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Transport Permits

Call Cab Permit

Overview
  • Issued to operators who provide transport services for hire or reward from a defined private place.
  • Applicant should have a physical address and must possess a minimum of four (4) vehicles. 
  • Once permit is issued , permit holders are governed by the Road Transport Act, failure of which they will be penalized
Who is eligible?

Locally-registered business, citizen or resident that is the owner of a passenger vehicle.  

How do I get this service?
  • Download and complete APPLICATION FOR INITIAL GRAND/AMENDMENT/RENEWAL OF ROAD TRANSPORT PERMIT and submit along with supporting documents to the Registration and Licensing officer at any permit-issuing Department of Road Transport and Safety office for approval.
  • Pay the application fee of BWP 130.00 . 
  • First-time applicants are expected to attend a Transport advisory board hearing at the appointed time. It is at this point that the decision would be made.
  • Approved first-time applicants and renewal applicants must take the vehicle to the Transport Inspectors for inspection.  
  • If inspection is failed, applicants must comply with Inspector's instructions to rectify any vehicle issues that may have caused the failure and reapply.
  •  Applicants' whose vehicles pass the inspection are issued inspection certificates.
  • Take Inspection certificate and all of the other supporting documents to the Registration and licensing officer and pay permit fee.  
  • Once a fee is paid, the permit would be issued. 
What supporting documents are required?
  • Copy of the registration book (if available) otherwise prove of financial ability
  • For companies ,copy of certificate of incorporation & shareholder’s certificates
  • Copy of Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) radio communication license
  • Copy of vehicle's valid Roadworthiness Certificate (at the point of certificate collection).
  • Vehicle Inspection Certificate (only if permit application is approved by the board).
  • Copy of Certificate of Incorporation (companies). 
  • Copy of one director's National Identity Card (companies).
  • Copy of Shareholder's Certificates (companies).
  • Copy of business proposal (companies).
  • Expired permit (renewals).
  • Expired token (renewals). 
How long will this service take?
  • 39 working days for new applicants
  • Immediate for renewals
Where can I obtain this service?

Department of Road Transport and Safety Offices - Permit issuing stations

  • Gaborone Old Supplies Office
  • Molepolole
  • Lobatse
  • Mahalapye
  • Palapye
  • Ghanzi
  • Maun
  • Kasane
  • Francistown
  • Serowe
  • Selebi Phikwe
  • Tsabong
  • Kanye

Opening hours are from 07:30 to 16:30, Monday to Friday, except public holidays.  

Theme for this service
How much does it cost?
  • Normal Fee  BWP 260.00
  • Transfer BWP 520.00
  • Substitution  BWP 520.00
  • Route (trip) Variation BWP 195.00
Meta tags

Transport and Communications, Call cab application, Cab permit

Keywords

Call Cab Permit, Cab

Ministry submitting this Service

Taxi Service Permit

Overview

Issued to operators who provide door to door transport services for hire or reward.

Who is eligible?

Any locally-registered business, citizen or resident that is the owner of a passenger vehicle. 

How do I get this service?
  • Download and complete Application for Road Transport Permit and submit along with supporting documents to the Registration and Licensing officer at any permit-issuing Department of Road, Transport and Safety office for approval.
  • Pay the prescribed fee to the Registration and licensing officer. 
  • Pay the application fee of BWP130.00 to the Registration and licensing officer. 
  • First-time applicants attend a Transport advisory board hearing at the appointed time.  It is at this point that the decision would be made.  Approved first-time applicants and renewal applicants must take the vehicle to the Transport Inspectors for inspection.  
  • If inspection is failed, applicants must comply with Inspector's instructions to rectify any vehicle issues that may have caused the failure and reapply.  Applicants' whose vehicles pass the inspection are issued inspection certificates.
  • Take Inspection certificate and all of the other supporting documents to the Registration and licensing officer and pay  prescribed permit fee.  Once fee is paid, the permit would be issued. 
What supporting documents are required?
  • Certified copy of valid National Identity Card (Omang).
  •  Copy of the vehicle's registration document (blue book) or otherwise prove of financial ability
  •  Copy of vehicle's valid Roadworthiness Certificate (at the point of certificate collection).
  •  Vehicle Inspection Certificate (only if permit application is approved by the board).
  •  Copy of Certificate of Incorporation (companies). 
  •  Copy of one director's Valid National identity card (companies). 
  •  Copy of Shareholder's Certificates (companies). Copy of business proposal (for new applicants). Expired permit (renewals).
  • Expired token (renewals).
How long will this service take?

