Entry/Exit Requirements

Passports and visas are required. U.S. citizens coming to Lebanon for tourism can obtain a one-month visa on arrival at Beirut International Airport or other port of entry. It can be extended for an additional month by applying at the local office of Sûreté Générale (General Security). Official U.S. government travelers, however, need to obtain a visa in advance of their travel. U.S. citizens also holding Lebanese citizenship are subject to the requirements and responsibilities of that citizenship under Lebanese law. Additional information on Lebanon’s entry and exit requirements can be found on General Security’s website.

Travelers who hold passports that contain visas or entry/exit stamps for Israel will likely be denied entry into Lebanon and may be subject to arrest or detention. Even if their travel documents currently do not have Israeli stamps or visas, persons seeking entry into Lebanon who have previously traveled to Israel may still face arrest and/or detention if this travel is disclosed. The Government of Lebanon has the authority to refuse admission to U.S. citizens and to detain U.S. citizen travelers for further inspection.

Travelers who have previously worked in Lebanon without the appropriate work visa may be denied entry, or subject to detention, or deportation.

Travelers who have overstayed their entry visa validity in Lebanon must adjust their status with General Security’s Department of Passport and Immigration, and receive an exit visa prior to their departure. Note that individuals who are detained pending deportation are expected to pay the cost of their own airline ticket and will remain under detention until they have gathered the necessary funds.

Citizens applying for work or residency permits will have to submit their passports to General Security, which may retain their documents for an extended period.

All U.S. government employees, and their immediate family members, must follow appropriate procedures for official and personal travel to Lebanon because of security concerns. Permission is strictly limited and requires prior approval by the Department of State. This requirement also applies for all U.S. government employees planning to transit through Beirut, whether for official or unofficial travel. U.S. government employees may apply for permission to visit or transit Lebanon for unofficial travel through this form. All official travel is approved via the normal country clearance process for official travel.

Additional information on entry/exit requirements can be obtained from the Embassy of Lebanon, 2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC, 20008, tel. (202) 939-6300; e-mail: info@lebanonembassyus.org. Travelers may also contact one of the

Lebanese Consulates General in the United States, including those in Los Angeles, Detroit, and New York.. Additional information on Honorary Consulates in the United States can be found within the Consular Affairs section of the Embassy of Lebanon website.

The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors, although individuals applying for a work permit to Lebanon must submit to a laboratory exam in order to prove that s/he is free of HIV/AIDS. For further information, please see the website of General Security (in Arabic).

Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our website. For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information page.