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Employer of Record in Lesotho for Work Permits, Visas & Immigration Support

Employing international talent in Lesotho requires carefully navigating the country’s immigration and employment systems. A work permit must be secured before a foreign national can legally work, and sponsorship is only granted to locally registered employers with valid justification. Many employers face long delays, rejections, and operational setbacks without the expert guidance of an Employer of Record in Lesotho.

Acumen International offers a complete solution for the compliant employment of foreign nationals in Lesotho. Through our Global Employer of Record (EOR) model, we act as the legal employer and work permit sponsor, ensuring full regulatory compliance without requiring you to establish a local company.

Comprehensive Business Immigration Support in Lesotho

Hiring foreign nationals in Lesotho is a multi-step legal process. Our Employer of Record (EOR) services in Lesotho include full immigration support and employment onboarding:

  • Legal sponsorship of work permits for foreign employees

  • Coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs and immigration authorities

  • Submission and tracking of visa and residence permit applications

  • Compliance with Lesotho’s labour, tax, and immigration regulations

  • Payroll setup, social contributions, and employment onboarding

  • Renewals, record-keeping, and ongoing legal maintenance

As the legal sponsor, Acumen submits the permit application directly to the authorities, acting on your behalf as the employer of record in Lesotho. This ensures that every step — from role justification to permit issuance — is managed under the correct legal framework for your employee’s home and host country.

How to Get a Work Permit in Lesotho

The process to employ a foreign national in Lesotho involves both pre-arrival and post-arrival stages:

1. Employer’s Role

Only a registered entity in Lesotho can act as sponsor for a foreign worker’s permit. Acumen serves as this local employer of record and assumes legal responsibility for the employee.

2. Work Permit Application

Acumen submits the application to the Department of Immigration under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The application includes justification for hiring a foreign national, along with supporting documentation from both employer and employee.

3. Entry Visa (if applicable)

Depending on nationality, the employee may require an entry visa to enter Lesotho prior to completing post-arrival procedures.

4. Post-Arrival: Residence Authorisation

Once the employee arrives, we finalise their residence status, including submission of in-country medical checks and any additional registration required for full work authorisation.

Types of Work Permits and Visas in Lesotho

Lesotho issues the following types of work-related authorisations:

Employment Permit
Issued to foreign nationals employed by a registered Lesotho entity. This is the primary route for legal employment and must be sponsored by the employer.

Investor or Business Residence Permit
Applicable to individuals who have registered a company in Lesotho and intend to work within it.

Special Skills Permit
Granted to professionals with unique or scarce skills in demand within the country. Approval is discretionary and based on national need.

All work permits are linked to employer sponsorship. A new application is required if the employee changes employer or role.

Navigating Documentation Challenges

The documentation burden in Lesotho is significant. Employers must justify the need to hire a foreign national, often requiring proof that no suitable local candidate is available. Employees must provide complete records, including:

  • Certified academic qualifications

  • Police clearance (home country and country of residence)

  • Valid passport with sufficient validity

  • Health and medical clearance from an approved facility

  • Prior work experience documents

Missing or poorly prepared documents are a leading cause of rejection. Acumen handles document collection, translation, and submission, ensuring alignment with government requirements.

Global Mobility Services: Expertly Managed Visa Applications

We coordinate all pre-entry and post-entry actions, including:

  • Completing and validating work permit application forms

  • Preparing supporting documents and justification letters

  • Liaising with the Department of Immigration and Ministry of Labour and Employment

  • Providing arrival support and registration scheduling

  • Advising on housing, family accompaniment, and onboarding alignment

Clients are required only to provide key information and sign authorisations — Acumen manages the legal, procedural, and government interactions.

Mitigating Risks of Work Permit Rejection in Lesotho

Rejections in Lesotho most often result from:

  • Incomplete documentation or inconsistencies

  • Lack of adequate justification for hiring a foreigner

  • Failure to meet localisation or skills gap requirements

  • Delayed or misfiled submissions

Acumen reduces these risks by managing the application directly as the legal sponsor, with full oversight of deadlines, formatting, and supporting arguments.

Required Documents for Work Permit Application

From the Employee

  • Valid passport (minimum 6 months validity)

  • Passport photographs (recent)

  • Certified academic qualifications

  • Curriculum Vitae

  • Police clearance from home and current country

  • Medical clearance from a recognised practitioner

  • Signed employment agreement

From the Employer 

  • Company registration and tax clearance

  • Letter of motivation explaining the need for foreign hire

  • Proof of attempted local recruitment (where required)

  • Contract of employment (submitted with application)

  • Formally submitted an application to the Ministry of Home Affairs

Processing Timeline and Validity

  • Application Timeframe: 6 to 12 weeks on average

  • Permit Validity: Issued for 1 or 2 years, renewable

  • Entry Visa: Issued prior to travel where required by nationality

  • Post-arrival Steps: Finalised within 30 days of arrival

We coordinate each milestone to ensure legal work status from day one.

Why Choose Acumen as Your Employer of Record in Lesotho

Immigration-Integrated Employment

Acumen does more than payroll and compliance. We manage work permits and legal onboarding from the start, ensuring immigration status aligns with employment status — with no gaps or delays.

Country-Specific Process Ownership

Our team understands how Lesotho’s immigration system functions and owns the whole process — from justification and application to final residence confirmation.

For Companies Solving Real Hiring Problems

We support clients relocating specialists, entering new markets before entity setup, or recovering from failed onboarding attempts. Acumen structures every hire around legal work authorisation and operational urgency.

One Partner. One Outcome

We manage everything in-house or via approved counsel, with a single team accountable for timelines, documentation, and compliance — from initial planning to legal employment.

Disclaimer

Acumen International’s immigration support in Lesotho is exclusively offered as part of post-immigration employment via our Global Employer of Record solution. We do not process immigration cases for individuals or job seekers acting independently.

Your Global Employment Partner in Lesotho

Deploying expatriate staff in Lesotho requires strategic coordination of legal employment, work permits, and local compliance. Acumen delivers all of this under one accountable structure, helping you hire international talent safely and efficiently.

Ready to employ expatriates in Lesotho?
We manage the risk. You manage the growth.