Lesotho customs
Apply for visa
Free import
• New or used goods, including duty-free shop purchases, carried in your accompanied baggage: up to LSL 5,000 per person free of duty. Additional goods up to LSL 20,000 per person are charged at a flat rate of 20%; above that, normal duties apply.
• 200 cigarettes and 20 cigars and 250 g of cigarette or pipe tobacco.
• 2 L of wine and 1 L of spirits and other alcoholic beverages.
• 50 ml of perfume and 250 ml of eau de toilette.
• Children under 18 may claim these allowances for goods for their own use, except tobacco and alcohol.
• If you bring in goods bought in South Africa or another SACU country (Botswana, Namibia, Eswatini), Lesotho import VAT is charged on goods worth LSL 250 or more. Claim your South African VAT refund before you leave South Africa.
• Declare all goods bought or acquired outside Lesotho to customs on arrival and keep receipts to show the customs officer.
Currency
• The Lesotho loti (LSL, plural maloti) is pegged 1:1 to the South African rand, and rand is accepted throughout Lesotho.
• Cash in any currency worth more than LSL 25,000 must be declared to customs on arrival. Travellers cheques and other bearer negotiable instruments must also be declared.
• Undeclared or falsely declared cash can be detained and seized, and a false declaration is an offence punishable by a fine.
Prohibited
• Illegal drugs
Restricted
• Live animals, including pets, and animal products such as meat, fish and eggs need a veterinary import permit from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition (Department of Livestock).
• Dairy products need an import permit from the Lesotho National Dairy Board.
• Plants, plant products, fruit and vegetables need an import permit from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition.
• Firearms and ammunition need an import permit from the Ministry of Police and Public Safety.
• Medicines and medical devices, including narcotic and psychotropic drugs, need an import permit from the Ministry of Health; check before travelling with controlled medicines.
• New or used goods, including duty-free shop purchases, carried in your accompanied baggage: up to LSL 5,000 per person free of duty. Additional goods up to LSL 20,000 per person are charged at a flat rate of 20%; above that, normal duties apply.
• 200 cigarettes and 20 cigars and 250 g of cigarette or pipe tobacco.
• 2 L of wine and 1 L of spirits and other alcoholic beverages.
• 50 ml of perfume and 250 ml of eau de toilette.
• Children under 18 may claim these allowances for goods for their own use, except tobacco and alcohol.
• If you bring in goods bought in South Africa or another SACU country (Botswana, Namibia, Eswatini), Lesotho import VAT is charged on goods worth LSL 250 or more. Claim your South African VAT refund before you leave South Africa.
• Declare all goods bought or acquired outside Lesotho to customs on arrival and keep receipts to show the customs officer.
Currency
• The Lesotho loti (LSL, plural maloti) is pegged 1:1 to the South African rand, and rand is accepted throughout Lesotho.
• Cash in any currency worth more than LSL 25,000 must be declared to customs on arrival. Travellers cheques and other bearer negotiable instruments must also be declared.
• Undeclared or falsely declared cash can be detained and seized, and a false declaration is an offence punishable by a fine.
Prohibited
• Illegal drugs
Restricted
• Live animals, including pets, and animal products such as meat, fish and eggs need a veterinary import permit from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition (Department of Livestock).
• Dairy products need an import permit from the Lesotho National Dairy Board.
• Plants, plant products, fruit and vegetables need an import permit from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition.
• Firearms and ammunition need an import permit from the Ministry of Police and Public Safety.
• Medicines and medical devices, including narcotic and psychotropic drugs, need an import permit from the Ministry of Health; check before travelling with controlled medicines.