The Republic of Botswana is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. Mostly a flat, dry country, over 70 percent of the nation is covered by the Kalahari Desert. With rough terrain and a little over two million citizens, the country is very sparsely populated. However, it has recently gone from being one of the poorest countries in Africa to having the fourth-largest gross national income on the continent.
Whatever your reasons for relocating to Botswana, whether it's for employment, for family or just for a change of scenery, you'll need to be properly prepared when entering the country through customs. Here's what you need to know when preparing to travel to Botswana from the United States:
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR ENTRY
Some things you just can't leave home without, especially if you're moving overseas. During an international move, you're going to need a handful of documents to clear customs. It's important to have all of the necessary documents ready and easily accessible when you arrive in your new country:
- Passport
- Residence Permit and Work Permit
- Letter from employer confirming appointment and duration of contract
- Inventory
- Form CE101 (in duplicate, to be presented to the Department of Customs and Excise)
- P1.160 Form (in triplicate)
SHIPPING AND CUSTOMS REGULATIONS
Before you can clear customs and begin settling into your new home, you'll have to make sure that your shipment of belongings adheres to the regulations established in Botswana. Each country has its own unique set of shipping guidelines that must be followed, so here is a list of what to expect when moving to Botswana:
- Customer's presence is required for Customs clearance
- Returning residents must prove to Customs that they have been out of the country for two years or more
- Used household goods and personal effects must arrive within six months of Customer's arrival
PROHIBITED ITEMS
Each country has its own list of items prohibited from importation through customs that can result in confiscation and possible prosecution for possession of the item. To avoid this potential disaster, make sure you know the prohibited items list of your destination country and ensure that none of these items are present in your shipment:
- Pornography books and magazines
- Walkie-talkies (i.e. two-way radios)
- Radios
- Compact Disc players
- Cell phones
- Certain feathers, furs, skins, and tusks of animals coming under the protected species regulations
- 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
- Radioactive or hazardous material
- Counterfeit money and goods
- Illegal drugs
- Knives and deadly weapons
RESTRICTED ITEMS
While some items are strictly prohibited from being imported through customs, others are simply regulated and restricted. Try to acquaint yourself with these restricted and dutiable items before your move so you're prepared for what to expect:
- Plant and vegetable products require a phytosanitary certificate from the department of agriculture in Botswana
- Firearms and ammunition may only be imported into Botswana upon production of a Police permit issued by the Central Arms Registry--the importation of firearms without a manufacture's serial number or other identifiable number is totally prohibited
- No boat, mokoro or aquatic apparatus may be imported into Botswana unless the owner is in possession of an Import Permit issued by Department of Water Affairs
- Importation and exportation of wild animals or their products (trophy or meat) is prohibited unless accompanied by an export permit issued by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks
MOTOR VEHICLE REGULATIONS
If you're planning on bringing your car with you when you move to Botswana, there are several regulations regarding the importation of a motor vehicle into the country through customs. Before you move, familiarize yourself with these regulations:
- Depending on the status of the owner, an auto may be imported duty-free providing it has been owned and used for one year prior to shipment and arrives within six months of Customer's arrival
- Documents required:
- Import Permit, issued by the Ministry of Commerce, is required
- Application form IC.2 (available from destination agent) to be completed and forwarded with registration documents to the Ministry of Commerce
- Registration papers and proof that the auto has been owned and used for one year
- Purchase invoice and/or proof of purchase value
- CE101 completed in duplicate, submitted with Import Permit, Residence Permit, Passport, to Department of Customs and Excise
- Police clearance certificate
PETS AND ANIMAL REGULATIONS
Pets and certain animals are always welcome when moving overseas; after all, you wouldn't want to move without them, would you? However, you'll find that many destinations have their own laws and regulations pertaining to bringing animals into the country Make sure your pets are healthy and caught up with all vaccinations before you move:
- A veterinary certificate and a valid rabies certificate are required.
- A health certificate and animal registration certificate from the country of origin and an import permit are necessary
- The veterinary certificate must be issued and signed by the state, confirming that the animal is healthy and that the inoculations are valid
- A Botswana state veterinarian or the Department of Agriculture must issue the import permit
- The health certificate must be obtained within 30 days of departure and be less than one (1) year old
- The veterinarian at country of origin must examine the animal at least 16 days prior to departure
- Quarantine is not necessary--once the animal has been examined and the surgeon is satisfied with the condition of the animal it will be released
INTERNATIONAL MOVES
International moves are unique in the amount of preparation and planning that is required to relocate from one country to another. In addition to securing the services of an international moving company, packing your belongings and planning your moving budget, you must also consider the customs regulations that in your destination country. These regulations often vary and are subject to change.
To help you prepare for your move, we've provided you with a few helpful links learn more about the complicated international moving process: