Lesotho’s civil records are held at home, and the document the consular system works from is the old passport, which the ministry names as proof of citizenship. Keeping it, even expired, is the single most useful thing a Mosotho family abroad can do.
Quick facts
Birth, marriage and death certificates come from the civil registration authorities in Lesotho, which generally means a relative attending in person. The embassy’s role is authenticating documents and handling passports.
Fees breakdown
| Service | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Civil certificates | Charged in Lesotho | Obtained locally |
| Authentication | Consular tariff | Career missions only |
| U.S. certificate | $15–$50 | State vital records office |
| Apostille | $3–$25 per document | Secretary of State |
| Translation | Not applicable | English is official |
For a child born in the United States to Basotho parents, the American certificate is apostilled and the parents’ passports establish the link. No translation is needed in either direction.
How to file
- Locate the family’s Lesotho passports, including expired ones.
- Order the child’s U.S. birth certificate from the state vital records office.
- Have it apostilled by that state’s Secretary of State.
- Ask the embassy what its process requires in your case.
- Arrange for Lesotho records to be obtained by a relative there.
- Keep copies before anything travels.
Required documents
- Parents’ Lesotho passports, including expired ones.
- Child’s U.S. birth certificate, apostilled.
- Parents’ marriage certificate where applicable.
- Evidence of parental responsibility for a child’s file.
- Photographs where a document is being issued.
- The fee in the accepted form.
Where to file
At the embassy in Washington, or through the civil registration authorities in Lesotho.
Additional notes
Never throw away an old passport
It is the stated proof of citizenship and the foundation of every later file.
Work both sides at once
A relative gathering records in Maseru while you handle the American side halves the elapsed time.
No translation
A real saving compared with most countries in this directory.
Keep copies
Replacing documents that have travelled is slow.