| NES mandate and services | Labour Act, 2024 | NES issues work permits to non-nationals and registers private employment agencies. | Coordinate early with NES for Certificates of Employment; use NES-registered agencies. | Labour Act, 2024 |
| Employment of non-citizens | Labour Act, 2024 | No employment of non-citizens without a valid work permit; non-citizens may not accept employment without one. | Do not onboard expatriates until a permit is issued; keep copies for inspections. | Labour Act, 2024 |
| Applications and renewals | Labour Act, 2024; Fourth Schedule | Applications and renewals are lodged with the Director, NES on prescribed forms. | Use current forms; diarise renewals well before expiry. | Labour Act, 2024 |
| Issuance criteria | Labour Act, 2024 | NES checks citizen availability before issuing work permits. | Document local recruitment (NES vacancy posting, interviews) to support scarce-skills cases. | Labour Act, 2024 |
| Employer obligations | Labour Act, 2024 | Employers must produce work permits within four (4) days when requested. | Maintain an auditable permit register on-site and digitally. | Labour Act, 2024 |
| Visa fees | Aliens Control (Amendment) Regs., 2017 | Gazetted fees for single/multiple visas. | Budget appropriately; verify current fee at time of payment. | Ministry of Home Affairs (Immigration) |
| Residence-permit fees | Aliens Control (Amendment) Regs., 2017 | Gazetted application, 2-year permits, temporary/pending permits, and penalties. | Align HR budgets and renewal calendars to gazetted fees. | Ministry of Home Affairs (Immigration) |
| Residence Permit Centre service | MoHA – Centre notice | Separate service charge applies for Centre submissions. | Add M2,800 per applicant when using the Centre. | Ministry of Home Affairs (Immigration) |
| Cert. of Employment – Manufacturing | e-Regulations procedure | Official steps and fee bands (M500 / 1,500 / 2,500 / 3,000; ID card. | Standard fee bands; confirm category nuances before filing. | OBFC – eRegulations |
| Cert. of Employment – Nursing | e-Regulations; LNC | NES certificate plus Lesotho Nursing Council registration. | Budget time/fees for council registration and good-standing proofs. | Ministry of Labour and Employment – eRegulations |
| Cert. of Employment – Medical | e-Regulations; LMDPC | NES certificate plus LMDPC registration; primary-source verification may apply. | Plan for EPIC verification and LMDPC fees/timelines. | Ministry of Labour and Employment – eRegulations |
