Omang Renewal in Botswana: P5 Fee, Requirements and How to Apply

Your Omang is the cheapest document you'll ever renew in Botswana: P5. Take your old card and two black and white photos to a civil registration office, and the new card is usually ready in about two to three weeks.

Losing it is a different story: a replacement costs P110 and needs an affidavit. The fees, what to bring, where to go and how to avoid a wasted trip follow, checked in November 2026.

How much is Omang renewal in Botswana?

Renewing an Omang costs P5. The same P5 applies when you change your surname or your card is damaged. A lost or stolen Omang costs P110 to replace. These are the fees Botswana's embassies publish for the same service, for example the mission in Geneva.

Your first Omang, at age 16, is free. If you register late, you can be fined up to P500.

When should you renew your Omang?

An Omang is valid for 10 years from the date it was issued. The Department of Civil and National Registration asks you to apply at least one month before it expires, so you're never without a valid ID.

An expired Omang causes problems quickly. Banks, mobile money agents and government offices ask for it, and you can't get a passport without a valid one. Our Botswana passport fees guide explains why renewing first matters, especially with passport fees rising in January 2027.

What do you need to renew your Omang?

Renewal (expired card)

• Your expired Omang, which you hand in
• Two recent black and white passport photos
• You, in person, for fingerprints

Change of surname

• Your current Omang
• Two black and white passport photos
• Proof of the name change, such as a marriage certificate or court order

Lost or stolen Omang

• An affidavit stating that you lost the card
• A police report (asked for by some offices and embassies, so get one)
• Two black and white passport photos
• P110

There's no form to download. Omang forms are security documents, so the officer gives you one once your documents are checked. Fill it in with a black ballpoint pen.

Where do you renew your Omang?

At any regional or district office of the Department of Civil and National Registration, part of the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs. The head office is in Block 8, Government Enclave, Gaborone.

Offices are open Monday to Friday, 7:30 to 12:45 and 13:45 to 16:30, except public holidays. Arrive early, because queues build by mid-morning.

For questions, the ministry's toll-free number is 0800 600 777.

How do you renew your Omang, step by step?

1. Get two black and white passport photos. Colour photos are for passports, not the Omang.
2. Go to a civil registration office with your old Omang.
3. Tell the officer you're renewing and hand over your documents.
4. Fill in the Omang form the officer gives you.
5. Pay P5.
6. Give your fingerprints. They're taken at the office.
7. Keep the waiting slip. You need it to collect the new card.
8. Collect your Omang from the same office when it's ready.

Cards are produced centrally and sent back to the office where you applied. That usually takes about 14 working days. Remote districts can take longer, so don't leave it until the week you need it.

Renewing your Omang from abroad

Batswana living abroad can renew at a Botswana embassy or high commission. You apply in person, give fingerprints and pay the fee in local currency. The Berlin embassy, for example, charges EUR 1 for a renewal and EUR 11 for a lost card (Botswana embassy, Germany).

The card is made in Botswana and sent back to the embassy. Some embassies will post it to you if you leave a stamped, registered self-addressed envelope. Not all do, so ask.

Can you travel with your Omang?

At some border posts, yes. Since February 2023, Botswana citizens can use the Omang as a travel document at the Mamuno border post into Namibia, with Ngoma, Kasane and Mohembo to follow (Daily News). Check before you travel, and carry your passport for anywhere else.

Mistakes that send you home without a new Omang

• Colour photos. The Omang uses black and white photos.
• Waiting until it expires. Apply a month before.
• No proof of a name change. Without a marriage certificate or court order, the officer can't change your surname.
• No affidavit for a lost card. Get it sworn before you go.
• Losing the waiting slip. Take a photo of it on your phone.
• Paying someone to "fast track" it. The fee is P5, paid at the office. Nobody can make the central production move faster.

With a valid Omang you can also register for a tax number. See our guide to the BURS tax clearance certificate if you need one for a tender or job. More guides are on our Botswana page.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to renew an Omang?

P5. The same fee applies to a change of surname or a damaged card. A lost or stolen Omang costs P110.

How long does Omang renewal take?

Usually about 14 working days after you apply, because cards are produced centrally and sent back to your office. Remote districts and embassies abroad can take longer.

What are the Omang renewal requirements?

Your expired Omang, two recent black and white passport photos, and you in person for fingerprints. Bring proof if your surname has changed.

Can I renew my Omang online?

No. You apply in person because your fingerprints are taken and the form is issued at the office.

What do I need to replace a lost Omang?

An affidavit about the loss, a police report, two black and white passport photos and P110. Apply at a civil registration office or a Botswana embassy.

What is the Omang renewal contact number?

The Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs toll-free number is 0800 600 777. You can also call the Department of Civil and National Registration head office in Gaborone on 361 1400.