39 working days.

Where can I obtain this service?

Department of  Road Transport and Safety  Offices - Permit issuing offices

  • Gaborone Old Supplies Office
  • Francistown
  • Ghanzi
  • Lobatse
  • Kanye
  • Molepolole
  • Mahalapye
  • Tsabong
  • Kasane
  • Maun 
  • Selebi Phikwe
  • Serowe
  • Palapye

Opening hours are from 07:30 to 16:30, Monday to Friday, except public holidays.

Theme for this service
How much does it cost?
  • Permit Fee : BWP 260.00
  • Transfer: BWP 520.00
  • Substitution:BWP 520.00
  • Route ( Trip) Variation:BWP 195.00

Please refer to Pricing schedule for penalities regarding offences.

Meta tags

Transport and Communications, Taxi Service

Keywords

Taxi Permit

Ministry submitting this Service

Local Operation ( Local Route)

Overview
  • Issued to operators who provide transport services locally for hire or reward and is route described. 
  • Operators who already have passenger vehicle permits but wish to vary from their limitations must apply for a Route (Trip) Variation Permit. 
  • Permit holders who wish to remove their vehicle from the same route for any reason, and replace it with a more efficient vehicle can apply for substitution permit.
  • Permit holders who wish to change the names of the operator and replace it with another, either an individual or a company can apply for a transfer permit.
Who is eligible?

Reserved for citizens only.

How do I get this service?
  • Download and complete Form RTS 1 - Application for Initial Grand or Amendment or Renewal of Road Transport Permit and submit along with supporting documents at any permit-issuing Department of Road Transport and Safety office for approval. Application forms are also at enquiries desk . 
  • Pay the application fee of BWP 130.00 to the Registration and licensing officer. 
  • First-time applicants are expected to attend a Transport advisory board hearing at the appointed time.
  •  It is at this point that the decision would be made.  
  •  Approved first-time applicants and renewal applicants must take the vehicle to the Transport Inspectors for inspection.
  •  If inspection is failed, applicants must comply with Inspector's instructions to rectify any vehicle issues that may have caused the failure and reapply.  Applicants' whose vehicles pass the inspection are issued inspection certificates.
  •  Take Inspection certificate and all of the other supporting documents to the Registration and licensing officer and pay permit fee.
  •  Once a fee is paid, the permit would be issued. 
What supporting documents are required?
  • Certified copy of a valid National Identity card (Omang)
  • Copy of the vehicle's registration document (blue book).
  • Copy of vehicle's valid roadworthiness certificate (upon certificate collection).
  • Vehicle inspection certificate (only if permit application is approved by the board).
  • Copy of certificate of incorporation (companies).
  • Copy of one director's national identity card (companies).
  • Copy of shareholder's certificates (companies).
  • Copy of business proposal (new applicants).
  • Expired permit (renewals).
  • Expired token (renewals).
How long will this service take?
  • 39 working days for new applicants
  • Immediate for renewals
Where can I obtain this service?

Department of  Road Transport and Safety  Offices - Permit issuing offices

  • Gaborone Old Supplies Office
  • Francistown
  • Ghanzi
  • Lobatse
  • Kanye
  • Molepolole
  • Mahalapye
  • Tsabong
  • Kasane
  • Maun 
  • Selebi Phikwe
  • Serowe
  • Palapye

Opening hours are from 07:30 to 16:30, Monday to Friday, except public holidays.

Theme for this service
How much does it cost?
  • Application Fee: BWP 130.00
  •  Normal Fee : BWP 299.00
  •  Transfer : BWP 520.00
  •  Substitution: BW 520.00
  •  Route (trip) Variation: BWP 195.00

Offence

First Time

Second Time

Third and Subsequent

  • Covering PSV in an un-authorised colour

BWP 400.00

BWP 800.00

BWP 1,040.00

  • Selling or disposing of vehicle without authority

BWP 400.00

BWP 1,000.00

BWP 1,300.00

  • Overloading

BWP 400.00

BWP 1,000.00

BWP 1,300.00

  • Touting

BWP 400.00

BWP 800.00

BWP 1,040.00

  • Overcharging passenger fare

BWP 400.00

BWP 800.00

BWP 1,200.00

  • Crew misbehaviour

BWP 400.00

BWP 800.00

BWP 1,200.00

  • Failure to adhere to Permit conditions

BWP 400.00

BWP 800.00

BWP 1,040.00

  • Private vehicle used as PSV without appropriate permit

BWP 1,500.00

BWP 3,000.00

BWP 3,500.00

  • A conductor/driver without a badge/uniform/name tag

BWP 400.00

BWP 800.00

BWP 1,040.00

  • Loss of customer bag/belongings

BWP 200.00

BWP 400.00

BWP 600.00

  • Plying wrong route

BWP 400.00

BWP 800.00

BWP 1,040.00

Meta tags

Transport and Communications, local route, combi

Keywords

Local route 

 

