Every way into Lesotho.

The 90-day temporary permit is issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs to foreigners who need to extend their current temporary stay in Lesotho for a prescribed activity beyond the period granted on entry. It is a short, renewable in-country authorisation rather than a long-term residence permit, and is applied for through the online form and VFS facilitation, with assessment by the Ministry of Home Affairs in Maseru. Applicants submit a certified passport copy, photos, a police clearance (waived for under-16s) and a letter to the Director of Immigration requesting permission to reside. Government fees are set under the Aliens Control (Amendment of Schedule) Regulations, 2018 but are not published online.

Max stay

90 days

Validity

90 days

Lesotho grants visa-free short-term entry for tourism to ordinary passport holders of roughly 70 countries, with the permitted stay set by nationality: 90 days for citizens of countries such as Australia, Canada, Japan, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States; 14 days for EU member states plus Iceland, New Zealand, Norway and Switzerland (Ireland and Malta receive 90 days); and 60 days for South Korea. Visitors are granted permission to stay on arrival at the border or airport and must hold a passport valid at least 6 months with proof of onward travel and sufficient funds. The exemption is for tourism and visiting and does not permit work, study or long-term residence.

Government fee

$0

Max stay

90 days

Nationals who are not visa-exempt require a tourist visa to enter Lesotho for leisure, sightseeing or visiting family and friends. Lesotho launched an online e-Visa platform on 1 May 2017, but the eVisa system is currently suspended and applications are handled by email to the Department of Immigration ([email protected]). A single-entry visa permits a stay of up to 44 days from issue and costs US$150; a multiple-entry visa is valid 180 days and costs US$250. Decisions were typically issued within about 72 hours when the portal operated, and the High Commission quotes a minimum of 5 working days. The visa is for tourism and does not authorise work, study or long-term residence.

Government fee

$150

Processing time

3 days

Max stay

44 days

Validity

180 days

The business visa is for non-exempt nationals travelling to Lesotho for meetings, negotiations, conferences and similar short business activity. It is one of the e-Visa categories (the eVisa portal is currently suspended, with applications handled by email). A single-entry business visa allows a stay of up to 44 days and costs US$150, while a multiple-entry business visa is valid 180 days and costs US$250. Applicants must provide a company letter from their home employer and an official invitation from the host company in Lesotho, alongside proof of funds, accommodation and onward travel. The visa permits business activity but not local employment, for which a work and residence permit is required.

Government fee

$150

Processing time

3 days

Max stay

44 days

Validity

180 days

The study permit is issued by the Department of Immigration to foreign nationals admitted to a recognised educational institution in Lesotho. It is granted for the length of the course, up to a maximum of about four years, and requires a letter of acceptance for a full-time programme plus proof of sufficient funds to cover living expenses. Applicants also submit a medical certificate and police clearance. The permit authorises study; it does not give general access to the labour market. Government fees follow the Aliens Control schedule and are not published online.

• Study: Full-time enrolment at the admitting institution for up to four years.

Validity

1,460 days

The Doctor's and Nurses permit is a dedicated residence-and-work permit category for foreign medical professionals employed in Lesotho's health sector. It is granted as a renewable two-year residence permit (and is also available as an indefinite permit) by the Ministry of Home Affairs against a confirmed post and a labour-endorsed work permit. Applicants provide an employer letter, professional registration and employment contract, a medical certificate, police clearance and tax clearances. Government fees follow the Aliens Control schedule and are not published online.

• Work: Authorises medical practice at the named facility; renewable while the contract is valid.
• Study: Lawful residence permits study.
• Residency: Renewable two-year permit; an indefinite permit is available for long-term holders.

Validity

730 days

Lesotho does not issue a dedicated long-stay work visa; foreign workers enter on a visitor visa or visa-free and then apply at the Department of Immigration and Passport Services for a combined work and residence permit, with the work permit endorsed by the Ministry of Labour and Employment. The permit is granted for an initial period of up to two years and is renewable while the local employment contract remains valid. Applicants must hold a confirmed job and provide an employer invitation letter, the labour-endorsed work permit, a medical certificate, police clearance and tax clearances. The Lesotho National Development Corporation assists registered investors and their employees with work permits and licences.

• Work: Authorises employment with the sponsoring employer; renewable while the contract is valid.
• Study: Lawful residence permits study alongside the employment.
• Residency: Renewable two-year permits can lead to an indefinite (permanent) permit; no fixed statutory period published.

Validity

730 days

The Teacher's permit is a dedicated residence-and-work permit category for foreigners employed as teachers at an educational institution in Lesotho. It is granted as a renewable two-year residence permit (and is also available as an indefinite permit), issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs against a confirmed teaching post and a labour-endorsed work permit. Applicants provide an employer letter, teaching contract, medical certificate, police clearance and tax clearances. Government fees follow the Aliens Control schedule and are not published online.

• Work: Authorises teaching at the named institution; renewable while the contract is valid.
• Study: Lawful residence permits study.
• Residency: Renewable two-year permit; an indefinite teacher's permit is available for long-term holders.

