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Doing business
Doing business in Botswana
The official bodies a foreign company, investor or professional deals with in Botswana – linked to their own websites – plus the treaties that matter for contracts and disputes, and law firms there that list business work.
Key facts
Key facts for business in Botswana
The short answer
Company registry in Botswana: Companies and Intellectual Property Authority (CIPA). Tax authority: Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS). Requirements, fees and timelines change – confirm them with the body concerned and a lawyer admitted in Botswana before you act.
| Legal system | Mixed (Roman-Dutch law and English common law, plus customary law) |
|---|---|
| Official languages | English, Setswana (national language) |
| Currency | Botswana pula (BWP) |
| Regional blocs | SADC |
| OHADA business law | No |
| AfCFTA (continental free trade) | Not yet ratified (tralac, 7 Sep 2026) |
| New York Convention (arbitral awards) | Party – in force since 1972 |
| ICSID Convention (investment disputes) | Contracting state – in force since 1970 |
| Apostille Convention (public documents) | Party – in force since 30 Sep 1966 |
Treaty status from the official depositary records (UNCITRAL, ICSID, HCCH), regional blocs from their own websites, AfCFTA from tralac – checked October 2026. Not legal advice.
Official bodies
Who does what in Botswana
| What for | Official body | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Registering a company | Companies and Intellectual Property Authority (CIPA) | cipa.co.bw |
| Investment promotion | Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) | bitc.co.bw |
| Tax | Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) | burs.org.bw |
| Central bank, currency and foreign exchange | Bank of Botswana | bankofbotswana.bw |
| Work and residence permits | Department of Immigration and Citizenship (Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs) | gov.bw |
| Justice ministry (no court website found) | Administration of Justice | justice.gov.bw |
Each link was opened and checked as the body’s own website in October 2026. Links to official sites only – never to agents or look-alike sites.
Getting started
What foreign businesses usually sort out first
- Choose how you will operate. A subsidiary, a branch, a representative office, or working through a local partner or distributor. The options and their conditions are set by national company law.
- Register the business. Company registration: Companies and Intellectual Property Authority (CIPA).
- Register for tax. Tax registration: Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS).
- Check investment rules and incentives. Some sectors have licensing, local-ownership or registration rules, and some investors qualify for incentives. Investment agency: Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC).
- Permits for foreign staff. Work and residence permits: Department of Immigration and Citizenship (Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs).
- Banking and foreign exchange. Rules on accounts, moving money in and out and paying dividends abroad come from the central bank (Bank of Botswana) and the banks.
- Contracts and disputes. Agree the governing law, the courts or arbitration seat, and the language. Botswana is a party to the New York Convention, so arbitral awards made in other member states can be recognized there under it.
A general checklist, not legal advice. What applies to you depends on your sector, structure and nationality.
Law firms
Law firms in Botswana for business matters
Agnes & Barefeet Attorneys International
Palapye
Akheel Jinabhai & Associates (AJA)
Gaborone
Armstrongs
Gaborone
Bookbinder Business Law
Gaborone
Ndadi Law Firm
Gaborone
Piyush Sharma Attorneys & Co.
Gaborone
6 firms in Botswana list corporate, tax, employment or other business work on their own websites. See every firm in Botswana.
Checking a lawyer in Botswana
Who admits lawyers: Law Society of Botswana (admission by the High Court of Botswana)
Professional title: Attorney
Official roll: lawsociety.org.bw
Check the Law Society of Botswana's online list of members (lawsociety.org.bw/members) and ask to see a current practising certificate.
Sources: lawsociety.org.bw, lawsociety.org.bw. Checked October 2026. Not legal advice.
Questions
Doing business in Botswana: questions
Where do you register a company in Botswana?
With Companies and Intellectual Property Authority (CIPA) (cipa.co.bw). Requirements change, so confirm them with the registry and a lawyer admitted in Botswana.
Is Botswana a party to the New York Convention?
Yes – in force since 1972 (UNCITRAL status table, checked October 2026).
Does Botswana accept apostilles?
Yes – Botswana is a party to the Apostille Convention, in force since 30 Sep 1966 (HCCH status table). A public document from another member state needs only an apostille from the issuing country.
What currency is used in Botswana?
Botswana pula (BWP).