Lesotho: visa and entry rules
What you need to get in, how long you may stay, and what an overstay costs
Lesotho's borders: every crossing point
Other 12
Airports 1
Lesotho has a single land neighbour — South Africa, and no other border at all.
The main crossings: Maseru Bridge, the principal one, opposite Ladybrand on the South African side; Maputsoe–Ficksburg in the north; Kaylitshek and Sani Pass in the east.
Sani Pass is a famous mountain pass, and the climb up it requires four-wheel drive: the road is unpaved, full of hairpins and closed in bad weather.
Some crossings close for the night, and their opening hours differ — a route through the smaller posts has to be planned by the clock.
The main way in is Moshoeshoe I International Airport near Maseru; there are few flights, almost all of them from Johannesburg.
Driving to Lesotho
Traffic drives on the left.
The temporary import period for Lesotho, and whether a carnet is needed, is a question for the local customs service. Neighbouring countries have their own rules, and general figures do not carry over.
Insurance is bought locally, at the border.
An International Driving Permit is required.
Sani Pass requires four-wheel drive — an ordinary car is not allowed up.
Travelling to Lesotho with a pet
An international veterinary certificate is required, endorsed by the state veterinary service of the country you are leaving.
A rabies vaccination must be valid on the date of entry.
An import permit is arranged in advance with the veterinary service.
Check the requirements for bringing an animal into Lesotho — vaccination timings, microchip, quarantine — with your country's veterinary service and with your carrier. Without the full set the animal will not be allowed on board.
Overstaying your visa in Lesotho
A fine is charged for exceeding your permitted stay and is paid on departure.
The amount of the fine in Lesotho will only be named at the border. The rates change and there is no working it out in advance — keep a reserve of cash for the day you leave.
Extensions are arranged in advance, before your permitted stay runs out.
A serious overstay means deportation and an entry ban.
What else to check before you go
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Entry rules change faster than anything else on this site, and they change without notice. We cross-check every page against several sources and state the date it was verified, but that does not replace the main step: before you travel, check an official source — the country’s consulate, its immigration service or its e-visa portal. Especially if more than a couple of months have passed since our check.