Lebanon
Lebanon visas and residence permits: the complete guide
- 8 visa types
- checked 24 October 2026
How visas for Lebanon work
Every visa and residence permit in Lebanon is issued by one authority, the General Directorate of General Security (Sûreté Générale), which reports to the Ministry of Interior. Visas come from three places: the border posts and Beirut International Airport, General Security regional departments acting on a prior authorization, and Lebanese embassies and consulates abroad, which issue visas with General Security approval and under the responsibility of the head of mission.
Which route applies depends almost entirely on nationality. Citizens of the EU states, the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, Japan and several dozen other countries get a free one-month visa on arrival that can be extended to three months. Gulf nationals receive six months, Jordanians three months, and Turkish tourists a free three-month multiple-entry visa. Several African and Arab nationalities get an airport visa only if they show a return ticket, accommodation and about USD 2,000; everyone else needs a visa from a Lebanese mission or a prior authorization from General Security.
Anyone coming for a reason other than tourism, such as work, study or a long stay, needs prior authorization. Work requires approval from both the Ministry of Labour and General Security, followed by a work permit and an annual work residence permit. People who will not work can hold a residence permit based on a bank deposit or monthly income, a three-year "permanent" residence backed by a cash guarantee, or a free courtesy residence as the spouse or child of a Lebanese citizen. Fees are set in Lebanese pounds (LBP) and were revised upwards in recent fee tables.
Lebanon is affected by an ongoing security situation. Many governments ask their citizens to check current travel advice before going; this guide covers only the entry and residence rules published by General Security.
Which visa do I need?
Holiday or short visit with an EU, UK, US or other listed passport: no advance visa, the free entry visa is stamped at the airport or border.
Tourism, family visit, medical treatment or an engagement with a passport that is not on the arrival lists: visit visa through a Lebanese mission or a prior authorization requested in Lebanon by a host.
Meetings, trade or a short technical assignment: business entry visa (up to 6 months for invited investors and businesspeople) or the one-month foreign expert visa requested by the Lebanese company.
Employment in Lebanon: work visa with Ministry of Labour and General Security approval, then a work permit and annual work residence. University study: student visa and annual student residence.
Living in Lebanon without working: annual or six-month residence based on bank funds or income, the three-year residence with a cash guarantee, or courtesy residence if you are married to a Lebanese citizen.
Visa types for Lebanon
Visits and short stays
- Tourist visa Visit visa (tourism, family, medical) issued by a Lebanese mission or by prior authorization
Travellers whose nationality does not receive a visa on arrival, and anyone visiting for family, medical or other non-tourist reasons, need a visit visa issued by a Lebanese embassy or a prior authorization from General Security.
Business and self-employment
- Business visa Business entry visa (investors, businesspeople, business visit and foreign expert visa)
Lebanon offers three business routes.
Maximum stay: Invited investors and businesspeople: 6 months. Business visit: 1 month, renewable once. Foreign expert: 1 month, not renewable.
Study and training
- Student visa Student visa and annual student residence permit
Students admitted to a university or institution accredited in Lebanon receive a student visa on the basis of their admission and proof that they can finance their studies; scholarship holders are exempt from both documents.
Maximum stay: Arab students: free 3-month entry visa; residence then granted for one academic year at a time
Work
- Work visa Work visa and annual work residence permit (Ministry of Labour work permit)
Foreigners who want to work in Lebanon need a prior authorization from both the Ministry of Labour and General Security before entering.
Maximum stay: Entry visa: 3 months; work residence: 1 year, or 2 or 3 years with a matching work permit
Family
- Spouse and partner visa Courtesy residence for spouses and children of Lebanese citizens
Foreign spouses and children of Lebanese citizens can obtain a courtesy residence permit, which General Security grants free of charge.
Validity: Depends on the passport; the application requires a passport valid for at least three years
Residence
- Residence permit Annual and six-month residence without work (bank statement or monthly income)
Foreigners who want to live in Lebanon without working can obtain an annual residence permit by showing a bank account blocked for three months with at least LBP 1 billion, or a monthly income of LBP 50 million.
Maximum stay: Annual residence: 1 year; bank-statement residence: 6 months, multiple entry - Permanent residence Permanent residence (three-year residence permit, cash guarantee, investor or work permit)
What General Security calls permanent residence is a renewable permit issued for three years, or two years for some work-permit holders.
Maximum stay: 3 years (2 years for holders of a two-year first-category work permit, issued one year at a time)
Online travel permits
- Visa on arrival Entry visa granted at the airport and border posts (tourism)
Lebanon stamps a free tourist visa into the passports of many nationalities at Beirut International Airport and the land and sea border posts.
Maximum stay: Listed European, American and Asia-Pacific countries: 1 month, extendable to 3 months. GCC: 6 months; Jordan: 3 months; Türkiye: 3 months (multiple entry).
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for Lebanon?
It depends on nationality. Citizens of the EU, the UK, the US and dozens of other listed countries receive a free one-month tourist visa at Beirut airport and the border posts, extendable to three months; some nationalities must meet extra conditions, and the rest need a visa from a Lebanese mission or a General Security authorization. Work, study and residence always need prior authorization.
Can I get a Lebanese visa for a purpose other than tourism at the airport?
No. General Security states that anyone coming for a purpose other than tourism must hold a prior authorization issued by a Lebanese mission abroad or by the Directorate General of General Security. The free arrival visas cover tourism only.
What happens if I overstay my Lebanese visa?
If the overstay is under one month, the situation is settled when you leave, after paying the financial charges. If it is longer than a month, you cannot leave until you have contacted the General Security Bureau of Arabs and Foreigners, within 48 hours, to regularise your status. Holders of work visas must also deal with the Ministry of Labour.
Where are residence permits and renewals handled?
At General Security regional departments and centres across the country. Since 5 March 2018, Arab and foreign nationals can also submit visa renewal applications through Liban Post and collect the renewed documents at its offices. The General Security call centre number is 1717.
Can I work in Lebanon on a tourist entry visa?
No. Foreigners who intend to work need a prior authorization from General Security and the Ministry of Labour before entry. General Security states that visit visas cannot be converted into a work visa without a decision of the Director General.
Does Lebanon have an asylum procedure?
Lebanon has no national asylum procedure. According to UNHCR's Lebanon help site, the country is not a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and the stay of refugees is governed by the general rules for foreigners. Non-Syrian asylum seekers can ask UNHCR for a registration appointment through its national call centre; a UNHCR certificate is proof of registration, not an official identity document.
Embassies and consulates
Last checked 24 October 2026. Each visa page lists the official sources it is based on.