Lebanon Visa & Entry Policy

Lebanon visa policy is primarily concerned with the conditions that foreigners wishing to enter and stay in the Republic of Lebanon must meet. As a tourist country, Lebanon has very convenient and friendly visa policies for visitors. Tourist visas are issued to tourists planning to visit Lebanon and are the most common type of visa issued by the country.

Lebanon also has a particularly lax policy for tourists when it comes to COVID-19 testing. Travelers who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 and children under 12 years of age will be exempted from negative PCR tests and rapid antigen tests for COVID-19. You may feel as if the ease of access to the country is back to pre-2019.

Do I need visa to go to Lebanon?

Lebanon allows visa-free access to 7 Middle Eastern countries, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Jordan. It offers visas on arrival or conditional visas on arrival to nearly 100 countries and regions in the world.

The visa on arrival is very convenient. Upon your arrival at the Beirut International Airport or any other port of entry on the Lebanese border, you can easily and quickly obtain a visa on arrival by presenting your passport, round-trip ticket, and telephone number and address of your hotel or other accommodation in Lebanon. Free of charge, and free of hassle! Some tourists even report that they don't need any inspection. Just get their passport stamped and get out of the customs in a minute.

If you are not from a visa-free country or visa-on-arrival country, you will need to apply for your visa in advance at a nearby Lebanese embassy or consulate.

Special Remarks

1. Israeli and Kosovar citizens are not allowed to enter or transit. If you have ever been to Israel before, or if you have an Israeli visa or stamp on your passport, you will be refused entry to Lebanon and may be arrested or detained and subject to further inspection.
2. Visa runs are not allowed, which means that if foreigners wish to re-enter Lebanon after the expiration of their visa-free or visa-on-arrival period, they cannot continuously enjoy the visa-free or visa-on-arrival policy, and they need to apply for a visa.

Visa-Free: 7 Countries and Regions

Passport holders of the following 7 countries and regions can visit Lebanon visa-free through the Beirut International Airport or any other port of entry, provided they have a Lebanese phone number and address, a non-refundable return or round-trip ticket, and do not have an Israeli visa or stamp on their passport. Jordanian citizens can use their identity documents instead of passports to enter Lebanon.

► Visitors from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) enjoy a visa-free stay in Lebanon for up to 6 months within 1 year.
► Visitors from Jordan can enter Lebanon with visa exemption and stay for up to 3 months out of 6 months.

Visa on Arrival (VOA): 81 Countries and Regions

The following 81 countries, including all 27 EU member states and 54 other countries, can enjoy the Lebanon visa on arrival.

European Union (all 27 countries)	Andorra	Antigua and Barbuda	Argentina
Armenia	Australia	Azerbaijan	Bahamas
Barbados	Belarus	Belize	Bhutan
Brazil	Canada	Chile	China
Costa Rica	Dominican Republic	Georgia	Hong Kong
Iceland	Iran	Japan	Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan	Liechtenstein	Macao	Malaysia
Mexico	Moldova	Monaco	Montenegro
New Zealand	North Macedonia	Norway	Panama
Paraguay	Peru	Russia	Saint Kitts and Nevis
Samoa	San Marino	Serbia	Singapore
South Korea	Switzerland	Tajikistan	Turkmenistan
Turkey	Ukraine	* United Kingdom	United States
Uruguay	Uzbekistan	Venezuela

* You cannot apply for a Lebanon visa on arrival if you hold a British Overseas passport.

The visa on arrival is very convenient. When you land at the Beirut International Airport, go to the VOA window to check in. If you are entering from another port of entry, you can also follow the signs to find the counter for VOA.

Documents Required:

1. A passport issued by one of the above 81 countries, with no Israeli visas or stamps.
2. Phone number and address in Lebanon, usually the hotel number and address.
3. Non-refundable return or round trip ticket.

Allowed Duration of Stay:

If you meet the above requirements, you will be granted a visa on arrival to stay for up to one month, which is usually enough for travelers. The actual maximum stay is three months, since the duration can be automatically extended by two months after entry.

Cost of Visa on Arrival:

Free of Charge

Conditional Visa on Arrival: 15 Countries and Regions

Citizens of the following 15 countries can obtain a visa on arrival at Beirut International Airport or any other port of entry, but with two additional conditions.

Algeria	Comoros	Cote d'Ivoire	Djibouti
Egypt	Ghana	Iraq	Libya
Mauritania	Morocco	Nigeria	Somalia
Sudan	Tunisia	Yemen

You need a passport issued by one of these countries without an Israeli visa or stamp, and a non-refundable return or round trip ticket. In addition to these basic documents, you need two special conditions:
1. Copy of the reservation form of 3 to 5 star hotel or private residence with telephone number in Lebanon.
2. At least USD 2,000 in cash.

Visa-required: 25 Countries and Regions

The passport holders from about 25 countries, mainly in Asia, South America and Africa, are required to apply for a visa before entering Lebanon.

