Botswana

Dual Citizenship Botswana

Not Allowed

A person shall be deemed to be a citizen of Botswana if the father or mother was a citizen at the time of birth. Therefore, being born in Botswana does not automatically confer citizenship upon an individual. Citizenship of Botswana can be acquired by foreigners in a number of situations, including; citizenship by settlement, naturalisation or naturalisation of a foreign spouse, registration of a minor child of a citizen, registration of an adopted child, registration of citizenship by the President on the basis of special consideration, and through a declaration of intention.

Dual Citizenship is not allowed in the Republic of Botswana under any circumstances. There has been discussion on the implementation of a new bill that is to be proposed in Parliament to debate the issue and consider the enactment of a Dual Citizenship Act. At present, the government has not placed the bill before Parliament for consideration.

Botswana citizens by birth or descent who are also citizens of other countries, are required to choose one citizenship by the age of 21, and renounce the other. When an individual with dual citizenship fails to renounce the other citizenship at age 21, it will result in the loss of the citizenship of Botswana.