Travel & Study
Information on living, working or studying in the EU, and facts on Visas and immigration for non-EU citizens.
TRAVELLING TO EUROPE FOR LESOTHO CITIZENS
What is a Schengen visa and who needs it?
Lesotho passport holders must obtain a visa before travelling to Europe. Most visitors require a Schengen visa, which is short-stay visa that allows you to travel to 29 European countries (the Schengen Area) for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. As of 1 January 2025, the Schengen Area comprises 29 countries:
- 25 EU Member States, namely, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.
- 4 non-EU countries, namely, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein
As of 2025, EU countries, Cyprus and Ireland are not part of the Schengen Area as they maintain separate border controls and visa policies.
The Schengen visa covers tourism, family visits, business trips, and cultural or sports events and it comes in three forms:
- The Type A (Airport Transit Visa allows you to transit through or connect through an airport in a Schengen country without entering the Schengen Area.
- Type C (Short-Stay Visa) allows stays of up to 90 days within 180 days (tourism, family visit, business, cultural events).
- Type D (National Long-Stay Visa) for longer than 90 days, such as study, work, or residence.
What is the difference between a Schengen country and a non-Schengen EU country?
Schengen countries share a common visa policy. A single Schengen short-stay visa (Type C) allows you to visit 25 EU/Schengen countries and 4 associated states (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Non-Schengen EU countries, Ireland and Cyprus, have their own national visa policies. A Schengen visa does not allow entry these countries; you must apply separately.
United Kingdom is no longer in the EU or Schengen and as such has its own visa system as well.
How do I apply for a visa?
- Fill in the visa application form and gather all documents.
- Book an appointment at the Embassy, Consulate or visa centre.
- Attend the appointment, submit documents, pay the fee, and give fingerprints/biometric data.
- Wait for processing as it usually takes 15 calendar days (sometimes longer if documents are incomplete or further checks are needed).
- Collect your passport with the visa decision.
Where should I apply for a visa?
Visa applications for EU Countries for Lesotho passport holders must be submitted to the Embassy, Consulate or visa centre of your main EU destination country.
All EU Member States’ representations for Lesotho are based in South Africa (primarily Pretoria). Some countries use representation agreements or service providers such as VFS Global.
For short-stay Schengen visa (Type C), apply to the embassy, consulate, or visa centre of the country where you will spend the most days. If there is no clear main destination, apply through the country of your first entry into the Schengen Area.
For long-stay national visa (Type D), apply to the embassy, consulate or visa centre of the country where you will primarily reside. If your residence will be split between different countries, apply to the one where you will spend most of your time.
The contact details for EU embassies, consulates, and honorary consulates can be found below.
EMBASSIES
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Austria 454 A Fehrsen Street; |
Belgium 625 Leyds Street |
Bulgaria 1071 Stanza Bopape Street |
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Croatia Ozmik House, 165 Lynnwood Road |
Cyprus 375 Marais Street |
Czech Republic 936 Pretorius Street |
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Denmark iParioli Office Park, Block B2 |
Finland 628 Leyds Street |
France 250 Melk Street |
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Germany 201 Florence Ribeiro Ave Groenkloof, Pretoria |
Greece 323 Alpine way and Village road, |
Hungary 959 Arcadia Street |
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Ireland 2nd Floor, Parkdev Building, Brooklyn Bridge Office Park |
Italy 796 George Avenue |
Netherlands 210 Florence Ribeiro / Queen Wilhelmina Avenue |
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Poland 14 Amos Street |
Portugal 599 Leyds Street |
Romania 877 Justice Mohamed Street |
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Slovakia 930 Arcadia Street |
Spain Lord Charles Building |
Sweden iParioli Complex |
CONSULATES
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Belgium (Cape Town) Consulate General Belgium in Cape Town
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France (Johannesburg) Consulate General of France in Johannesburg
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France (Cape Town) Consulate General of France in Cape Town
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Germany (Cape Town) Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Cape Town |
Greece (Cape Town) Consulate General of Greece in Cape Town |
Greece (Johannesburg) Consulate General of Greece in Johannesburg |
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Italy (Cape Town) Consulate General of Italy in Cape Town
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Italy (Johannesburg) Consulate General of Italy in Johannesburg
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Netherlands (Cape Town) Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Cape Town
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Portugal (Cape Town) Consulate General of Portugal in Cape Town
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Portugal (Durban) Consulate General of Portugal in Durban
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Portugal (Johannesburg) Consulate General of Portugal in Johannesburg
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Romania (Cape Town) Consulate General of Romania in Cape Town
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Romania (Pretoria) Consular Section at Embassy of Romania
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Spain (Cape Town) Consulate General of Spain in Cape Town
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Sweden Consulate General of Norway and Sweden in Cape Town |
HONORARY CONSULS
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Honorary Consul of Ireland Cathedral Area Tel: +266 2232 4182 |
Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany German Honorary Consul Tel: +266 5725 5899 |
Royal Consulate of Denmark in Maseru Simon Phafane (Mr) Maseru Book Centre Building, Room 24 Kingsway Road, Maseru, Lesotho P.O. Box 113 Maseru 100 Lesotho Tel: +266 22316937 E-mail: simpha@umgate.dk Mob: (+266) 5885 0380 Mob: (+266) 628 50380 |
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Honorary Consul, The Netherlands Tel: +266 5853 8402 |
CULTURAL INSTITUTES
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Alliance Française de Maseru Corner Kingsway and Pioneer Roads |
Alliance Française du Cap 155 Loop Street |
Alliance Française of Johannesburg 17 Lower Park Drive |
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Alliance Française de Pretoria 99 Rivier Street |
Coordenação do Ensino Português no Estrangeiro - 599 Leyds Street Muckleneuk |
Goethe-Institut Johannesburg 119 Jan Smuts Ave |
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Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Pretoria 803 George Avenue |
Societa' Dante Alighieri Johannesburg 62 Houghton Dr |
Società Dante Alighieri - Cape Town 137 Hatfield Street |
SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED BY EU MEMBER STATES AND INSTITUTES
You must apply for a study visa before beginning your studies. Several scholarships are available to support studies in Europe.
Visit our main page for a non-exhaustive list of scholarships offered by the EU, EU Member States, and institutes in some European countries.