Visa policy of Lebanon

The visa policy of Lebanon deals with the requirements which a foreign national wishing to enter the Republic of Lebanon must meet to be permitted to travel to, enter and remain in the country.
Lebanese visas are documents issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its subsequent diplomatic missions abroad with the stated goal of regulating and facilitating migratory flows. 
Visitors to the Republic of Lebanon must obtain a visa from one of the Diplomatic missions of the Republic of Lebanon unless they come from one of the seven visa-exempt countries and territories or one of the 81 other countries and territories whose citizens are eligible for a visa on arrival.
Citizens of member nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council and Jordan may travel to Republic of Lebanon without visa limits for a maximum stay of six months per year. An identity document is accepted in lieu of a passport for Jordanian citizens. Citizens of Turkey are granted a multiple entry visa valid for a maximum stay of three months per six months while citizens of the 81 other countries and territories are granted a visa on arrival for a maximum stay of one month, extendable for two additional months at Beirut International Airport or any other port of entry if they are holding a telephone number, an address in the Republic of Lebanon, a non-refundable return or circle trip ticket, and there are no Israeli stamps, visas, or seals on their passport. All visitors must hold a passport valid for six months beyond the period of intended stay and with two blank pages.
Visa runs are not allowed, meaning that if foreigners wish to re-enter the Republic of Lebanon after their visa-free or VoA period has expired they should obtain a visa.
Admission and transit is refused to holders of passports issued by Israel and Kosovo. Travelers who hold passports that contain stamps, visas, or seals for Israel will 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 the Republic of Lebanon who have previously traveled to Israel may still face arrest or detention if this travel is disclosed. The government of Lebanon has the authority to refuse admission to other countries' citizens and to detain them for further inspection.
Visitors who have recently been to Guinea, Liberia or Sierra Leone are refused entry due to Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa.
Children under 15 years of age, of all nationalities travelling on their parents' passports must be accompanied by the passport holder, otherwise they must hold their own passport.
As of right.
The following citizens do not require a visa to enter, reside, study, and work indefinitely in the Republic of Lebanon without any immigration requirements:
1 – May enter with a national identity card, individual civil status record, expired passport or civil extract issued by the Republic of Lebanon to passengers of Lebanese descent holding a foreign passport<br>
2 – A law passed in 1995 prevents Palestinian Stateless persons and refugees in the Republic of Lebanon from working in over 70 jobs, including professional, mercantile and administrative jobs
Visa exemption.
Holders of passports of the following 7 countries and territories do not require a visa to visit the Republic of Lebanon through Beirut International Airport or any other port of entry if they are holding a telephone number, an address in the Republic of Lebanon, a non-refundable return or circle trip ticket, and there are no Israeli stamps, visas, or seals on their passport. An identity document is accepted in lieu of a passport for Jordanian citizens:
Visa On Arrival (VOA).
Holders of the passports issued by the following 81 countries and territories are granted visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 1 months, extendable for 2 additional months at Beirut International Airport or any other port of entry if they are holding a telephone number, an address in the Republic of Lebanon, a non-refundable return or circle trip ticket, and there are no Israeli stamps, visas, or seals on their passport:
Approval requirement from the Lebanese Immigration General Directorate for General Security.
The following are required to obtain a pre-approval from the General Directorate of General Security in addition to a visa:
GDGS Immigration Pre-Approval Documents Exemptions.
The following cases are exempted from all the conditions concerning the address, the non-refundable return or circle trip ticket, and the pre-approval from the General Directorate of General Security:
Future changes.
On March 6, 2015, following his diplomatic trip to Latin America, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants of the Republic of Lebanon, Gebran Bassil announced in a press conference a proposal to introduce visa on arrival regime for citizens of the following 15 countries however it is still pending ratification or implementation:
Applying For A Visa.
All visitors must apply in person at an Embassy or a General Consulate of the Republic of Lebanon, fill in the application form and pay the application processing fee at a visa application center. Citizens of the 7 visa-exempt countries and territories or the 81 countries and territories whose citizens are eligible for a visa on arrival can obtain the visa before travel but are exempted from submitting proof documents but will still be required to pay a processing fee
The visa application will be sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Republic of Lebanon by the diplomatic pouch. One should apply one month before travel date. Head of Missions outside the Republic of Lebanon have the right to issue visas to the Republic of Lebanon given that the visa grant is "under the responsibility of the Head of Mission" , except in the cases of Palestinian refugees or holders of passports issued by the Palestinian Authority or Jordan without a national ID number
A visitor's visa for a single entry costs $35 and for a multiple entry costs $70 for stays up to 3 months. For applicants holding a managerial or a more senior position the visa is processed at the Embassy or General Consulate of the Republic of Lebanon within 2-3 working days, for applicants holding a non-managerial position, the visa is processed between 6 and 8 weeks if approved by the Directorate General of General Security in the Republic of Lebanon
Visa Types and Requirements.
Tourist visa.
Eligibility
Temporary & permanent residence visa.
Foreigners wishing to live and work in the Republic of Lebanon are required to apply for a temporary residence visa. To obtain a temporary visa for employment purposes, the worker needs to secure a job offer from a company based in the Republic of Lebanon or government department, or a foreign company based in the Republic of Lebanon, and the company is required to apply to the Immigration Division of the Ministry of Labor on the worker's behalf. The criteria for approval of an employment visa include suitable educational qualifications or work experience, a secured employment contract in the Republic of Lebanon, proof of adequate means of subsistence in the Republic of Lebanon, police confirmation that the worker has no criminal record, and a satisfactory medical examination. All official documents must be translated into Arabic, French, or English and 'legalized' by the embassy or general consulate of the Republic of Lebanon abroad. The application processing period is normally around 1-3 weeks. Employment visas are issued for a specific job, and are not transferable between employers in the Republic of Lebanon without permission. Visas are also issued to the employment visa holder's spouse and children
Foreign citizens aged over 50 can apply for a permanent visa if they have a pension of at least 3,000,000 Lebanese Lira (US$2,000) per month and will transfer it to the Republic of Lebanon every month. Visas may also issued to he visa holder's spouse and children. Applicants for permanent residence visas are required to submit their passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate if applicable, documentary proof of the pension and a bank declaration authorizing he monthly transfer to the Republic of Lebanon, and a police certificate of no criminal record, issued within the last 90 days
Transit visa.
A Transit Without Visa (TWOV) applies if the traveler is passing through an international transit area of at Beirut International Airport in order to board a connecting or to proceed by the same flight to an international destination, without entering the Republic of Lebanon or Clearing Immigration. This however does not apply to:
This visa must be applied for at least 2 days before the trip, provided submitting a copy of a visa or residence permit related to the country of destination and the airline ticket
Courtesy visa.
It is granted for VIPs by Embassies or General Consulates of the Republic of Lebanon abroad or by the General Director of General Security free of charge provided they present a letter from their mission or the ministry of foreign affairs or the employer explaining the purpose of the travel
Collective visa.
It is granted for groups, and the fee is collected from each member of the groups
Work visa.
It is granted for 3 months costs 200.000 LP based on a pre-approval from the Ministry of Labor. All of the documents for a tourist visa are needed, as well as an invitation letter from sponsor or trade partner in the Republic of Lebanon and their contact information (showing period of stay and name, address and phone number of sponsor), a proof that the trade partner is certified in the Republic of Lebanon, and a proof that there is a relationship between applicant and the trade partner by means of a commercial announcement
Visitor Statistics.
Most visitors arriving to Lebanon were from the following countries of nationality: