The Basotho Visa for your Trip to Lesotho
If you are thinking of visiting Lesotho as a tourist or to see a family or on a business trip, then applying for a Basotho visa can become a necessary task.
Usually, you should be able to apply for the required Basotho visa online/ at the nearest Basotho embassy in the country where you live.
General Visa Requirements and Validity Period of Basotho Visa
It is advisable to check the Basotho visa requirements, before applying for your visa to Lesotho.
A brief list of the most important requirements and conditions when obtaining the visa for Lesotho:
- You do not plan to conduct voluntary job that would otherwise be carried out by a paid staff in Lesotho.
- You do not plan to participate in a work relationship in Lesotho.
- You do not mean to supply services to Basotho organisations (this is permitted with a Basotho work visa or business visa).
- You do not mean to supply or sell services or products to consumers in Lesotho.
- You and your relative are not in debt to the Lesotho Government.
- You do not pose a danger to the health or safety and security of residents of Lesotho.
- You are able to show that you have adequate funds to cover your trip and return from Lesotho.
Do you require a Basotho visa?
It relies on your nationality as well as the type of travel document you are using to travel to Lesotho.Please visit here to check if you need a Basotho visa.
Who exactly can make an application for a Basotho visa?
Any person hoping to go on vacation to Lesotho can apply for a Basotho visa.
There are many kinds of visa for Lesotho which you can use as a visitor to Lesotho. If you are unsure which type of Basotho visa you need to apply, please get in touch with the closest Basotho visa office to get more information as purpose of this page is to provide you general guide when obtaining Basotho visa.
What type of Basotho visa do I need?
This depends upon 3 points:
- The citizenship according to your passport – If the citizenship according to the passport is from a nation that is on visa free travel to Lesotho or eligible to obtain a visa on arrival in Lesotho, then you may not need to apply for a Basotho visa prior to departure from your home country. Please click on this link to check if you need a Basotho visa.
- The duration of your trip in Lesotho – If you wish to stay in Lesotho for a much shorter duration no more than ninety days, then you can apply for the Basotho visa. If you prefer to remain much longer, then speak to the closest Basotho visa office to secure the suitable visa for your travel.
- The activities you want to execute in Lesotho – If your sole purpose of travelling is for vacation, then you can apply for all types of Basotho visas stated on this page.
General Visa Application Requirements to Get Basotho Visitor Visa
- Traveler visa application for Lesotho – Completed Basotho visa Form.
- Original and signed passport – The passport has to be valid for at least six months before entering Lesotho and three months after departing Lesotho. It needs to contain a minimum of 2 spare visa pages and can not be older than ten years.
- Passport type photo – Photo needs to be no older than 6 months and need to be 35 x 40mm in width.
- Previous passport – Supply a previous passport if you had any.
- Previous visas – Copies of previous Basotho visas details if you had any.
- Flight tickets to Lesotho – Reservation of return or round trip flight tickets. In some circumstances the Basotho visa office may request for pre paid air travel tickets to Lesotho.
- Travel insurance coverage – Proof of travel insurance coverage with a minimum cover set by the Basotho consular office provided with the Certificate of Insurance policy and the table of benefits. The travel insurance have to cover the expense of repatriation for medical reasons and the Certificate of Currency need to be issued by an insurance provider. If you are thinking of utilizing your credit card travel insurance for your travel to Lesotho, please get in touch with Basotho embassy for additional information and travel insurance requirements for the Basotho visa.
- Original bank statements – Original bank statements for the last 3 months revealing adequate funds to cover stay in Lesotho. If statements are printed online then it has to be Validated (marked) by the bank officials.
- Hotel Reservations in Lesotho – Copy of confirmed hotel bookings including name of the applicant, name and address of the hotel, duration of stay. In the majority of circumstances, only bookings which are partly or completely pre-paid can be accepted.
- Employment letter – This letter has to be: original and signed letter from employer written on company letter head paper, validating your ongoing employment, the status of employment, regular monthly income and annual leave. Also, please offer your 3 newest pay slips. If you are self-employed: offer certified copies of company registration, income tax return.
- For students. Please provide the following:
- Proof of current student status: Certificate of Enrollment.
- Original and signed letter from university written on university letter head paper, affirming on-going enrolment, verifying the payment of tuition fees or any kind of scholarships, and confirming semester break.
- Insurance from Organisation/University– Offer a letter from the University specifying the purpose, period of travel and confirmation that you will be covered by the insurance coverage for the whole journey along with the Certificate of Currency and summary of benefits.
As a whole, visa applications for Basotho visa need to be submitted for a maximum of 6 months, and no behind 15 days, before the journey.