Lesotho

Lesotho visa guide: eVisa and residence permits

2 visa types
checked 25 October 2026

How visas for Lesotho work

Lesotho's Department of Immigration Services, part of the Ministry of Home Affairs, controls the borders, issues visas and residence permits, handles refugee and asylum matters and processes citizenship. Entry, stay and departure are governed by the Aliens Control Act, 1966, and the Aliens Control Regulations, 1968; the fees for visas and residence permits are set by the Aliens Control (Amendment of Schedule) Regulations, 2018.

The ministry issues only two kinds of visa: a single-entry visa for one journey, valid for three months, and a multiple-entry visa, valid for six months. Visas used to be issued manually at the ministry's headquarters and at missions abroad, and from May 2017 online applications were processed by a service provider on the ministry's behalf. The ministry now lists its eVisa system as suspended and takes online applications by email at VISA-Applications.Immigration@gov.ls; the decision remains with the ministry.

Lesotho is entirely surrounded by South Africa, and all 14 border posts are on the South African border, so most travellers also need to meet South Africa's entry rules. The only international airport is Moshoeshoe I International Airport near Maseru, open 06:00 to 18:00. The Maseru Bridge and Maputsoe crossings operate 24 hours.

Which visa do I need?

Short visit, if your nationality needs a visa: single-entry visa (three months) or multiple-entry visa (six months), applied for online.

Staying up to 90 days for a specific purpose: temporary residence permit.

Working, doing business, teaching, practising medicine, missionary work or joining family: residence permit in the matching category (two years).

Studying: study permit (up to four years).

Visa types for Lesotho

Residence

Residence permit Residence permits (temporary, two-year, study and indefinite)
Foreigners living in Lesotho are regularised through residence permits issued by the Department of Immigration Services.
Maximum stay: 90 days, two years, up to four years (study) or indefinite

Online travel permits

e-Visa Lesotho visa (single and multiple entry; online applications by email)
Lesotho issues two kinds of visa: single entry for one journey, valid three months, and multiple entry, valid six months.
Validity: Single entry: three months; multiple entry: six months

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of visa does Lesotho issue?

Two: a single-entry visa valid for three months and a multiple-entry visa valid for six months, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Who decides Lesotho eVisa applications?

The Ministry of Home Affairs decides. While its eVisa system is suspended, online applications are sent by email to VISA-Applications.Immigration@gov.ls.

Do I pass through South Africa to reach Lesotho?

In practice yes, by land: all 14 Lesotho border posts are on the border with South Africa.

Can foreigners become Lesotho citizens?

Non-citizens who have resided lawfully for five years or more may apply, and since the 2018 constitutional amendment dual citizenship is allowed.