Synonyms

combi

Ministry submitting this Service

Scheduled Operation (Long Distance Route)

Overview
  • Issued to operators who provide transport services on long routes for hire or reward. Operator will have to follow the approved timeslots. 
  • Please note that  non compliance to permit conditions will lead to charges and or revocation of permit.
Who is eligible?

Any locally-registered business, citizen or resident that is the owner of a passenger vehicle with a permit.  

How do I get this service?
  •  Download and complete Form RTS 1 - Application for Initial Grand or Amendment or Renewal of Road Transport Permit and submit  supporting documents to the Registration and Licensing Officer at any Department of Road Transport and Safety permit-issuing office for approval.
  •  Pay the application fee of BWP130.00 to the Registration and licensing officer.
  •  First-time applicants attend a Transport advisory board hearing at the appointed time.  It is at this point that the decision would be made.
  • Approved first-time applicants and renewal applicants must take the vehicle to the Transport Inspectors for inspection.  
  • If inspection is failed, applicants must comply with Inspector's instructions to rectify any vehicle issues that may have caused the failure and reapply.
  • Applicants' whose vehicles pass the inspection are issued inspection certificates.
  • Submit Inspection certificate and all of the other supporting documents to the Registration and licensing officer and pay permit fee.  
  • Once fee is paid, the permit would be issued.
What supporting documents are required?
  • Certified copy of valid national Identity document (Omang).
  •  Copy of the vehicle's registration document (blue book).
  • Copy of vehicle's valid Roadworthiness Certificate (at the point of certificate collection).
  •  Vehicle Inspection Certificate (only if permit application is approved by the board).
  •  Copy of Certificate of Incorporation (companies). 
  •  Copy of one director's National ID (companies). 
  •  Copy of Shareholder's Certificates (companies).
  • Copy of business proposal (for new applicants).  
  • Expired permit (renewals).
  •  Expired token (renewals).
How long will this service take?

39 working days (waiting period  for new application approval).

Permit renewal (immediate over the counter)upon submission of all the required documents.

Where can I obtain this service?

Department of  Road Transport and Safety  Offices - Permit issuing offices

  • Gaborone Old Supplies Office
  • Francistown
  • Ghanzi
  • Lobatse
  • Kanye
  • Molepolole
  • Mahalapye
  • Tsabong
  • Kasane
  • Maun 
  • Selebi Phikwe
  • Serowe
  • Palapye

Opening hours are from 07:30 to 16:30, Monday to Friday, except public holidays.  

Theme for this service
How much does it cost?
Type Normal Fee Transfer Transfer Substitution Route ( Trip) Variation
Mini Bus BWP 299 BWP 520 BWP 520 BWP 520 BWP195
Bus BWP 403 BWP520 BWP 520 BWP 520 BWP195

Note: reinstatement of a permit – passenger: The Controller may, subject to payment of BWP2500.00, reinstate a permit provided that the time slots of the same permit, in the case of scheduled routes, are still vacant.

  • Appeals Fee BWP200.00 
  • Duplicate documents (permit and token) BWP325.00
  • Penalty for late renewal BWP26.00 per day excluding public holidays and weekends
  • Penalty for failure to observe departure and arrival time schedule
  • First offence BWP1000.00
  • Second offence BWP1500.00
  • Third offence BWP2000.00 or fine and suspension of permit for not more than 12 months

Offences

Offence

First Time

Second Time

Third and Subsequent

  • Covering PSV in an un-authorised colour

BWP400.00

BWP800.00

BWP1040.00

  • Selling or disposing of vehicle without authority

BWP400.00

BWP1000.00

BWP1300.00

  • Overloading

BWP400.00

BWP1000.00

BWP1300.00

  • Touting

BWP400.00

BWP800.00

BWP1040.00

  • Overcharging passenger fare

BWP400.00

BWP800.00

BWP1200.00

  • Crew misbehaviour

BWP400.00

BWP800.00

BWP1200.00

  • Failure to adhere to Permit conditions

BWP400.00

BWP800.00

BWP1040.00

  • Private vehicle used as PSV without appropriate permit

BWP1500.00

BWP3000.00

BWP3500.00

  • A conductor/driver without a badge/uniform/name tag

BWP400.00

BWP800.00

BWP1040.00

  • Loss of customer bag/belongings

BWP200.00

BWP400.00

BWP600.00

  • Plying wrong route

BWP400.00

BWP800.00

BWP1040.00

Meta tags

Transport and Communications , Local Route

Keywords

Local Operation

Local Route

Ministry submitting this Service

Tour Operation Permit

Overview

The Tour Operation Permit is issued to operators who provide transport services to tourists for hire or reward.   

