Botswana’s Citizenship-by-Investment Program Draws 464 Expressions of Interest in First Week

Botswana’s forthcoming Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program has generated significant global interest, logging 464 expressions of interest from 77 countries in its first week of pre-registration, according to data from Arton Capital, the firm contracted by the government to design the initiative.

Though formal applications won’t open until early 2026, early registrants – primarily from India (47), the United States (46), South Africa (39), Pakistan (36), and Nigeria (30) – have signaled strong demand for the program, which will allow dual citizenship for the first time in Botswana’s history.

The investment threshold ranges from US$75,000 to US$90,000, scaled by family size, with due diligence fees at approximately US$5,000 per adult and government fees expected between US$2,000 and US$5,000. Total costs for single applicants are projected to stay under US$100,000, while family applications will likely fall between US$100,000 and US$120,000.

Nearly half (47 percent) of registrants plan to apply with family members, and 70 percent self-reported net worth below US$1 million – though these figures remain unverified, as current submissions are non-binding expressions of interest only.

Parliament is expected to pass enabling legislation in November 2025, establishing the program’s legal framework, regulatory body, and dual citizenship provisions. Arton Capital CEO Armand Arton said operational readiness – including staffing and tech integration – is on track for application processing to begin in January or February 2026.

With its stable democracy, strong rule of law, and strategic location in Southern Africa, Botswana aims to position its CBI program as a competitive, transparent option in the global investor migration market.