Lesotho
Regulations on entry, stay, residence, and treatment access for people living with HIV
The categories of restriction are:
- Unclear restrictions - it is not clear to what extent restrictions apply.
Restrictions on entry to Lesotho
We found no evidence of any official restrictions on entry to Lesotho based on HIV status.
UNAIDS and the US Department of State report to be unaware of any HIV-related restrictions on entry to Lesotho.
Restrictions on short-term stay in Lesotho
We found no evidence of any official restrictions on short-term stay in Lesotho based on HIV status.
The Ministry of Home Affairs of Lesotho has a list of supporting documents that should be included with an application for the Temporary Permit 90 Days, and none of those documents makes reference to HIV or the general health of the applicant.
Restrictions on long-term stay in Lesotho
It is unclear whether Lesotho imposes restrictions on long-term stay of people living with HIV.
The Ministry of Home Affairs Lesotho includes among the documents required for a Two Years Residence and Study permit a ‘Medical Certificate (to be filled by a Government Medical Practitioner within Lesotho)’. More information on how to obtain the certificate is available here along with a low resolution picture of the medical form. While there are no specific questions relating to HIV, the medical practitioner is expected to report any communicable disease and if the person is expected to be a financial burden to the State. An X-Ray report is to be attached to the medical certificate.
Treatment access in Lesotho
The following summarises available information on access to healthcare for people living with HIV in Lesotho. There is no evidence that non-nationals are restricted from accessing treatment in the same way as nationals.
IOM reports that migrants have the same access as nationals to Government‐funded health services in Lesotho, including access to COVID‐19 vaccination. The country adopted the National Health Strategic Plan in 2017, a five‐year plan that aims to achieve universal health coverage – including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health‐care services, and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all people living in Lesotho – by 2030.
All migrants – including refugees, victims of trafficking, and those in irregular situations – have access to health care under the same conditions as citizens of Lesotho. Health centres only require a booklet containing the patient’s medical history, which can also be purchased there. The 1993 Constitution does not restrict any group’s access to health care, and it states that Lesotho shall ‘create conditions which would assure to all, medical service and medical attention in the event of sickness; and improve public health.’
The Lesotho National Health Strategic Plan (NHSP) 2017–2022 recognizes the vulnerability of migrants to health issues. It provides for improved immunisation services for migrant populations as one of the strategies for disease control.
This is one of the strategies contained in the NHSP: ‘Improve immunization services for vulnerable groups such as infants, mothers, adolescents, elderly people, people in congregate settings, PLHIV [people living with HIV] and migrant populations.’ More information is available here.
Sources
The HIV Justice Network's Global HIV Criminalisation Database
Visit the Lesotho page on the Global HIV Criminalisation Database to see more information about known HIV criminalisation laws in this country, an overview of how the laws are used, and any significant advocacy developments.
UNAIDS Global AIDS monitoring data
This information about access to HIV services comes from UNAIDS https://lawsandpolicies.unaids.org/, a platform to view data on HIV-related laws and policies. This is information provided by national authorities and civil society and may contradict other sources.
Migrant populations
| Laws/policies enable documented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | N/A |
| Laws/policies enable documented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | N/A |
| Laws/policies enable undocumented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | N/A |
| Laws/policies enable undocumented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | N/A |
| Migrants are able to access HIV services | Yes |
Refugees and asylum seekers
| Laws/policies enable asylum seekers to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | N/A |
| Laws/policies enable asylum seekers to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | N/A |
| Laws/policies enable refugees to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | N/A |
| Laws/policies enable refugees to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | N/A |
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This site focuses on information about HIV travel. Please also consult your own Foreign Office/Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, or the local consulate of the country you are visiting, to see what restrictions there are specifically for you as a citizen of your country, regardless of your HIV status.
