179, Pretoria, South Africa

Soil

Soil is considered the loose surface material of the earth in which plants, trees and shrubs grow. In most cases, the soil consists of disintegrated rock with an admixture of organic material and soluble salts. The importation of soil is prohibited unless accompanied by an import permit from:

  • The Director of Crop Production and Forestry, Private Bag 003, Gaborone.

Boats

No boat, mokoro or aquatic apparatus may be imported into Botswana unless the owner is in the possession of an Import Permit issued by the Department of Water Affairs.

Importation of Motor Vehicles

Currently, Botswana does not impose any restriction on importation or exportation of motor vehicles.

Motor vehicles imported on a temporary basis into Botswana should be imported under cover of a temporary import permit issued by BURS at time of importation or an ATA Carnet. Such motor vehicles may remain in Botswana for a period not exceeding 14 days after which period customs duties and/or VAT on the motor vehicle becomes due and payable.

All foreign registered vehicles entering Botswana are required to pay a National Road Safety Fund levy amounting to BWP40, which expires at the end of December of each year, and a Road Transport Permit Levy charged on the basis of the leden load of a vehicle(truck) and charged for every entry into Botswana

Motor vehicles that enter Botswana for home consumption are liable for payment of customs duties and/or VAT and therefore should be cleared for customs purpose within days from the date of entry into Botswana.The appropriate documents to submit to BURS for this purpose are:

  • Customs Declaration Form SAD 500
  • Police clearance certificate from both the export country and the Botswana Police Service
  • Customs clearance document from export country and invoice or valuation certificate from a local vehicle retail store/garage

Customs clearance of a motor vehicle should be undertaken even if there is no intention to register it in Botswana or the vehicle is still owned by a Bank or any other Third Party.

Residents of Botswana are not allowed to drive or use foreign registered vehicles in Botswana for more than 14 days after importation of such vehicles. If you are intending to do so, please contact your nearest customs office for advice. Should you be found in possession of a foreign registered vehicle, severe penalties including seizure of vehicle may be imposed.

Firearms and Ammunition

  • Firearms and ammunition may only be imported into Botswana upon production of a Police permit issued by the Central Arms Registry, P.O Box 334, Gaborone.
  • The issue of firearms licences in Botswana is strictly controlled and all firearms imported under the authority of an import permit must be licenced immediately upon arrival in Botswana
  • The importation of firearms, which do not have the manufacturer’s serial number or other number by which they can be identified, stamped or engraved on a metal part of the weapon is completely prohibited.
  • It should also be noted that Police permits for firearms are issued on a limited quota basis and there can be a considerable delay in obtaining a permit, particularly on first importation. It is advisable for intending importers to make applications well in advance of dispatch so that unnecessary inconvenience and expenses can be avoided.

Passing through customs

All persons arriving in Botswana are required to unreservedly declare all goods in their possession to a Customs official on duty on a baggage declaration document. Customs has a duty to protect Botswana from illicit goods.

To do this, checks may be made on travellers and their baggage. If you are stopped and your baggage checked, please cooperate, as they do not assume that you have done anything wrong.

Baggage Declarations

When making baggage declarations, whether verbal or written, you must ensure you declare all goods in your possession as well as their correct values. Failure to declare goods and their correct values can lead to seizure of your goods and can result in criminal prosecution or the imposition of severe penalties of up to three times the value of the goods.

What you must declare

  • All goods acquired outside Botswana in your possession, including items you received as gifts, such as wedding or birthday presents
  • Repairs or alteration to any items or vehicle you took abroad and then brought back, even if the repairs/alterations were performed free of charge
  • Items you bought in any duty-free shop including such items bought duty-free on aircrafts of ships.
  • Items you are bringing home for someone else
  • Items you intend to sell or use in your business.

To avoid delays with baggage declarations

  • Please produce all receipts and sales slips for goods purchased outside Botswana
  • If you are unsure of the goods and their values, which you should declare, ask for assistance from the customs officer.

Currency

Although there is no restriction on cross-border movement of bank notes in Botswana, there is a need to monitor the movement of money into and out of Botswana for purposes of, among other things, collecting national statistics, monitoring capital flows and balance of payments, and enforcement of anti-money laundering measures.

When you are entering or leaving Botswana, you are required to declare Pula and/or foreign currency bank notes in your possession of which the amount equals to or exceeds an equivalent of Ten Thousand Pula (BWP 10 000). You need not declare Travellers checks and other monetary instruments

You are advised that under the Customs and Excise Duty Act the definition of goods includes currency, and a person who fails to declare currency as required is liable to prosecution.

Disclaimer

Please note that the exact quantities and specific rules may vary, so it's always a good idea to check the most recent customs regulations or consult the Botswana Customs and Excise Department for the precise/up-to-date information.