Lesotho: Entry Rules for VisitorsLast check:Last update:Data statusLast check:Last update:
Lesotho:Visa Requirement Map
Explore which nationalities need a visa to enter this country and which can enter visa-free.
Lesotho: Visa and entry documents and requirements
Visa requirements may change. Always verify the latest information through official government sources.
Visa-Free Entry Requirements
- Visa exemption only removes the requirement to obtain a visa in advance. The traveler must present a valid passport or accepted travel document upon entry and comply with the permitted duration of stay granted by the border officer.
- The visa-free stay period may range from one to three months, depending on the traveler's passport and the applicable exemption arrangement. The stay period stamped in the passport or granted by the border officer should be checked upon entry into the country.
- If traveling to or from Lesotho via South Africa, the traveler must additionally meet South Africa's re-entry, transit, or entry conditions. The required South African visa or residence permit depends on the traveler's nationality and itinerary.
- Carrying a yellow fever vaccination certificate is considered important in the official foreign ministry information.
- Visa exemption does not grant automatic entry into the country. Immigration officers may examine the travel document, purpose of travel, and compliance with immigration rules, and may refuse entry if entry conditions are not met.
Visa on Arrival Requirements
- The current visa-on-arrival practice in Lesotho is not a standard system based on the traveler applying at the border without any prior procedure. Travelers subject to visa requirements must obtain approval from the Department of Immigration before travel. Application documents can be sent to visa-applications.immigration@gov.ls or submitted in person to the Ministry of Home Affairs by the inviting person or organization in Lesotho.
- When the application is approved, a 72-hour visa-on-arrival approval letter is sent to the applicant by email. This letter is a pre-approval document used for entry into Lesotho, distinct from the permitted duration of stay in the country.
- Entry with a visa-on-arrival approval letter can only be made at the Maseru entry gate and Moshoeshoe I International Airport.
- The applicant's passport must be valid for at least six months.
- A copy of the passport and a complete application form must be submitted in the application.
- For tourism-purpose applications, the applicant's letter of request, if there is a sponsor the sponsor's letter of request, travel itinerary, passport copy, hotel reservation or other accommodation proof, three-month bank statement or a valid bank or credit card with sufficient balance to cover the stay, transportation plan, health insurance, and medical report must be submitted.
- For business-purpose applications, the sponsor's invitation letter, the sponsor business's trade license and document showing no tax debt, the sponsor's passport copy and original during application, the sponsor's sworn declaration, the sponsor's residence and work permits if applicable, work permit approval or proof of application, the sponsor's three-month bank statement showing economic activities, and the applicant's passport copy are required. Where applicable, educational documents and transcripts must be translated into English and certified by the embassy or equivalent competent authority. Travel itinerary, health insurance, and medical report are also requested.
- For private visit applications, the sponsor's invitation letter, the applicant's letter of request, passport copies of the sponsor and the applicant, residence permit if the sponsor is a foreigner, return ticket, three-month bank statement of the sponsor or the applicant, medical report, and health insurance must be submitted. For this purpose, the published checklist anticipates demonstrating financial sufficiency in the amount of 10,000 Lesotho lotis.
- For family reunification applications, the applicant's and the relative in Lesotho's letters of request and passport copies, the relative's residence permit if applicable, documents showing family ties such as birth or marriage certificates, medical report, health insurance, and travel itinerary are required. The sponsor's recent three-month bank statement must show at least 10,000 Lesotho lotis per foreign family member.
- For marriage-purpose applications, the applicant's and the sponsor's letters of request and passport copies, sworn declarations from both families, identity documents of family members, documents showing family ties, a letter from the competent authority showing no impediment to marriage, a criminal record certificate verified through the embassy, health insurance, medical report, travel itinerary, and official notice or registration regarding the marriage officer must be submitted. It is required that the three-month bank statement shows a monthly income of at least 10,000 Lesotho lotis and a bank guarantee covering the return ticket to the country.
- For study-purpose applications, the applicant's letter of request, the sponsor's invitation letter, the educational institution's acceptance letter, fee statement for the study period, verification of the educational institution's registration with the Ministry of Education, passport copies of the applicant and sponsor, the sponsor's residence permit if applicable, previous educational documents, proof of sponsorship in the form of a financier letter or bank account sufficient to cover the study period, medical report, health insurance, and return ticket must be submitted.
- For applications for work in educational institutions, the sponsor's invitation letter, the applicant's letter of request, passport copies of the applicant and sponsor, employment contract with the educational institution, educational documents, medical report, health insurance, work permit or proof of work permit application, and travel itinerary are required.
- For applications for public officials or foreign experts, the sponsor's letter of request, the applicant's passport copy, educational documents, contract or agreement with the Government of Lesotho, medical report, health insurance, and travel itinerary are required.
- For missionary applications, the church leader's and the applicant's letters of request, the church's founding document or charter, passport copies of the applicant and sponsor, educational documents and transcripts, religious assignment document, the church's three-month bank statement, travel itinerary, health insurance, and medical report are required. It is anticipated that the church account shows financial sufficiency of 50,000 Lesotho lotis.
- For volunteer applications, the registered organization's and the applicant's letters of request, passport copies of the applicant and sponsor, the sponsor's residence permit if applicable, the organization's charter or founding document, medical report, health insurance, and travel itinerary must be submitted.
- For exchange program or sports activity applications, the sponsoring team or organization's letter of request, passport copies of the applicant and sponsor, copy of contract, travel itinerary, medical report, health insurance, and bank statement are required.
- For diplomatic or official duty applications, an application or invitation letter from the relevant embassy or ministry, the applicant's passport copy, and travel itinerary are required. The fee exemption applicable to holders of diplomatic and service passports is determined according to the purpose of travel and official status.
- If traveling to Lesotho via South Africa or returning from Lesotho to South Africa again, the necessary South African transit, entry, or re-entry permit must be obtained in advance. This condition varies according to the traveler's nationality, residence status, and itinerary.
- For applications with regular passports, the single-entry visa fee is 1,000 Lesotho lotis, and the multiple-entry visa fee is 2,000 Lesotho lotis.
- A single-entry visa is issued for a single journey and is valid for three months. A multiple-entry visa is issued for multiple journeys and is valid for six months. For single-entry permits issued for tourism and short-term business purposes, the maximum stay period is stated as 44 days. The validity period of the visa and the permitted duration of stay in the country are not the same.
- Travel and ticket arrangements should be made allowing sufficient time for the examination of the application and receipt of the approval letter.
- The official processing time varies according to the application channel, and there is no consensus on a single time frame in central official sources. Sufficient time should be allowed before travel in case applications are delayed or require additional review.
- The Department of Immigration may request additional documents or explanations depending on the purpose of travel.
- The exact documents for children should be confirmed from the Department of Immigration before applying.