South Africa and Lesotho are discussing a possible border change that would eventually allow travelers to cross using national identity documents instead of passports.
according to from bottom to topThe proposal was announced by Lesotho's Home Affairs Minister Lebona Lephema after a meeting with South Africa's Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber in Cape Town last week.
If implemented, it would be one of the biggest travel changes between neighboring countries in years.
south african Is first reported Human rights groups in Lesotho are advocating for an end to passport controls on the landlocked mountainous state's border with South Africa.
Lesotho and SA look to ease border travel
Led by a joint research team, the new migration model aims to simplify border travel between the two countries while helping to ease Lesotho's passport crisis.
“We recommended that the document used by both Basotho and South Africans when crossing the border should be the national identity card,” Bertha Piletso saidAn immigration manager involved in the research team.
“In other words, if I am Mosotho, I will use my Lesotho ID to cross the border. Similarly, a South African will use their national ID.”
Currently, travelers require a passport to cross the border.Due to which delays and long queues may occur.
The new system will reportedly use electronic gates. Passengers must scan their ID cards instead of each side being processed separately.
Children under 16 will still need a passport, as they are not eligible for a national ID. Passport will also be required for further international travel.
Amnesty proposal for those who stay for more than a certain period of time
from bottom to top It was also reported that some Basotho who were banned from South Africa for overstaying could qualify for amnesty.
“We want these processes to start on a clean slate,” said Puleng Mbangmathi, Lesotho's director of legal affairs.
“These are individuals who simply overstayed their time, not those who committed crimes,” he said.
Affected people must first register with Lesotho immigration authorities, after which their details will be verified with South Africa.
Officials said not all changes will happen immediately.
The talks also reportedly discussed student visas, medical aid recognition and longer stay of visitors through a possible electronic travel authorization system.
SA Home Affairs says passports are still required
South Africa's Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has since rejected reports of passport-free travel for Lesotho citizens. already Approved.
In a statement released on Wednesday, 22 April, the department said that claims that Basotho can now enter South Africa only using national ID cards are “false reports” and “misinformation”.
Home Ministry said no such agreement has been reached Talks took place between the two countries and it was emphasized that the existing rules would remain in place.
“The status quo remains in place,” the department said, adding that Lesotho citizens and South African citizens will still be required to present valid passports when entering or leaving the shared border checkpoints.
The DHA confirmed that ministers from the two countries had met in Cape Town to receive recommendations from a joint working group:
“The Home Affairs Ministers of Lesotho and South Africa met in Cape Town on 17 April 2026 to receive a study report from a joint working group that was established to look at the development of a new migration model. The ministers were directed by the Bi-National Commission between the two countries to conduct the study. It was the first time that the results of the study were presented to the ministers along with various recommendations that are to be considered by the Bi-National Commission.”