Validity

730 days

The Business People permit is the residence route for foreigners who own or wish to open a business in Lesotho. It is a two-year renewable residence permit (also available as an indefinite permit) issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, conditional on holding a trader's licence, a labour-endorsed work permit, an employment contract and personal and company tax clearances. Lesotho has no passive golden-visa or citizenship-by-investment programme; investor migration is tied to an active, licensed business. Under the Business Licensing and Registration Act 2019, foreign investors must provide capital of about US$123,152 (with the Central Bank Act referencing a higher US$250,000 threshold) when registering or renewing a trader's licence, and certain small-scale sectors are reserved for Basotho citizens.

• Work: Authorises operating the licensed business in Lesotho.
• Study: Lawful residence permits study.
• Residency: Renewable two-year permit; an indefinite (permanent) business permit is available for long-term holders.

Validity

730 days

Min. investment

$123,152

The Lesotho National Development Corporation (LNDC), the government's industrial-development parastatal, facilitates inward investment — especially in textile, apparel and sporting goods, Lesotho's largest manufacturing and export sector — by providing factory space at discounted rents, long-term loans, tax incentives and direct assistance with work permits and business licences. There is no separate investor visa; investors and their staff obtain the standard business and work/residence permits, with LNDC streamlining the process. Foreign investors must meet the trader's-licence capital requirement of about US$123,152 under the Business Licensing and Registration Act 2019 (the Central Bank Act references US$250,000), and manufacturing exporters benefit from customs-duty rebates and no withholding tax on dividends.

• Work: Investor and approved staff work under the business and work permits LNDC helps facilitate.
• Study: Lawful residence permits study.
• Residency: Via renewable business/work permits leading to an indefinite permit; no fixed statutory period published.

Validity

730 days

Min. investment

$123,152

The Joining Relative permit is issued to a foreigner who joins a relative already holding a temporary permit, a permanent (indefinite) permit, or Lesotho citizenship, in order to reside with them in the Kingdom. It is granted as a renewable two-year residence permit (and is also available as an indefinite permit) by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Applicants must prove the family relationship and the relative's status, and provide a medical certificate and police clearance. Government fees follow the Aliens Control schedule and are not published online.

• Study: Lawful residence permits study.
• Residency: Renewable two-year permit; an indefinite joining-relative permit is available for long-term holders.
• Family: Used to bring dependent relatives and children to join a resident or citizen.

Validity

730 days

The Spouse Joining Spouse permit allows the foreign spouse of a Lesotho resident or citizen to reside in the Kingdom. It is granted as a renewable two-year residence permit (and is also available as an indefinite permit) by the Ministry of Home Affairs, conditional on a recognised marriage and the sponsor's residence or citizenship status. Applicants provide a marriage certificate, the sponsor's status documents, a medical certificate and police clearance. A related 'Married Women' permit category also exists. Government fees follow the Aliens Control schedule and are not published online.

• Study: Lawful residence permits study.
• Residency: Renewable two-year permit; an indefinite spouse permit is available for long-term holders.
• Family: Permit is for the spouse of the resident or citizen; children apply via joining-relative permits.

Validity

730 days

The Returning Citizens permit is issued to a person who was previously a citizen of the Kingdom of Lesotho and wishes to return and reside in the country. It is available as a renewable two-year residence permit and as an indefinite permit, granted by the Ministry of Home Affairs on proof of former Lesotho citizenship. Applicants provide evidence of prior citizenship, the standard identity documents, a medical certificate and police clearance. Government fees follow the Aliens Control schedule and are not published online.

• Work: Former citizens returning to reside generally have broad residence rights; employment may still require labour endorsement.
• Study: Lawful residence permits study.
• Residency: Renewable two-year permit and an indefinite permit are available; former citizens may also pursue resumption of citizenship.

Validity

730 days

The Missionary's permit is a dedicated residence-permit category for foreign religious workers serving with a church or religious organisation in Lesotho. It is granted as a renewable two-year residence permit (and is also available as an indefinite permit) by the Ministry of Home Affairs, supported by a letter from the sponsoring religious organisation. Applicants also provide a medical certificate, police clearance and the standard supporting documents. Government fees follow the Aliens Control schedule and are not published online.

• Work: Authorises religious work with the sponsoring organisation.
• Study: Lawful residence permits study.
• Residency: Renewable two-year permit; an indefinite missionary permit is available for long-term holders.

Validity

730 days

The Indefinite permit is Lesotho's permanent residence permit, granted for an unlimited duration by the Ministry of Home Affairs to foreigners who have established long-term ties under one of the recognised categories — business people, teachers, doctors and nurses, missionaries, spouses, joining relatives, returning citizens, married women or students. It is typically reached after holding the corresponding renewable two-year permit and meeting the category conditions. Applicants provide category-specific evidence, identity documents, a medical certificate, police clearance and tax clearances. Government fees follow the Aliens Control schedule and are not published online.

• Work: Permanent residents may live and, within their category, work in Lesotho on a settled basis.
• Study: Settled residence permits study.
• Residency: This is the permanent (indefinite) residence permit; long residence can support a later citizenship application.