Botswana vs South Africa: How much does a passport cost?

Botswana is revising its passport fees from 1 November 2026, giving travellers a new set of charges to consider as the country’s costs are compared with those in South Africa.

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship announced the revised fees in a public notice, covering ordinary, children’s, official and diplomatic passports, as well as emergency travel documents and replacements for lost, stolen or soiled e-passports.

South Africa, meanwhile, charges R600 for an ordinary 32-page passport and a child passport when applications are made within the country, according to the government.

How much will Botswana passports cost?

Under Botswana’s revised fee schedule, an ordinary passport will cost P400, while passports for children under 16 will cost P200.

An official passport will cost P600, and a diplomatic passport will cost P800.

Applicants requiring an emergency travel document will pay P100.

The most expensive item on the announced list is the replacement of a lost, stolen or soiled e-passport, which will cost P2 000.

The new charges take effect on 1 November, according to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s notice.

South Africa passport fees compared

South African citizens applying for an ordinary passport within the country pay R600 for a standard 32-page document.

The same fee applies to child passports, while a 48-page maxi passport costs R1 200.

Official and diplomatic passports also cost R600 under South Africa’s published domestic fee schedule.

Using an indicative exchange rate of approximately R1.24 for every pula, Botswana’s new P400 ordinary passport fee is equivalent to about R496.

This means Botswana’s ordinary passport fee is approximately R104 lower than South Africa’s R600 charge, although exchange rates fluctuate.

The P200 fee for children under 16 is equivalent to about R248, compared with R600 for a South African child passport.

However, the fees for official and diplomatic passports differ between the two countries, with Botswana’s announced charges higher when converted into rand.

What about lost passports?

Botswana will charge P2 000 for a lost, stolen or soiled e-passport, equivalent to approximately R2 480 at the indicative exchange rate.

South Africa applies a replacement fee based on the applicable passport charge, with the amount depending on the circumstances.

The comparison highlights differences in passport charges, although the two countries’ replacement rules and document categories are not identical.

Applicants should confirm the applicable fees with their respective immigration authorities before submitting applications.