Botswana‘s diverse wildlife and stunning natural scenery have long attracted safari-goers and adventure seekers from all over the world. Soon, travelers will have the option to make the South African nation their permanent home through a new dual citizenship option.
Botswana plans to launch its Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP), also known as a “golden passport” in early 2026. The country’s government has partnered with Arton Capital, a global citizenship firm, to launch the program, which was first announced in late September.
The initiative will pave the way for high-net-worth individuals to essentially purchase a Botswanan passport—for a minimum contribution of $75,000. Adding a spouse or child under the age of 18 will incur another $10,000-per-person fee, while adding an adult dependent will cost $5,000, Armand Arton, CEO of Arton Capital, tells Condé Nast Traveler.
Further details have yet to be announced, but according to the citizenship firm, the funds raised from the program will be used to support key national priorities such as the local housing market, luxury tourism, renewable energy, mining, and financial industries.
For wealthy travelers, Botswana’s citizenship buy-in plan will be yet another opportunity to participate in the growing trend of diversifying passport portfolios. For the country’s government, it’s a potential monetary windfall: The program is expected to usher in international talent and capital, with the hope of diversifying Botswana’s economy beyond its primary export, diamonds.
Botswana’s diamond-reliant economy dipped 3% in 2024, with further decline anticipated in 2025 amid surging demand for lab-grown alternatives, Reuters reports. Amid a push to diversify the country’s economy, the CIP will allow the government to “continue to secure the long-term financial future of Botswana,“ Duma Boko, the president of Botswana, said in a statement.
When the CIP launches, the Southern African country will join a growing list of governments offering long-term residency in exchange for lofty investments, which have become increasingly sought after by wealthy Americans looking to move abroad.
Countries such as Portugal, Greece, and Italy all offer similar programs at varying costs. Portugal’s five-year golden visa (which can lead to permanent residency or citizenship) requires investments ranging from about $208,000 to $520,000. Cheap, compared to Italy’s Residence by Investment Program, which mandates a $260,000 to $2.09 million contribution in exchange for a two-year golden visa that can be renewed (and eventually lead to a permanent residence card and citizenship).
These so-called golden passports and golden visas have not been without controversy: The European Union has recently cracked down on the programs in Malta and Cyprus, citing security, money laundering, and corruption risks. At the same time, Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia and Vietnam are launching new residence-by-investment visas and nations around the world.
If you’re considering long-term residency abroad, check out our guides to the top countries with retirement visas and digital nomad visas around the world.
