What does it take to get an e-money licence in Botswana?
To hold an e-money licence in Botswana, you need the Electronic Money Issuance licence from Bank of Botswana. Published minimum capital: P2 000 000 (BWP) minimum initial capital for Electronic Money Issuance, per Schedule 2 of the EPS Regulations 2019. 10 entities currently hold an e-money licence in Botswana. Full requirements — minimum capital, local presence, timeline, local ownership, fees and ongoing obligations — are set out below in each instrument's own words, with source and date; amounts are in the statute's own currency.
“E-money issuance” here is the normalized activity: Issue stored-value / electronic money redeemable at par and hold the customer float. The category of licence that lets a provider keep customers' money.
Activity id (as used by the Afriset MCP): fintech:EMONEY_ISSUE
Electronic Money Issuance
Bank of Botswana| Requirement | As published | Source | Source date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum capital | P2 000 000 (BWP) minimum initial capital for Electronic Money Issuance, per Schedule 2 of the EPS Regulations 2019. Verbatim“These are P2 000 000 for Electronic Money Issuance; P1 000 000 for Account Based Payment Services and P100 000 for non-account-based services.” | EPS Licensing Guidelines V1.0 (February 2022) — §5.2 (initial capital, citing reg 5(2)(c) + Schedule 2 of the EPS Regulations 2019), §5.6 (incorporation), §5.8 (safeguarding of funds), §5.13 (fees), §6.3 (decision timeline), §7.1 (annual renewal) | 2022-02 |
| Local presence / incorporation | An EPS provider must be incorporated in Botswana in accordance with the Companies Act, and the application must be accompanied by certified copies of the certificate of incorporation and company extract. Verbatim“An EPS provider must be incorporated in Botswana in accordance with the Companies Act.” | EPS Licensing Guidelines V1.0 (February 2022) — §5.2 (initial capital, citing reg 5(2)(c) + Schedule 2 of the EPS Regulations 2019), §5.6 (incorporation), §5.8 (safeguarding of funds), §5.13 (fees), §6.3 (decision timeline), §7.1 (annual renewal) | 2022-02 |
| Timeline | The Bank advises the applicant of its decision within three (3) months of receipt/date of application (as indicated in the acknowledgement letter). Verbatim“The Bank will advise the applicant of its decision within three (3) months of receipt or date of application as indicated in the acknowledgement letter.” | EPS Licensing Guidelines V1.0 (February 2022) — §5.2 (initial capital, citing reg 5(2)(c) + Schedule 2 of the EPS Regulations 2019), §5.6 (incorporation), §5.8 (safeguarding of funds), §5.13 (fees), §6.3 (decision timeline), §7.1 (annual renewal) | 2022-02 |
| Local ownership | No such requirement: The EPS Regulations 2019 and the Guidelines impose no local-shareholding or nationality cap on an EPS provider (incorporation in Botswana is required; there is no Botswana-ownership percentage). | EPS Licensing Guidelines V1.0 (February 2022) — §5.2 (initial capital, citing reg 5(2)(c) + Schedule 2 of the EPS Regulations 2019), §5.6 (incorporation), §5.8 (safeguarding of funds), §5.13 (fees), §6.3 (decision timeline), §7.1 (annual renewal) | 2022-02 |
| Fees | Initial application fee P1 000.00 (excluding VAT); licence fee P10 000.00 (excluding VAT) due on approval and annually thereafter. Verbatim“an initial application fee amounting to P1 000.00 (excluding VAT). A licence fee of P10 000.00 (excluding VAT) shall become due upon approval of the application and annually thereafter.” | EPS Licensing Guidelines V1.0 (February 2022) — §5.2 (initial capital, citing reg 5(2)(c) + Schedule 2 of the EPS Regulations 2019), §5.6 (incorporation), §5.8 (safeguarding of funds), §5.13 (fees), §6.3 (decision timeline), §7.1 (annual renewal) | 2022-02 |
| Ongoing obligations | An e-money issuer must maintain 100 per cent of the electronic money float (virtual money in circulation) as cash balances held at commercial bank(s) in Botswana, in a dedicated safeguarding account; the licence is renewable annually. Verbatim“maintain or keep 100 per cent of the electronic money float (virtual money in circulation) in the form of cash balances held at commercial bank(s) in Botswana.” | EPS Licensing Guidelines V1.0 (February 2022) — §5.2 (initial capital, citing reg 5(2)(c) + Schedule 2 of the EPS Regulations 2019), §5.6 (incorporation), §5.8 (safeguarding of funds), §5.13 (fees), §6.3 (decision timeline), §7.1 (annual renewal) | 2022-02 |
Requirements as published in the cited instruments — not legal or compliance advice. Capital and fees are shown in the currency the statute itself uses. Where a value is located but not yet verified, we show that it exists but don't publish the figure. Verify directly with the regulator.
Maintained: this official source is re-checked on a weekly schedule — last checked 2026-08-04 · unchanged since the previous check.
Who already holds this licence?
10 entities are on the Bank of Botswana register under the Electronic Money Issuance category — view the register .
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