Indicators in this domain assess the extent to which migrants have the same status as citizens in terms of access to basic social services such as health, education, and social security. It also describes the rights of migrants to family reunification, to work, and to residency and citizenship. The ratification of the main international conventions is also included within this domain.
Indicators in this category look at the extent to which migrants have access to certain social services such as health, education and social security. They also examine measures to ensure integration and access to work.
Indicators in this domain assess countries’ institutional, legal, and regulatory frameworks related to migration policies. Domain 2 also reviews the existence of national migration strategies that are in-line with development, as well as institutional transparency and coherence in relation to migration management. This domain also investigates the extent to which governments collect and use migration data.
Indicators in this category assess the institutional frameworks of cities for migration. This area also examines the existence of migration strategies consistent with development objectives, as well as institutional transparency and coherence in migration management.
This domain focuses on countries’ efforts to cooperate on migration-related issues with other states and with relevant non-governmental actors, including civil society organizations and the private sector. Cooperation can lead to improvements in governance by aligning and raising standards, increasing dialogue and providing structures to overcome challenges.
Indicators in this category focus on cities’ efforts to cooperate on migration issues with the national government as well as other cities and relevant non-governmental actors, including civil society organizations and the private sector.
This domain includes indicators on countries’ policies for managing the socioeconomic well-being of migrants, through aspects such as the recognition of migrants’ educational and professional qualifications, provisions regulating student migration and the existence of bilateral labour agreements between countries. Indicators equally focus on policies and strategies related to diaspora engagement and migrant remittances.
Indicators in this category assess cities’ initiatives in terms of international student mobility, access to the labour market and decent working conditions for migrant workers. Aspects related to diaspora engagement and migrant remittances are also included in this domain.
This domain studies the type and level of preparedness of countries when they are faced with mobility dimensions of crises, linked to either disasters, the environment and/or conflict. The questions are used to identify the processes in place for nationals and non-nationals both during and after disasters, including whether humanitarian assistance is equally available to migrants as it is to citizens.
Indicators in this category examine the type and level of readiness of cities to deal with aspects of mobility crises. The questions focus on the processes in place for citizens and non-citizens both during and after disasters, especially if humanitarian assistance is available for migrants and citizens.
This domain analyses countries’ approach to migration management in terms of border control and enforcement policies, admission criteria for migrants, preparedness and resilience in the case of significant and unexpected migration flows, as well as the fight against trafficking in human beings and smuggling of migrants. It also assesses efforts and incentives to help integrate returning citizens.
Indicators in this category look at the cities’ approaches to migrant safety as well as return and reintegration policies and the fight against trafficking in persons.
This country Profile describes examples of well-developed areas of Republic of Botswana’s governance structures and areas with potential for further development, as evaluated through the six domains of the Migration Governance Indicators (MGI). These address migrants’ rights, a “whole-of-government” approach, partnerships, socioeconomic well-being of migrants, the mobility dimensions of crises, and safe and orderly migration.
Click the icons on the wheel to explore the key findings.
The Migration Governance Indicators (MGI) initiative is a policy-benchmarking programme led by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and implemented with research and analysis from the Economist Impact. Funding is provided by IOM Member States.
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas
- Migrants with resident or work permits are authorized to pursue family reunification, and all migrants are eligible to apply for permanent residency if they meet the requirements in the Immigration Act (2010).
- Every citizen, regardless of location, has the right to participate in national elections.
- There are comprehensive provisions aimed at addressing xenophobia, violence, and discrimination including towards migrants.
Areas with potential for further development
- Migrants have access to health care, education, and social protection, although under different terms than citizens.
- Migrants on work permits cannot change jobs without obtaining a new permit.
- Provision in the Trade Act (2019) reserves certain trade activities for citizens of Botswana or companies that are wholly owned by citizens.
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas
- The Department of Immigration and Citizenship, under the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs, is responsible for designing and coordinating the implementation of an overall migration policy in the country.
- Botswana has a clear and transparent set of rules and regulations pertaining to migration.
- Statistics Botswana is responsible for collecting and disseminating official statistics in the country, including on migration.
Areas with potential for further development
- There is no established coordination mechanism to formally engage the Department of Gender Affairs in agenda-setting and implementation of migration-related issues.
- In 2017, the Government initiated the process to develop a National Migration Policy and, as of August 2023, the policy is being updated for validation.
- There is no established coordination mechanism in place to compile and harmonize migration data collected by different government agencies, and there is no central repository of migration data in the country.
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas
- Botswana is part of the Migration Dialogue for Southern Africa (MIDSA) and the Pan-African Forum on Migration.
- Botswana ratified the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on the Facilitation of Movement of Persons in 2005 and extended VISA exemptions to most SADC countries and signed MOUs with others on free movement.
- The Government has a number of bilateral platforms with its neighbours and other African countries which focus on cooperation on issues including migration.
Areas with potential for further development:
- Botswana adopted the SADC Labour Migration Policy Framework and implemented the SADC Labour Migration Action Plan but the modalities of promoting regional labour mobility have not been agreed.
- Civil society organizations, the private sector and members of the diaspora are only engaged in agenda-setting and implementation of migration-related issues on an irregular or ad-hoc basis.
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas
- Statistics Botswana collects and publishes data on the labour market disaggregated by migration status and sex.
- International students who are granted access to tertiary education, study in Botswana at an international fee.
- Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA) accredits foreign qualifications for most professions.
Areas with potential for further development
- There is no centralized labour market assessment on the demand for migrant workers or the effects of emigrants on the domestic labour market.
- There are no specific measures to promote gender equality for migrants in the labour force, though general provisions addressing workplace discrimination apply equally to citizens and migrants.
- There are no formal remittance schemes in place.
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas
- Statistics Botswana publishes reports that contain statistics on various types of natural disasters, including floods.
- Botswana is a party to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (2015) and has a disaster management response framework made up of the National Policy on Disaster Management of 1996, National Disaster Risk Management Strategy of 2013-2018 and the National Disaster Risk Management Plan of 2009.
- While there is no travel advisory service, Botswana has issued ad hoc travel advisories to its citizens for specific regions and countries.
Areas with potential for further development
- The current disaster management framework does not include explicit provisions for assisting migrants nor does it contain provisions for managing large-scale population movements during times of crisis.
- Disaster communication systems or management tools in Botswana do not take into account the specific vulnerabilities that migrants may face.
- There are no specific provisions to make exceptions to the immigration procedures for migrants whose country of origin is experiencing a crisis.
Migration Governance: examples of well-developed areas
- The Department of Immigration and Citizenship, under the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs, and other agencies such as Botswana Defence Force, are responsible for integrated border control and security.
- Border staff receive regular training and on emerging issues such as trafficking in persons as well as from stakeholders like the University of Botswana.
- The Government maintains a webpage containing detailed information on immigration and civil registration, including visa types, and it implements an e-visa system since 2021.
- The Government implements criminal sanctions for human trafficking, as per the Anti-Human Trafficking Act (2014) and information on counter-trafficking activities is collected and published annually.
Areas with potential for further development
- There are general measures in place to combat labour exploitation which apply to migrants but are not specific to them.
- There are no formal cooperation arrangements or bilateral agreements with other countries to prevent or counter the smuggling of migrants.