Afghanistan	Albania	Bolivia	Cambodia
Cape Verde	Columbia	Congo	Cuba
Ecuador	Guatemala	Guyana	Haiti
Honduras	Jamaica	Laos	Lesotho
Mongolia	Myanmar	Nepal	Sao Tome and Principe
Senegal	South Sudan	Swaziland	Syria
Thailand

Visa + Immigration Approval Required

Visitors from other countries or regions other than those mentioned above not only need to apply for a visa in advance, but also need to obtain a pre-approval from the Lebanon’s General Directorate of Immigration Security, including:

Citizens of Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger, North Korea, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Taiwan, Tanzania, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Vietnam, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

How do I get a visa for Lebanon?

If you are not from one of the countries listed above that are eligible for visa-free or visa on arrival, you will need to apply for a Lebanese visa before entering the country.

► Application Time:

You’d better apply for a visa two months before your trip.

► Place of Application:

You can find the nearest Lebanese embassy, consulate or visa center to submit the application.

► 5 Types of Lebanon Visas:

Tourist Visa, Business Visa, Work Visa, Transit Visa, Residence Visa

► Lebanon Visa Requirements & Documents Needed:

1. Lebanon Visa Application Form: You can download and print the application form in advance from the official website of the Embassy of Lebanon, and fill in your personal information truthfully. Or you can pick up the form and fill it out at the embassy or consulate.
2. Passport and passport copy: Your passport needs to be valid for at least 6 months and must not have any Israeli visa or stamp.
3. Residence Permit: If you are not applying in your own country, but in a third country, you will need a residence permit in that country.
4. A passport-size recent photo.
5. Proof of accommodation in Lebanon, including the address of your place of residence, which could be a hotel reservation or an invitation from your family members or friends in Lebanon.
6. A round-trip ticket.
7. Bank statements for the last three months.
8. Proof of employment, including your title and salary.
* Note: Depending on the type of visa you are applying for, the embassy may also require additional documents or evidence, such as travel insurance documents for a tourist visa, an invitation letter from your Lebanese business partner for a business visa, the preapproval letter from the Ministry of Labor for a work visa, and a visa and a ticket to your next destination for a transit visa.

► Period of Validity:

The visa on arrival is valid for one month and can be extended to three months upon entry. If you apply for a visa at a Lebanese embassy or consulate in advance, you can use it within 90 days from the date of issue. The duration of stay allowed is 15 days, 1 month, 3 months, or 6 months, counting from the date of entry into Lebanon. You can choose a length of stay when you apply, depending on your needs. Once in Lebanon, you can extend your stay by applying to the General Directorate of Immigration Security for a visa extension.

► Lebanon Visa Fees:

How much does a Lebanon visa cost? The visa on arrival is free. However, if you do not qualify for a visa on arrival, there is a fee to apply for a Lebanese visa at the embassy in advance. The prices vary depending on the country you are in and whether you are applying for a single or multiple entry visa.

Lebanon Visa Prices: (Information from Lebanese Embassy in USA for Your Reference)

Single Entry Visa	USD 88
Double Entry Visa	USD 125
Multiple Entry Visa	USD 175

Lebanese Embassies in Major Countries 

Embassy of Lebanon in USA

Address: 2560, 28th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008
Tel: (202) 939-6300
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 – 15:00 EST
Head of Mission: Waël Hachem
Contact: Mr. Kamal Yakteen, assistant to the Head of Mission

Embassy of Lebanon in UK

Address: 15 Palace Gardens Mews, London, W8 4RB
Tel: +44 (0)207 229 7265
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 – 15:00 GMT
Ambassador: H.E Rami Mortada

Embassy of Lebanon in France

Address: 3, Villa Copernic, 75116 Paris, France
Tel: (+33) 1 4067 7575
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 – 15:00
Head of Mission: Mr Ghady El Khoury

Embassy of Lebanon in Canada

Address: 640 Lyon St. S, Ottawa, ON K1S 3Z5
Tel: +1 (613) 236 5825
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 – 15:00
Ambassador: H.E. Fadi Ziadeh

Embassy of Lebanon in Australia

Address: 4/26 Dalman Crs, O'MALLEY ACT 2606, Canberra Australia
Tel: +612 6295 7378
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 – 15:00
Ambassador: H.E. Mr Milad Raad

Lebanon Entry Requirements for Testing during the COVID-19 Pandemic

► Four types of travelers are exempt from any kind of testing:
1. Fully vaccinated passengers who have received the third dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
2. Fully vaccinated passengers with 2 doses or a single dose of COVID-19 vaccine within 6 months prior to departure.
3. Passengers who travel outside Lebanon and will return within a week.

4. Children under 12 years old.

► Travelers who do not fall into any of the above four categories must have a negative PCR test within 48 hours before departure from the first boarding point, or a negative COVID-19 rapid antigen test within 24 hours before departure from the first boarding point. The rapid antigen test certificate must have a QR code. Upon arrival at the Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport, PCR tests will not be required for all.

► You May Like: Lebanon Travel Tips