Botswana
If you now live in Canada and previously lived, worked, or studied in Botswana,
many immigration, employment, and licensing processes will ask you for a Botswana Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)
in addition to your Canadian one. Getting fingerprinted correctly is usually the first step. This guide walks through how that works
while you’re based in Canada, and how Surrey Fingerprint Company can help with the fingerprinting part.
Visit Surrey Fingerprint Company for professional, correctly-formatted fingerprints for your Botswana police clearance
application. Email info@surreyfingerprint.com
beforehand so we can confirm the exact form and format Botswana Police Service — Criminal Records Bureau, Gaborone currently requires.
Why Would Someone in Canada Need a Botswana PCC?
- Canadian immigration & citizenship (IRCC): if you lived in Botswana for 6 months or more before moving to Canada, IRCC may require a police certificate from Botswana as part of permanent residency, sponsorship, or citizenship applications.
- Immigration to a third country: if you are applying to move from Canada to another country (e.g. Australia, the UK, the US, or elsewhere), that country’s character/background check requirements often ask for a clearance from every country you’ve lived in for an extended period, including Botswana.
- Employment & licensing: some regulated professions and international employers request a background check covering your time in Botswana.
- Legal, banking, or property matters: some processes back in Botswana may themselves ask you to complete identity verification via fingerprints while abroad.
The General Process From Canada
Because you’re applying from outside Botswana, the typical path is: get fingerprinted locally in Canada in the exact
format Botswana Police Service — Criminal Records Bureau, Gaborone accepts, then send that fingerprint record to them along with the rest of your
application package.
Contact Botswana’s issuing authority first
Confirm the current application form, required fingerprint format, fee, and mailing/submission method directly with
Botswana Police Service — Criminal Records Bureau, Gaborone — requirements can change, so always check before your appointment.
Get fingerprinted at Surrey Fingerprint Company
Bring valid photo ID and any required form. The fingerprint format usually requested for a Botswana PCC is:
Ink-and-Roll Fingerprinting (Paper Card). We offer both ink-and-roll and digital fingerprinting on-site.
We complete your card correctly
We take your fingerprints on the correct form, complete any required identity/witness sections, and provide the card or
document ready to send.
Send your package to Botswana
Mail or submit your fingerprint card along with your application form, ID copies, photos, and fee (as required) to
Botswana Police Service — Criminal Records Bureau, Gaborone. Use a tracked courier for original documents.
Non-resident applicants provide their full name, date of birth, dates and places of residence in Botswana, and names of employers, along with a set of fingerprints obtained on a recognized fingerprint form from a police station nearest to them (even outside Botswana) — some Botswana sources describe this as acceptable from "an accredited agency" internationally. A notarized passport copy and two passport photos are also required. A proxy may submit the application in Botswana on your behalf.
Mailing address:
Botswana Police Force, Criminal Investigation Department, P.O. Box 1082, Gaborone, Botswana
Receive your Botswana PCC
Processing time is Approximately 10-15 business days once received — confirm current fees and timelines. Some authorities mail the certificate directly to your Canadian
address; others may require pickup via a consulate or representative.
Source: Official guidance for Botswana. Requirements can change; always confirm current details on the official page before applying.
the current requirement before your appointment so you don’t need to redo it.
clearance applications can change without notice. Always confirm current requirements directly with
Botswana Police Service — Criminal Records Bureau, Gaborone before your appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get fingerprinted in Surrey for a Botswana PCC?
Yes. Surrey Fingerprint Company offers both ink-and-roll and digital fingerprinting, and can prepare your fingerprint card or document in the format most commonly requested for Botswana applications. Contact us to confirm the exact form before your visit.
How long does it take to get a PCC from Botswana while living in Canada?
Timelines vary widely by country and by how the application is submitted. As a general estimate: Approximately 10-15 business days once received — confirm current fees and timelines. Confirm current processing times with the issuing authority.
Do I need an original fingerprint card, or is a scan acceptable?
This depends on Botswana's current requirements — some authorities require original ink cards mailed physically, others accept digital submissions. We'll help you confirm which applies before you leave our office.
Can Surrey Fingerprint Company submit my application to Botswana for me?
We handle the fingerprinting step. Submission of the full application package is generally your responsibility (or your immigration consultant/lawyer's), unless otherwise noted for a specific country.
Get Fingerprinted for Your Botswana PCC — Surrey, BC
Email us before your visit so we can confirm the correct form and format for Botswana.
+1 (604) 825-8882 · info@surreyfingerprint.com