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Lesotho

Nationality · visas, permits and migration

Moved to OECD countries, 2023
61
Top destination, 2023
Japan
U.S. non-immigrant visas, FY2025
240
UK visas issued, 2025
248
NationalityLSISO 3166
Year by year
Data as at 2025
NA<LSLESOTHO<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
LS1<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<2

Visa requirements for a short visit

Whether citizens of Lesotho need a visa for a short tourist or business visit, according to the legal lists. Rules change; check the official source before travelling.

DestinationShort visitLegal basis
Schengen areaVisa requiredRegulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30.12.2025)
United KingdomVisa requiredImmigration Rules, Appendix Visitor / ETA National List
CanadaTemporary resident visa requiredIRPR s. 190, Schedule 1.1
Hong KongNo visa for visits of up to 14 daysImmigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements, 31.12.2025
Source: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30 Dec 2025); UK Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor and ETA National List; Canada IRPR s. 190 and Schedule 1.1; Immigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements as at 31 Dec 2025Data as at Oct 2026

Where people from Lesotho move

Inflows of foreign nationals by country of nationality, as recorded by each destination (OECD).

Inflows to OECD countries, 2023
  1. Japan23
  2. United States10
  3. New Zealand6
  4. Iceland5
  5. Austria5
  6. Netherlands3
  7. Switzerland3
  8. Belgium2
  9. South Korea2
  10. Denmark1
  11. Italy1

Inflows to all OECD countries by year

53105200020032006200920122015201820212023
531052000200420082012201620202023
Data table
200027
200120
200243
200324
200448
200551
200665
200756
200863
200976
2010105
201182
201269
201390
201467
201582
201682
201782
201873
201994
202040
202149
202270
202361
Share going to the top destination
37.7%
Destinations recording arrivals
11
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Living abroad

People born in Lesotho who live in another country: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA). Where a destination records citizenship rather than country of birth, its foreign citizens are counted.

Largest destinations, 2024
  1. South Africa237,718
  2. Mozambique8,173
  3. Botswana292
  4. Eswatini226
  5. Australia157
  6. Tanzania143
  7. Namibia139
  8. Denmark48
  9. Guinea28
  10. Norway10
  11. Slovakia3
  12. Hungary1

Living abroad by year

123k247k19901995200020052010201520202024
123k247k19902000201020202024
Data table
1990130,251
1995122,192
2000121,214
2005138,931
2010161,987
2015191,588
2020224,803
2024246,938
Living abroad, 2024
246,938
Change since 2000
+103.7%
Share living in the largest destination, 2024
96.3%
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

United States

Visas issued to citizens of Lesotho by U.S. consulates (fiscal years, October–September) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. B1/B285
  2. J138
  3. A230
  4. G230
  5. G412
  6. F111
  7. G110
  8. C38
  9. A14
  10. H1B3

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

203406201720182019202020212022202320242025
20340620172019202120232025
Data table
2017270
2018364
2019335
2020107
202163
2022226
2023397
2024406
2025240
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. IR23
  2. IR11
Immigrant visas, FY2025
4
Certified PERM labor certifications, FY2024 (latest year with citizenship)
3
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards and U.S. citizenship

People born in Lesotho who became U.S. lawful permanent residents (green cards) or U.S. citizens, and admissions of citizens of Lesotho with an I-94 record (DHS, fiscal years).

Green cards by fiscal year

10202015201620172018201920202021202220232024
1020201520172019202120232024
Data table
201520
201620
201720
201810
201920
202010
202110
202210
202320
202410
Green cards by class of admission, FY2024
  1. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens10
Green cards, FY2024 (born in Lesotho)
10
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in Lesotho)
10
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
730
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

United Kingdom

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of Lesotho (Home Office) and students with a permanent address in Lesotho (HESA).

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Visitor205
  2. Work28
  3. Study7
  4. Other7
  5. Family1

Visas issued by year

182364201020122014201620182020202220242025
182364201020132016201920222025
Data table
2010297
2011301
2012224
2013257
2014302
2015261
2016267
2017191
2018273
2019267
202076
202198
2022280
2023364
2024348
2025248
Students at UK universities, 2024/25
5
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0Data as at 2025

Australia

Temporary skilled visas (subclass 457 to 2018, then 482) granted to primary applicants who are citizens of Lesotho, by financial year ending 30 June (Home Affairs).

