The South African Department of Home Affairs has officially announced an extension of the Lesotho Exemption Permits (LEP) until May 28, 2027.
According to a notice published in the Government Gazette on October 07, 2025, the South African Minister of Home Affairs Dr Leon Schreiber issued Immigration Directive No. 20 of 2025, extending the validity of all existing LEPs by 18 months beyond the current expiry date of November 28, 2025.
The Minister explained that the Immigration Advisory Board (IAB), appointed in April 2025, has been holding consultations to determine both short and long-term solutions for LEP holders. These discussions will continue with input from key stakeholders.
This extension ensures that thousands of Basotho living and working in South Africa under the LEP program can continue to do so legally while broader policy consultations are underway.
The Lesotho Exemption Permit (LEP) is a South African permit for Lesotho citizens residing in South Africa due to socio-economic issues in their home country, and its validity was extended through November 28, 2025.
The permits allowed Lesotho citizens to live, work, and conduct business in South Africa but did not allow for changing immigration status or applying for permanent residency. While the initial LEP was a 2015 special dispensation, the current LEP extension in 2023 provided a path for those holding valid permits to apply for a new, updated exemption permit.
An estimated 90 314 Lesotho nationals are on the permit but exemptions were granted to approximately 54 653 Basotho
The Lesotho Exemption Permit has replaced the Lesotho Special Permit (LSP) which expired on December 31, 2019.
Source: Lesotho News Agency (LENA) 08/10/2025
