Lesotho Entry and Travel Requirements
Lesotho entry requirements outline all the rules that visitors should be familiar with before their planned trip to Lesotho. One of these requirements is the necessary documents that one must gather before departure, including a valid passport and Lesotho-related visa.
There are certain passport requirements, including minimum validity, which must be at least 90 days from the intended date of departure from Lesotho. Additionally, when presenting your passport at immigration control, it must have at least two blank pages for stamping. As you can only enter Lesotho from South Africa, your passport must have two additional blank pages for RSA officials to stamp. Regarding Lesotho's visa policy, some countries are eligible to apply for a visa online, others must apply for a visa in the traditional way by visiting the nearest diplomatic mission, while others You can still enter Lesotho visa-free.
The traveler's nationality, the purpose of the trip as well as the expected length of stay in Lesotho will determine the type of visa required.
Although some nationalities may enter Lesotho without a visa, all long-term stays require a relevant permit, regardless of the individual's nationality. Any foreign national planning to live and/or engage in paid work in Lesotho will need to obtain a visa and/or authorization from the embassy or consulate.
For now, tourists planning to visit Lesotho need not worry about providing additional documents confirming their Covid-19 immunity status. Lesotho authorities lifted all Covid restrictions on 25 August 2022.
However, remember that the coronavirus pandemic is not over yet. Certain changes to Lesotho's immigration requirements may be made at any time. Remember to stay tuned for the latest updates and travel tips.
Who can enter Lesotho?
There are no countries banned from entering Lesotho. In addition, the country no longer checks the vaccination status of incoming travelers against Covid-19.
Document checklist for entering Lesotho
- valid passport
- Lesotho visa
- Travel insurance (optional)
Testing, Vaccination, and Quarantine Requirements
The Lesotho government announced the lifting of all coronavirus-related restrictions on August 25, 2022. Since then, no tests or vaccination certificates have been verified when crossing the country's borders.
Traveling from Lesotho
When departing from Lesotho, make sure you are aware of all travel regulations implemented by your airline or travel provider. Also remember to check the entry regulations of the country you're visiting next, or your home country if you have no other travel plans.
Traveling to Lesotho
Visitors to Lesotho do not need to present any coronavirus-related documents as all Covid-19 restrictions were lifted in August 2022. However, they should follow the updates Latest travel requirements. Since the pandemic is not over yet, some changes may be made in the short term.
Before traveling to Lesotho, make sure you meet all the necessary requirements to ensure smooth entry into the country, including visa requirements. Check if you need a visa to visit Lesotho and apply for one online or at your nearest Lesotho embassy, depending on your eligibility.
Entry Rules for Children
There are no separate entry regulations for underage travelers to Lesotho. They are subject to the same entry regulations as the parent or guardian accompanying them.
Transit through Lesotho
There is no transport in Lesotho. However, to reach Lesotho, passengers must transit through South Africa by air or road. Therefore, they should check the Covid-19 entry restrictions as well as other entry requirements that apply to South Africa.
Visa requirements
Electronic visa for Lesotho
The Government of Lesotho launched the e-visa system in 2017 with the aim of improving and speeding up the visa application process, as well as making the country more accessible to international visitors.
Citizens of over 190 different countries can obtain an eVisa entirely online, who simply need to complete an intuitive 3-step online application.
Eligible candidates can choose a single-entry visa or a multiple-entry visa. These two types of visas differ in terms of validity and allowed stay.
After completing a short online form and paying the eVisa fee, the approved e-visa will be sent directly in PDF format to the email address. Learn more about the Lesotho eVisa and check your eligibility here.
Embassy or consulate visa
Sometimes it is not possible to get a visa online. According to Lesotho's visa policy, citizens of more than 40 different countries must apply for a visit visa at a Lesotho embassy or consulate, including tourist or business visas for short stays. term.
Lesotho's diplomatic missions are located in major cities around the world. To apply for a regular visa, you will first need to check the location of your nearest embassy or consulate to make an appointment. You will also be asked to present certain supporting documents. Remember to start the application process a few weeks before your planned trip to ensure your visa will be approved on time.
Foreigners who want to live, work or stay in Lesotho for a longer period must also go to an embassy or consulate as long-term visas are not issued online.
The full list of countries whose citizens must apply for a Lesotho consular or embassy visa includes:
- Aland Islands
- American Samoa
- Anguilla
- Antarctica
- Aruba
- Bermuda
- Bonaire
- British Indian Ocean Territory
- British Virgin Islands
- Cayman Islands
- Christmas Island
- Cocos Islands
- Cook Islands
- Curacao
- Falkland Islands
- Faroe Islands
- French Guiana
- French Polynesia
- Gibraltar
- Greenland
- Guadeloupe
- Guam
- Guernsey
- Isle of Man
- Jersey
- Martinique
- Mayotte
- Montserrat
- New Caledonia
- Niue
- Norfolk Island
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Pitcairn Islands
- Puerto Rico
- Reunion
- Saint Barthelemy
- Saint Helena
- Saint Martin
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- Sint Maarten
- South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
- Svalbard and Jan Mayen
- Tokelau
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- United States Virgin Islands
- Wallis and Futuna
Visa-exempt countries
Lesotho offers visa exemption to citizens of approximately 70 different countries and territories. They can enter the Kingdom of Lesotho without a visa and stay there for varying periods of time depending on their nationality.
About 40 of these nationalities are allowed a 90-day visa-free stay in Lesotho. Others can travel to Lesotho without a visa and stay there for up to 14 days. Visa exemption is allowed for tourism and leisure purposes only. For example, they cannot engage in paid work without the appropriate visa or permit.
Additionally, any visa-exempt traveler planning to overstay must apply for a Lesotho visa. The visa type must meet the person's specific travel needs.
Full list of visa-free countries for Lesotho:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belgium
- Belize
- Botswana
- Brunei Darussalam
- Cameroon
- Canada
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Dominica
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- Gambia
- Germany
- Grenada
- Guyana
- Hong Kong
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Luxembourg
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mauritius
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Papua New Guinea
- Portugal
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- Solomon Islands
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- Swaziland
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Tanzania
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Vanuatu
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Lesotho Passenger Locator Form
Passengers arriving in Lesotho no longer need to fill out the Passenger Locator Form.
Travel Insurance
Medical care in Lesotho is at a very low level. You may have difficulty accessing medical treatment. All travelers are advised to purchase comprehensive travel insurance that covers transportation to South Africa and Covid-19 treatment.
