Botswana’s citizenship by investment (CBI) program will aim for a 60-day processing timeline when it launches in the first quarter of 2026, according to Mohamed Bennis, Associate Vice President at Arton Capital.
Arton Capital is “actively working with the Botswana government to make it a reality sooner than later, but Q1 2026 is realistic,” Bennis confirmed at IMI Connect Rome.
The program will operate through a licensed agent system, where qualifying companies “will have a license the same way as São Tomé to be able to market the program and then to process it as well,” according to Bennis
He says the 60-day processing timeline “is in talks right now,” though the firm is “trying to make it as efficient and as fast as possible” with a seamless due diligence process. Arton Capital wants to “rival one of the fastest programs if not the fastest.”
Donation Route First, but “Other Ways of Investment Not Off the Table”
Bennis says the program will launch exclusively with a donation option between $75,000 and $90,000. Arton Capital wants to “make it a minimal value proposition to make sure that clients do not get confused,” as applicants are “already acquainted with the donation process.”
He says alternative investments are “not off the table in the future,” though the initial launch will be “a straightforward donation.”
Demand Growing by the Day as Registrations “Pass 600”
Interest registrations have surged to “600 plus” since the program’s September announcement, up from the 464 registrations published in early October, according to Bennis.
He says the number is “growing by the day, almost on an hourly basis,” and expects “the interest to continue growing for the next few months.”
The figures represent expressions of interest through the registration portal rather than formal applications. The program remains in its pre-launch development phase.
Dual Citizenship Amendment Still Being Finalized Before Launch
November represents the critical milestone when Bennis claims “the citizenship law is to be amended for Botswana to allow dual citizenship fully.” Parliament must pass this amendment before the program can accept applications.
At the time of writing, Botswana does not allow its nationals to hold dual citizenship.
Bennis said due diligence process “is still being talked about,” as Arton Capital and the government “haven’t determined exactly where it will be conducted and by whom.”
He confirms that the company remains “in an active process” on these operational details, while biometric requirements “have not been determined yet.”
Bennis says investors are “hedging their bets” and “not looking for guarantees but just looking for options” for their long-term planning horizons. Bennis believes “these kinds of products [African CBI programs] are going to become a little bit more mainstream and will be positioned almost as an asset and business expansion.”
