Residence permits authorise long-term stay in Lesotho for employees, investors, traders, missionaries and dependants. Most employee/investor/trader permits are issued for two years. Applications filed via the Residence Permit Centre attract a separate service charge.
| Step | Action | Documents (typical) | Indicative time | Govt fees | Investor notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Confirm basis (work, dependant, study, other) | Passport; purpose evidence | — | Application fee: M1,500 | Choose correct category |
| 2 | Submit via Residence Permit Centre / MoHA | Forms; photos; police clearance; medical; proof of address; funds/insurance | ≈10–15 working days | 2-year permit: Employee/Investor/Trader: M3,000; Missionary: M5,000; Spouse: M1,000; Child: M500 | Centre service charge M2,800 applies |
| 3 | Temporary/pending permits (if needed) | As instructed by MoHA | — | Temp 90-day M1,000; Pending (6m) M500; Temp renewal M500; Late penalty M200/week | Avoid penalties; track dates |
| 4 | Collect permit | Permit card/endorsement | — | — | Scan/store card copies |