Please note that this type of permit can only be issued to operators who have been approved by the Department of Tourism. 

Who is eligible?
  • Citizens and non-citizens  
  • Locally registered companies.
How do I get this service?
  • Download  and complete Form RTS 1 - Application for Initial Grand or Amendment or Renewal of Road Transport Permit and submit with supporting documents to the Registration and Licensing officer at any permit-issuing Department of Road Transport and Safety office for approval.
  • Pay the application fee of BWP130.00 to the Registration and Licensing Officer.
  • First-time applicants attend a Transport Advisory Board hearing at the appointed time. It is at this point that the decision would be made.
  •  Approved first-time applicants and renewal applicants must take the vehicle to the Transport Inspectors for inspection.  
  • If inspection is failed, applicants must comply with Inspector's instructions to rectify any vehicle issues that may have caused the failure and reapply.
  • Applicants whose vehicles pass the inspection are issued inspection certificates.
  • Take inspection certificate and all of the other supporting documents to the Registration and Licensing Officer and pay permit fee.  
  • Once fee is paid, the permit would be issued. 
What supporting documents are required?
  • Copy of the registration book (if available) otherwise proof of financial ability.
  • Copy of a valid roadworthiness certificate.
  • Certified copy of National Identity Card of applicant. 
  • Copy of a valid tourism license.
  • Copy of the vehicle's registration document (blue book).
  • Copy of vehicle's valid Roadworthiness Certificate (upon certificate collection).
  • Vehicle Inspection Certificate (only if permit application is approved by the board).
  • Copy of Certificate of Incorporation (companies).
  • Copy of one director's National Identity Card (companies).
  • Copy of Shareholder's Certificates (companies).
  • Copy of business proposal (companies).  
  • Expired permit (renewals).
  • Expired token (renewals)
How long will this service take?

39 working days.

Where can I obtain this service?

Department of  Road Transport and Safety  Offices - Permit issuing offices

  • Gaborone Old Supplies Office
  • Francistown
  • Ghanzi
  • Lobatse
  • Kanye
  • Molepolole
  • Mahalapye
  • Tsabong
  • Kasane
  • Maun 
  • Selebi Phikwe
  • Serowe
  • Palapye

Opening hours are from 07:30 to 16:30, Monday to Friday, except public holidays.  

Theme for this service
How much does it cost?
  • Mini bus BWP 299.00
  • Bus BWP 403.00 
Meta tags

Transport and Communications, Tour operator permit

Keywords

Tour Operation Permit

Ministry submitting this Service

Driving School Permit

Overview

This service is intended for citizens and citizen-owned companies wishing to operate a driving school. 

Who is eligible?
  • Citizens
  • Citizen owned companies 
How do I get this service?
  •  Download and submit application form for Driving School Permit  along with supporting documents to Driving School academy. Application forms are also available at the enquiries desk at the Department of Road Transport and Safety Offices across the country.
What supporting documents are required?
  • Certified copy of valid national ID card of applicant and/or owner (Omang for citizens).
  • Accreditation Certificate of driving school (issued by local Accreditation Authority) and programme.
  • Certified copy of Company Registration Certificate (issued by Registrar of Companies).
  • A resolution from board of Directors, where the applicant is a company.
  • Consent of the Majority of the Partners, where the applicant is a Partnership.
  • Road Worthiness Certificate(s) of Training Vehicle(s).
  • Inspection report by local authority.
  • List of certified and accredited driving school instructors.  
How long will this service take?

Immediate.

Where can I obtain this service?

Driving School Academy

Department of Road Transport and Safety

Tshomarelo House Botswana Savings Bank Building

Gaborone

Theme for this service
How much does it cost?
  • Driving school permit application - BWP 390.00.
  • Renewal of driving school permit –BWP 260.00 
Meta tags

Transport and communication

Keywords

Driving School Permit

Ministry submitting this Service
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