Botswana will no longer accept emergency travel documents for routine visits to the country, the South African home affairs department said on Thursday.
In a diplomatic note to international governments, Botswana's government said: "The Republic of Botswana wishes to communicate a notice from the immigration department informing that travellers using emergency travel documents will not be admitted to Botswana for routine visits.
"Only those travelling under circumstances of emergency will be admitted under the authority of an emergency travel document."
The home affairs department issues emergency travel certificates to South Africans who have to travel urgently for deaths, sicknesses, and other emergencies.
Botswana said emergency travel documents would now strictly be limited to emergency situations, which had to be supported by documentary proof.
Home Affairs spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa said South Africans wanting to travel to Botswana should make the necessary arrangements to acquire the appropriate documents.
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