Working in Botswana: market, pay and permits

High unemployment in Botswana according to the official survey

Statistics Botswana measures an unemployment rate of 27.6% in the first quarter of 2024, based on its Quarterly Multi-Topic Survey. Our sources give no more recent figure: check the institute's labour section for an update before drawing conclusions.

Minimum wage: the case of security and cleaning

For security guards and cleaners, the statutory minimum is 9.06 pula per hour, or 2,120.04 pula per month for normal hours. The reference text is Statutory Instrument No. 7 of 2024, which sets these sector-specific rates.

Actual pay and overtime

In these same occupations, average monthly earnings reach 3,108 pula once overtime is included, according to the Daily News of November 2025. Check your payslip carefully for the breakdown of hours worked and the rate applied to each.

An increase to 4,000 pula still under review

The government is considering raising the minimum wage in these sectors to 4,000 pula, with no effective date announced. The rates applicable to other industries do not appear in our sources: ask the employer or the ministry for them.

A single ministry for labour and home affairs

The Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs brings together labour and immigration matters. In November 2025 it was headed by Minister Pius Mokgware. The Department of Immigration and Citizenship, which issues employment visas, falls under this ministry.

Work and residence permit: the first stage

The employment visa requires a valid work and residence permit. You also need an exemption, or waiver, from the Department of Labour and Social Security, together with a contract or appointment letter signed by the employer in Botswana.

Applying for the employment visa online

Applications are submitted on the official e-visa platform, with a stated processing time of 7 to 14 working days. The Residency and Work section of the government portal groups the other residence procedures linked to employment in one place.

Jobs Botswana and other job sites

Jobs Botswana publishes recent vacancies, for example from SEACMEQ, Motovac or Pula Central. PNet, a South African site, has a Botswana section. Candidates also looking south can consult our page on the South African market.

Regional organisations and international posts

The presence of bodies such as SEACMEQ among recruiters shows the appeal of regional positions. For this type of career, our guide to international organisations in Africa explains the platforms involved and the profiles they look for.

Technical profiles and the extractive industry

Engineers and technicians targeting extraction or energy in the region will find pointers in our guide to mining and energy occupations. Our notes do not quantify employing sectors in Botswana: check each vacancy individually.

What our sources do not cover

The Employment Act, statutory working hours, the public employment service and the breakdown of jobs by sector are not verified here. On these points, contact the ministry or a local legal adviser before signing any contract.

Comparing with neighbouring Namibia

Some candidates hesitate between several Southern African countries. The Namibian job market has an online public vacancy service and its own work visa, with rules distinct from those applied in Gaborone.

Institutions and job sites in Botswana

• Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs: Ministry responsible for labour, immigration and citizenship in Botswana.
• Statistics Botswana: Statistics office that publishes the quarterly multi-topic survey and the unemployment rate.
• Department of Immigration and Citizenship: Department that issues the employment visa once the work and residence permit is obtained.
• Jobs Botswana: Botswana job site with vacancies from companies and regional organisations.
• PNet (rubrique Botswana): South African job board with a section devoted to vacancies located in Botswana.
• JobnetAfrica: Platform for senior positions in Africa open to local and expatriate candidates.

The route for a foreign candidate in Botswana

1. Write an English CV focused on your verifiable skills and results.
2. Apply through Jobs Botswana or PNet and obtain a signed offer or appointment letter.
3. With the employer's support, obtain the work and residence permit and the labour department waiver.
4. Then submit the employment visa application online and allow 7 to 14 working days.
5. Check that the proposed salary meets the minimum for your sector, if one exists.
6. Keep copies of all supporting documents for any future permit renewal.

Key employment figures for Botswana

Application file for Botswana

• Valid passport
• Current work and residence permit
• Waiver from the Department of Labour and Social Security
• Contract or appointment letter
• CV and certified qualifications
• Police clearance certificate

Frequent stumbling blocks in Botswana

• Paying fees to a fake agent who promises a work permit: applications go exclusively through the official services.
• Starting work before receiving the permit, the waiver and the employment visa, even for a short assignment.
• Assuming a single minimum wage applies to every occupation, when our sources only cover certain sectors.
• Failing to check how overtime is paid, which can significantly change the actual monthly earnings.

Information up to date as of October 2026. AfriqueJob.com does not recruit and never asks for money: beware of offers that demand fees.