Find the right Lebanon Visa for your trip with price, requirements, and application time

Lebanon Visa Policy

Lebanon has an evolving visa policy that is subject to change to meet the immigration realities of the country. According to the current immigration regime, all visitors must get a visa first unless they are from visa-exempt countries. This policy also determines who can stay in Lebanon, for what purpose, and for how long. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs regulates the visa policy and facilitates migratory flow at all times.

The Ministry manages the affairs of embassies and consulates abroad and regulates the number of visas issued per annum. Currently, only citizens from seven countries are allowed to enter Lebanon without visas, while close to 100 other countries can get a visa on arrival. Among the list of countries are Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, including Jordan, whose citizens are allowed to stay visa-free for 6 months within a year.

While Jordanians can enter with a valid ID card, others require valid passports. Turkish citizens are granted multiple entry visas that allow them to stay for three months within six months, while others who can get visas on arrival are allowed to stay for up to a month with the offer to extend their stay twice for two months at the International airport in Beirut or any other entry point.

 The conditions for these extensions include a house address in the country, a valid phone number, a return ticket, and a valid passport (this option is not open to Israelis). Also, note that Al visitors must have a valid passport with a minimum validity of three months to cover their stay and two blank pages. Visitors are also not allowed to apply for a visa while they are in Lebanon; they must exit the country and re-apply if their current visa expires.

Transit Passengers

Lebanon is a major transit hub in the region for international travelers and is open to all nationalities except Kosovo and Israeli citizens. Air passengers who hold Israeli or Kosovo passports or foreigners who have Israeli seals, stamps, or visas on their passports will be denied entry or may even be arrested and detained by law enforcement. This is also the case, even if their travel document doesn't have an Israeli visa. In addition, the Lebanese government also has the right to detain citizens of other countries for further inspection or refuse them admission into the country.

Children under the age of 15 who are traveling on the passport of their parents must be accompanied by their parents; otherwise, they must hold their passports.

Conditional VOA

Lebanon has a conditional Visa on Arrival for citizens of a few countries and territories who can get visas at the international airport in Beirut or any other entry port as long as they are holding a reservation at a 3 or 5-star hotel or private residential estate in the country. They must also possess a phone number and at least $2000 in cash, including a nonrefundable return ticket and a valid passport with no Israeli stamp, seal, or visa.

Key Information About Lebanon Visa and Travel Information

Here are some vital tips to remember as you prepare for your trip.

Passport: Note that visas cannot be issued on passports bearing Israeli stamps, seals, or visas. 

Your passport must also be valid to cover the duration of your stay in the country. If it will not, consider applying for a new passport first. Also, remember that your visa automatically becomes invalid if your passport is stamped with an Israeli zeal, visa, or stamp.

Israeli Nationals: It is important to stress that as an Israeli national, you are prohibited from entering Lebanon; the government will sanction those who do. Transit passengers with Israeli passports can also not go through the country.

Validity: There isn't a single validity period for all visas, as they differ based on type and purpose. Your visa becomes valid from the moment it is issued, and there is a maximum number of days you are allowed to enter the country before the visa expires. It is also important to note that your visa automatically expires if the passport it is attached to expires. This is because visas and passports are linked.

Workers: Only foreigners with a work, permanent or temporary visa will be allowed to work in Lebanon. 

Those caught working without a valid resident and work permit will be sanctioned by the authorities. If you secure a job in the country, your employer has to issue an employment letter which the Ministry of Labour will approve. This letter, including other documents, will be submitted to the embassy in your country of residence.

Application Fee: Kindly note that all visa applications attract a fee except for Courtesy visas issued to VIPs.

How To Apply For A Lebanon Visa

There are two ways to apply for a Lebanese visa as a foreigner.

Visa On Arrival: This option is open to visitors from more than 80 countries and territories on the planet, and it allows you to stay in the country for up to 30 days with the option to extend it by a month on two occasions. VOA is issued at Rafic Hariri International Airport and other approved entry points into the country. You must show a valid passport of at least 90 days, a return ticket, and sufficient funds to cover your expenses. VOA is issued on the spot.

Foreign Mission: The Lebanese foreign missions abroad also issue visas to eligible visitors who are not qualified for visa-free entry. The applicant must submit their documents and a completed application form to the embassy in Arabic, English, or French, and they must all be valid. Only applicants that meet the conditions will get the visa, and conditions vary based on nationality, visa type, and purpose. Embassy or consulate applications take up to three weeks or more before they are approved.

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Lebanon is open for visits, so foreigners that meet the immigration conditions can enter the country.