News

Full launching of the Lesotho National Single Window

Summary

Lesotho Completes Full Rollout of the National Single Window, Marking a Major Milestone in Trade Facilitation Reform. The Lesotho National Single Window (LNSW) has now been fully rollout-out for all involved government agencies. The completion of this initiative marks a significant step forward in fulfilling Lesotho’s commitments under the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (WTO TFA).

Updated on : 22-12-2025

Lesotho Completes Full Rollout of the National Single Window, Marking a Major Milestone in Trade Facilitation Reform

December 2025

A transformative digital platform designed to streamline and modernise the country’s cross‑border trade processes, the Lesotho National Single Window (LNSW) has now been fully rollout-out for all involved government agencies. The completion of this initiative marks a significant step forward in fulfilling Lesotho’s commitments under the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (WTO TFA), particularly Article 10.4, which calls for the establishment of national single window systems to simplify and expedite international trade procedures. The full rollout of the LNSW positions Lesotho as a regional leader in trade facilitation and digital transformation. By meeting its WTO TFA obligations and aligning with SADC and SACU trade modernisation efforts, Lesotho is strengthening its competitiveness and creating a more predictable, transparent and efficient trading environment.

 

A Two‑Phase Reform Now Fully Delivered

The LNSW project has been implemented in two major phases under the guidance of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Business Development and with the finanical supoport of the World Bank Group:

• Phase 1 (July 2021 – June 2022)

Successfully deployed at the Revenue Services Lesotho (RSL) and the One‑Stop Business Facilitation Centre (OBFC), Phase 1 introduced the first set of automated Certificates, Licences and Permits (CLPs), laying the foundation for a fully integrated national system.

• Phase 2 (November 2024 – December 2025)

Phase 2 expanded the LNSW to 10 additional government agencies, completing the nationwide rollout. All targeted agencies and their CLPs are now operating through the LNSW, with ongoing efforts focused on full adoption of electronic processes and the upcoming introduction of e‑payments to further enhance efficiency.

 

A Modern Digital Platform Transforming Trade

The LNSW has been introduced to automate the application, processing and issuance of the CLPs required for cross‑border trade. By digitising these procedures, the system aims to:

• Reduce the time and cost of obtaining trade‑related permits
• Single application for dependant wokflows; a single application where more than one agency is inolved in the import/export CLP approval
• Eliminate the need for physical visits to government offices
• Enable online submission and permit issuance (online payment to also come soon)
• Reduce travel, congestion and paper usage
• Improve transparency, predictability and compliance
• Modernise the working environment of government agencies

Traders can now complete all application steps from their workplace or even via mobile phone, significantly improving the ease of doing business in Lesotho. To use the LNSW, applicants must first register on the platform. Registration instructions are available on the LNSW website and can be found here.

Work remains ongoing to next intergate an online payment platform with the LNSW, so that Applicants for the various certifcates, licenses and permits can also make any associated payments of Agency service charges online, thus removing entirly the need for traders to visit the offices of the involved government agenices. It is anticipated full online payment will be compleded within Quarter 1, 2026.

 

Agencies and CLPs Automated Under the LNSW:

Initial Rollout (Phase 1) - June 2022

Ministry of Trade / OBFC

• Import Permit for Second‑hand Goods
• Import Permit for Vehicles

Lesotho Revenue Authority

• VAT Exemption Certificate
• Customs Rebate Certificate

 

Expanded Rollout (Phase 2) - September – December 2025:

Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition

- Department of Marketing

• Import Permit for Controlled Commodities*
• Export Permit for Wool and Mohair

* Controlled commodities include: Vegetables & Fruit, Bread, Table Eggs, Legumes (General Traders & Packers), Meat & Processed Meat, Sugar, Wheat Savingram.

- Department of Livestock

• Import Permit for Animals and Animal Products**
• Export Permit for Animals and Animal Products***

** Import commodities include: Animal Semen, Beef Sausages, Bone‑in Meat, Chicken Meat, Live Animals, Live Birds, Live Dogs & Cats, Fish Products, Wildlife, Medicines & Vaccines, Milk & Milk Products, Offal’s, Pork Products, Poultry & Fertile Eggs, Processed Meat, Skins & Hides, Turkey Meat, and more.
*** Export commodities include: Wool & Mohair, Dogs & Cats, Skins & Hides, Fish Products, Cloven‑Hoofed Animals, Milk & Milk Products.

- Department of Agricultural Research

• Import Permit for Plant and Plant Products****
• Export Phytosanitary Certificate

**** Import commodities include: Plants, Vegetables & Fruit, Legume Seeds, Legumes (General Traders & Packers), Wheat (for SADC countries).

- Lesotho National Dairy Board

• Import Permit for Dairy Products
• Export Permit for Dairy Products

Lesotho Medicines Regulatory Authority

• Import Permit for Psychotropic Drugs & Narcotics
• Import Permit for Medicines & Medical Devices
• Import Permit for Medicines & Medical Devices (Donations)
• Export Permit for Medicines & Medical Devices
• Export Permit for Medicines & Medical Devices (Individual)

Ministry of Health – Department of Environmental Health

• Import Permit for Non‑Iodized Salt
• Export Health Certificate
• Export Certificate for Human Remains

Ministry of Tourism, Sports, Arts and Culture – Department of Tourism

• Import Permit for Alcohol

Ministry of Public Works and Transport – Department of Traffic

• Cross‑Border Permit for Road Transport

Ministry of Mining – Department of Mines

• Import Permit for Explosives (jointly processed with LMPS)
• Export Permit for Rock Samples

Ministry of Police – Lesotho Mounted Police Service

• Import Permit for Explosives (jointly processed with Department of Mines)
• Import Permit for Firearms & Ammunition
• Export Permit for Firearms & Ammunition
• In‑Transit Permit for Firearms & Ammunition (Diplomats)
• In‑Transit Permit for Firearms & Ammunition (Lesotho Permit Holders)
• In‑Transit Permit for Firearms & Ammunition (Non‑Lesotho Permit Holders)

 

For More Information

Contact details for LNSW can be found on the Lesotho National Single Window website.