Buying property in Botswana from abroad

As covered in the land due diligence guide, non-citizens generally cannot buy tribal or state land. Freehold property is the route open regardless of citizenship, so confirm a property's tenure before getting attached to a specific plot or house.

Botswana has applied a materially higher transfer duty rate to non-citizen buyers, both individuals and companies, than to citizens since a policy change in 2019. Budget for this and get the current rate confirmed in writing by a conveyancing attorney before making an offer, rather than assuming a rate from an older source.

A locally admitted attorney acting as conveyancer must prepare and lodge the transfer at the Deeds Registry. Buying from abroad usually works through a power of attorney, so your conveyancer can act and sign on your behalf for the parts of the process that would otherwise need your physical presence.

Confirm current exchange control and remittance requirements for bringing funds into Botswana directly with your bank and, where needed, the Bank of Botswana — these rules can change, so don't rely on a fixed assumption from elsewhere.