Preparing Your Lesotho Residence Permit Photo
Getting a residence permit for Lesotho requires careful attention to your application details and photo requirements. Read on to learn what official rules and common practices apply to your photo[1].
Official Size and Requirements
The Department of Immigration and the Ministry of Home Affairs handle residence permits in Lesotho[1]. The official service charter for issuing a residence permit does not give specific photo instructions[1]. Because the authority publishes no single official size, photo studios and applicants use the size most often asked for, which is 35 by 45 millimeters, or about 1.38 by 1.77 inches.
Since the authority does not set a single official size in writing, you should always confirm the exact requirements with the issuing office before you submit your paperwork. Checking ahead helps you avoid unexpected delays in your application process and helps you meet local expectations.
Who Takes the Official Photo
The National Identity Cards Act says an officer in the department responsible for identity cards takes the identity-card photo[2]. The 2022 amendment includes non-citizens holding a residence permit among those eligible to be entered in the identity register[3].
The cited laws do not say that residence-permit applicants have a photo taken during their visit or that they should bring prints. The residence-permit service charter does not give photo instructions[1].
Understanding the Rules and Exceptions
The Identity Cards Act makes citizens and non-citizens holding an eligible residence permit who are at least 16 eligible for identity cards[2][3]. The sources do not give photo rules for residence permits.
The residence-permit service charter does not give photo instructions[1]. The cited identity-card laws do not specify glasses, headwear, head height, or background colors[2][3].
Taking Your Photo at Home
You can set up a simple space at home to take a practice photo or prepare a print copy. Face a bright window to get even, natural lighting on your face without casting harsh shadows behind you.
Ask a friend or family member to take the picture instead of holding the camera yourself. Keep the camera at eye level and stand about one to one and a half meters away from the lens to avoid distortion.
Cropping and Preparing Your Print
A 35 × 45 mm crop is a common passport-photo size used in practice, not an official residence-permit photo specification. Check with the Department of Immigration before preparing a photo.
The cited residence-permit service charter does not specify a photo submission format[1]. Confirm with the Department of Immigration whether a photo is required and in what format.
Common Reasons Photos Are Refused
The cited residence-permit service charter does not state photo requirements or reasons a photo may be refused[1].
Always check your printed sheet carefully before you bring it to the Department of Immigration and the Ministry of Home Affairs[1]. If the office prefers to take the photo themselves during your appointment, follow their instructions closely.
Frequently asked questions
What is the official photo size for a Lesotho residence permit?
The authority publishes no single official size for residence permit photos[1]. However, 35 by 45 millimeters is the size most often used in practice.
Does the government take the photo for me?
The Act says an officer in the department responsible for identity cards takes the identity-card photo[2]. The cited sources do not say who takes a residence-permit photo.
Are glasses allowed in the photo?
Can I print my photo at home?
The service charter does not specify a photo submission format[1]. Confirm with the Department of Immigration whether it requires a photo and how to submit it.