199 countries 39,402 visa rules 72,668 airports 7,028 languages 235 holiday calendars 1,260 news stories Visa data verified 13 Oct 2026
Free Passport Photo Maker
Check requirements
Travel photo of Sao Tome and Principe

Flag of LesothoLesotho Flag of Sao Tome and PrincipeSao Tome and Principe

Sao Tome and Principe Visa Requirements for Lesotho Citizens

eVisa

Lesotho passport holders need an eVisa for Sao Tome and Principe, applied for online before travel.

Source: Serviço de Migração e Fronteiras — frequently asked questions (entry authorisation and visa fees) · checked 2 Oct 2026

Check another trip

Flag of Sao Tome and PrincipeSao Tome and Principe visa options for Lesotho citizens

Entry authorisation (AE) via eVisaST

eVisa

Fee and processing time not published — confirm with the embassy or consulate before you apply.

What the Sao Tome and Principe visa rules mean for Lesotho travellers

Lesotho passport holders need an eVisa to enter Sao Tome and Principe. You apply online, upload a passport scan and a photo, pay the fee and receive the visa by email. Apply at least one to two weeks before your trip and print the approval — some airlines and border officers ask to see it on paper.

The main option is the Entry authorisation (AE) via eVisaST with a processing time of —.

Documents to prepare

Whatever your visa status, Sao Tome and Principe applies the same entry conditions to every traveller:

  • Passport validity: eVisa applicants upload a scanned passport valid for three months beyond the last day of stay shown on the visa. The UK government tells British visitors only that the passport must be valid for the duration of the stay.
  • Vaccinations: Yellow fever: The UK government says a yellow fever certificate is required if you are coming from a country listed as a transmission risk.
  • Travel insurance: No official source we could read states a travel insurance requirement for São Tomé and Príncipe.
  • Return or onward ticket: eVisa applicants must attach a return ticket to the application.

Sao Tome and Principe entry rules compared

Sao Tome and Principe lets 56 passports in without a visa, issues eVisas to 142. Lesotho citizens are treated the same way as Algeria, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso and Burundi. Overall the Lesotho passport ranks #111 in the world with 45 visa-free destinations.

More travel options

Planning a longer trip in Africa? With a Lesotho passport you can also visit 16 countries in the region without a visa, including Angola, Benin, Botswana, Kenya, Mauritius, Malawi, Mozambique and Namibia.

In the other direction, Sao Tome and Principe citizens need evisa to visit Lesotho.

Flag of Sao Tome and PrincipeEntry requirements for Sao Tome and Principe

Overstay penalties

30 days

A foreigner who exceeds the authorised period of stay is fined Dbs. 2,000,000 to 4,000,000 for up to 30 days; Dbs. 5,000,000 to 8,000,000 for more than 30 and up to 90 days; Dbs. 9,000,000 to 12,000,000 for more than 90 and up to 180 days; and Dbs. 13,000,000 to 19,000,000 for more than 180 days. For overstays of up to 180 days the foreigner must also pay the fees that would have been due had the stay been authorised. The same penalty applies when the overstay is detected on departure. The Migration and Borders Service applies the law's fees and administrative sanctions.

Serviço de Migração e Fronteiras (SMF) — Diário da República n.º 47 of 12 August 2008, Lei n.º 5/2008 on the legal regime of foreign citizens✓ Checked 12 Oct 2026

Frequently asked questions

Do Basotho citizens need a visa for Sao Tome and Principe?

Lesotho passport holders need an eVisa for Sao Tome and Principe, applied for online before travel.

How much does a Sao Tome and Principe visa cost for Lesotho citizens?

Entry authorisation (AE) via eVisaST: —, processing —.

How do Lesotho citizens apply for a Sao Tome and Principe eVisa?

Apply online before you travel. Approval is linked to your passport, so travel with the same passport you applied with.

How long must my passport be valid to enter Sao Tome and Principe?

eVisa applicants upload a scanned passport valid for three months beyond the last day of stay shown on the visa. The UK government tells British visitors only that the passport must be valid for the duration of the stay.

Data: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset, AXG Sp. z o.o. (CC BY 4.0). Entry rules can change — confirm with official sources before travel.

Flag of Sao Tome and Principe Sao Tome and Principe

See also: Sao Tome and Principe requirements for other passports

All passports for Sao Tome and Principe →

Flag of Lesotho Lesotho passport

More trips for Lesotho passport holders

All visa-free countries →