The department of Home affairs has started issuing instant residence permits for manufacturers at the One Stop Shop of the Ministry of Trade in Maseru. Officers are now able to issue permits on the basis of applicants meeting the requirements without lengthy approval procedures.

In the past, applicants had to submit an application that would pass through the offices of the Director, the Principal Secretary and finally the Minister. The new procedure only requires applicants to have correct documents, and the permits are issued instantly.

The One Stop Shop is co-funded by the World Bank funded Private Sector Competitiveness project. The ultimate objective is to streamline procedures and reduce the cost and time doing business in Lesotho.
The OSS has already automated systems for issuance of Traders licences, export visas and Import permits.
The One stop shop Advisor, Lindiwe Sephomolo says the first phase of the project was intended to meet the needs of manufacturing investors. She says space is now being made available to house Company registration which is currently done by the Law office, as well as LRA Tax registration and clearance functions, for other enterprises.

On the 1st of June automation of the Traders licence function will be piloted in TY and Mafeteng in preparation for a national roll-out.