Primary visas granted by financial year

232005–062008–092019–202022–232024–252025–26
232005–062008–092019–202022–232024–252025–26
Data table
2005–061
2007–081
2008–093
2016–172
2019–201
2021–221
2022–233
2023–242
2024–253
2025–261
By stream, 2025–26
  1. Labour Agreement1
Granted, 2025–26
1
Share of all Australian grants, 2025–26
0.0%
Source: Department of Home Affairs (Australia), BP0014 Temporary Resident (skilled) visas granted, data locked at 30 Sep 2026 (data.gov.au, CC BY)Data as at 2025–26

Japan

Citizens of Lesotho living in Japan at the end of each December, by status of residence (Immigration Services Agency of Japan). 2020 and 2021 were published only as database tables.

Foreign residents in Japan

1835201420162018202220242025
1835201420162018202220242025
Data table
20143
20153
20167
201713
201820
201923
202225
202332
202428
202535
By status of residence, December 2025
  1. Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services7
  2. Student5
  3. Long-Term Resident4
  4. Instructor4
  5. Dependent4
  6. Designated Activities3
  7. Trainee2
  8. Skilled Labor2
  9. Spouse or Child of Japanese National2
  10. Permanent Resident2
Residents, December 2025
35
In work-related statuses
13
Share in work-related statuses
37.1%
Students
5
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Statistics on Foreign Residents (在留外国人統計), Table 1, end of December (e-Stat; Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0)Data as at Dec 2025

Residence permits in Europe

First residence permits issued to citizens of Lesotho in EU and EFTA countries, 2025 (Eurostat).

First permits by reason
  1. Education36
  2. Work16
  3. Other reasons11
  4. Family10
First permits by country
  1. Ireland27
  2. France7
  3. Sweden6
  4. Italy5
  5. Germany5
  6. Netherlands5
  7. Switzerland4
  8. Portugal3
  9. Poland2
  10. Spain2
  11. Iceland2
  12. Finland2
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)4
  2. Researchers2
  3. Other paid activities10
EU Blue Cards granted, 2024
2
Citizenships acquired in the EU, 2024
1
Students in EU/EFTA tertiary education, 2024
56
Refused entry at EU external borders, 2025
5
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
282
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
8
Changed status into work, 2025
6
Seasonal work authorisations, 2024
2
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2024–2025

National statistics in Europe

Citizens of Lesotho in the figures of national statistics offices: residence permits granted in Denmark, immigrations by grounds for settlement in Sweden and immigrants with a non-EU/EFTA nationality by migration motive in the Netherlands; Finland and Austria publish immigration and emigration by citizenship only.

CountryYearImmigrationEmigrationNet migration
Austria202503-3
Source: Danmarks Statistik, Statistikbanken VAN66 and VAN77M (CC BY 4.0); SCB (Statistics Sweden), Statistikdatabasen TAB1614 and TAB6670 (CC0); CBS (Statistics Netherlands), StatLine 84809NED (CC BY 4.0); Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus), StatFin 11a8 (CC BY 4.0); Statistik Austria, OGD_bevwan020_AUSSENWAND_100 (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Foreign embassies and consulates in Lesotho

Countries with an embassy or consulate in Lesotho, as recorded in Wikidata.

CountryEmbassiesConsulates-generalConsulates
China1——
Countries
1
Missions
1
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Remittances

Money that migrants send home: personal remittances received by Lesotho, in current US dollars (World Bank).

Remittances received by year, US$ million

3256492000200320062009201220152018202120242025
325649200020052010201520202025
Data table
2000478
2001401
2002389
2003557
2004627
2005599
2006614
2007638
2008576
2009548
2010610
2011649
2012555
2013463
2014406
2015348
2016455
2017547
2018573
2019529
2020450
2021474
2022533
2023480
2024476
2025535
Remittances received, 2025
US$535 million
Share of GDP, 2025
20.8%
Average cost of sending US$200 to Lesotho, 2023
1.8%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more