Lesotho Passport 2026: Fees, Status Check and How to Apply

A Lesotho passport costs M130 for the standard 32-page book. If you need it urgently, you pay M500 on top, so M630 in total.

You apply in person at a passport office, and you can check whether it's ready online. Below: what to bring, the fees for every type, how to check your status, and where the district offices are. Checked against the Ministry of Home Affairs in October 2026.

How much is a Lesotho passport?

M130 for a regular 32-page e-passport, the same price for adults and children. A 64-page passport costs M300. These fees come from the Lesotho Passports and Travel Documents (Fees) Regulations of 2019, which the Ministry of Home Affairs still lists on its passport services page.

Two extras can apply:

• Urgent applications cost an extra M500. The Ministry's emergency passport page puts the total at M630 for a 32-page book, and says urgent passports are collected from Mohale's Hoek.
• Lost or damaged passports carry a M300 penalty on top of the normal fee. Replacing one that has simply expired or run out of pages doesn't, according to the 2019 fee gazette.

So replacing a lost 32-page passport costs M430, or M930 if you also need it urgently.

How long does a Lesotho passport take?

The Minister of Home Affairs said in October 2026 that a passport now takes four working days. That followed a long backlog: earlier in 2026 the Ministry stopped taking new applications for a while to clear about 50,000 waiting passports. The Government says it cleared a backlog of 64,000 between 1 July and 17 September 2026, as reported in October.

Treat four days as the target, not a promise. Check your status online before you travel to collect it.

What do you need to apply?

You apply in person at a passport office or enrolment centre, where your photo and fingerprints are taken.

Adults (16 and over), first passport

• Your national identity card
• The passport fee

Adults, replacing a passport

• Your old passport
• Your national identity card
• The passport fee, plus the M300 penalty if it was lost or damaged

Children under 16

• The child, with a parent or guardian
• The child's birth certificate
• A consent letter from the parent or guardian
• The parent's or guardian's identity document
• The passport fee

If the child doesn't have a birth certificate, sort that out at National Identity and Civil Registration first. The passport office won't process the application without it.

How to check your Lesotho passport status online

1. Go to passports.homeaffairs.gov.ls.
2. Enter your application number. It's the 6 to 10 digit number on your application receipt.
3. Click Check Status.

If the site can't find your application, call the passport help desk on +266 8005 0074, Monday to Friday, 8:00 to 16:30. Keep your receipt safe: without the application number you can't check online.

Can you apply for a Lesotho passport online?

No. You can check your status online, but the application itself is made in person, because your fingerprints and photo are taken at the office. Ignore websites or social media pages offering to "apply online" for a fee.

Lesotho passport offices and phone numbers

There are passport offices in all 10 districts, plus satellite offices at Semonkong and Mount Moorosi.

Calling your district office before you go can save a wasted trip, especially around holidays when queues are long.

Do Basotho still need a passport to enter South Africa?

Yes. In April 2026, South Africa's Department of Home Affairs dismissed reports of passport-free travel for Lesotho citizens. Basotho must still show a valid passport at the border, so don't let yours expire if you work or shop across the border.

If you're paid in South Africa and send money home, compare what it costs to receive and withdraw at home. Our guide to M-Pesa and EcoCash charges in Lesotho covers the fees, and the Lesotho charges calculator works out any amount.

Mistakes that cost time and money

• Losing your receipt. The application number on it is how you check your status and collect your passport.
• Paying the urgent fee without need. At four working days, the regular M130 passport may be quick enough. Ask at the office before paying M500 more.
• Reporting a lost passport late. You'll pay the M300 penalty either way. Report it and reapply quickly, before you need to travel.
• Taking a child without the right papers. Bring the birth certificate, the consent letter and your own ID, or you'll be sent home.
• Paying an "agent" to skip the queue. Fees are paid at the office. The Ministry doesn't sell faster passports through middlemen.

More money guides for Basotho are on our Lesotho page, including the Lesotho PAYE tax table.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a Lesotho passport in 2026?

M130 for a regular 32-page e-passport and M300 for 64 pages. An urgent application costs M500 extra. These are the fees set in the 2019 regulations, which the Ministry of Home Affairs still lists.

How do I check my Lesotho passport status?

Go to passports.homeaffairs.gov.ls, enter the application number from your receipt and click Check Status. If it doesn't work, call the help desk on +266 8005 0074 on a weekday.

How long does it take to get a Lesotho passport?

The Ministry of Home Affairs said in October 2026 that passports take four working days, after it cleared a backlog of 64,000 applications. Check your status online before going to collect.

How much is an emergency passport in Lesotho?

M630 for a 32-page passport: the M130 application fee plus the M500 emergency fee. The Ministry says emergency passports are collected from Mohale's Hoek.

What does a child need for a Lesotho passport?

A child under 16 must come with a parent or guardian, and bring a birth certificate, a consent letter from the parent or guardian, the parent's identity document and the M130 fee.

Can I renew my Lesotho passport online?

No. Renewals are done in person at a passport office with your old passport and national ID. Only the status check is online.