Guidance

Lesotho: Knowledge Base profile

Published 8 May 2024

© Crown copyright 2024

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/lesotho-knowledge-base-profile/lesotho-knowledge-base-profile

Version 2.0

About: Lesotho

This document contains useful information about Lesotho which will assist His Majesty’s Passport Office staff process passport applications.

Contacts

If you have any questions about the document and your line manager or senior caseworker cannot help you or you think that the document has factual errors then email the Guidance team.

If you notice any formatting errors in this document (broken links, spelling mistakes and so on) or have any comments about the layout or navigability of the document then you can email the Guidance team.

Publication

Below is information on when this version of the document was published:

  • version 2.0

  • published for Home Office staff on 30 April 2024

Changes from last version of this document

This document has been updated with minor formatting changes.

Lesotho: names

This section tells HM Passport Office operational staff about names in Lesotho.

Change of name

Name changes are allowed in Lesotho.

If a child is given a different name after baptism, the parents can do an official name change.

Lesotho: nationality

This section tells HM Passport Office operational staff about nationality in Lesotho.

Dual nationality is allowed in Lesotho from 21 December 2018.

Lesotho: legitimacy

This section tells HM Passport Office operational staff about legitimacy in Lesotho.

Legitimacy

Lesotho recognises a difference between legitimate and illegitimate births.

A child will be considered:

  • legitimate if the parents:

    • were married at the time of the birth

    • marry after the birth and the father accepts paternity of the child

  • illegitimate if they were born to:

    • unmarried parents

    • parents who never marry

    • parents who marry after the birth and the father does not accept paternity

Lesotho: adoption

This section tells HM Passport Office operational staff about adoption in Lesotho.

Adoption is legal in Lesotho.

Lesotho: civil partnerships and marriage

This section tells HM Passport Office operational staff about civil partnerships and marriage in in Lesotho.

The government of Lesotho do not recognise polygamous marriages as legal marriages.

Lesotho: documents

This section tells HM Passport Office operational staff about documents in Lesotho.

Birth certificates

When a child’s birth is registered, Lesotho authorities issue a birth certificate known as a Form E.

There is no time limit for the parents to register a child’s birth. Late registrations are acceptable.

Marriage certificates

There is no central registry of marriage in Lesotho and the District Office keep the records. The District Registrar sign marriage certificates.

Marriages in Lesotho are registered immediately or within a few days.

Identity documents

Identity cards are issued to:

  • citizens of Lesotho

  • foreign nationals with indefinite residence permits

Back to top