Botswana launches citizenship by investment program

Africa continues to unveil new opportunities for global investors, and we at IST Hungary are already exploring the prospects of this emerging jurisdiction.

September 26, 2025: At the UN General Assembly in New York, Botswana’s President Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi officially announced the development of a Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program.

Key goals of the program:

• Diversifying the economy and reducing dependence on the diamond industry.
• Attracting foreign capital into priority sectors: luxury tourism, renewable energy, mining, and financial services.
• Creating a long-term financial future for the country.

Why Botswana? The country with the best credit rating in Africa.

For those just getting acquainted with this jurisdiction, here are the key advantages:

• The highest credit rating in Africa from Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s.
• The fourth most powerful passport in Africa, with an ambitious goal to become the first by 2027.

What is already known about the program’s conditions?

Official details have not yet been published, but some parameters are becoming clear:

— Expected investment threshold: $75,000 – $90,000, as confirmed to us in a telephone conversation with the Government. This would currently make the program the most affordable on the global market, surpassing the previous minimum of $90,000 from São Tomé and Príncipe.
— Investment avenues: Funds are expected to be directed into priority economic sectors, including housing market development.
— Launch date: Not yet announced; work on the program is actively underway.

The power of the Botswana passport: current capabilities and prospects

As of today, the Botswana passport provides visa-free access or simplified visa regimes to 84 countries. Key destinations include:

Example countries:

• Visa-free: South Africa, Namibia, Singapore, Brazil, Macao.
• eVisa: 39 countries.

Important nuance: Currently, there is no visa-free access to the Schengen Area or the United Kingdom. However, the authorities have set an ambitious goal: to make the Botswana passport the strongest in Africa by 2027 and expand visa-free access to key global markets.

Context: Why is this important now?

Botswana could become the third African country to launch a CBI program in 2025, after Sierra Leone and São Tomé and Príncipe. On a global scale, it is the fourth new citizenship program after Nauru. If Argentina joins before the end of the year, 2025 will become a record year for the number of new initiatives in investment migration.

As specialists in investment immigration, we see two key market signals in this announcement:

1. A shift towards Africa – International investors are beginning to view stable African jurisdictions not only as investment targets but also as a source of passport opportunities.
2. Competition for investors – The emergence of programs with more accessible entry thresholds could change the balance of power in the global CBI market.

We are closely monitoring the development of Botswana’s program and are ready to provide our clients with exclusive analysis and professional support as soon as the official terms are released. Stay tuned for updates.

Our contacts: