Lebanon is one of the easier countries in the world to travel to from a visa restriction point of view. Most nationalities can enter visa free or get a visa on arrival. Almost everyone who arrives in Lebanon arrives at Beirut Airport. The visa rules are applicable for border crossings as well, except of course the Israeli border, which it is impossible to cross.
However, for those who aren’t eligible for visa on arrival or visa free, the process can be a bit of a headache with security permission required in addition to the visa process itself.
Lebanon is very strict about people who have been to Israel. If you have been to Israel and immigration officials are able to see this, you’ll be deported. One of the first questions you’re often asked entering Lebanon is whether you have previously been to Israel or are planning to travel there.
These passport holders can stay for 6 months in any year period:
Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
These passport holders can stay for 3 months in any 6-month period:
Jordan
The following can enter for 1 month, which can be extended for 2 extra months:
All EU citizens, 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, Macau, 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 and Venezuela.
Some countries can get a conditional visa on arrival:
The following countries can enter for a month if they have a reservation for a 3 to 5 star hotel, minimum $2000USD in cash and a non-refundable return flight:
Algeria, Comoros, Ivory Coast, Djibouti, Egypt, Ghana, Iraq, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia and Yemen.
The following passport holders require pre-approval from the General Directorate of General Security as well as obtaining a visa in advance or visa on arrival (if permissible):
Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, DR Congo, Ivory Coast, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Palau, PNG, Paraguay, Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Taiwan, Tanzania, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Vietnam, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The visa regime of Lebanon can be quite confusing as there are then quite a lot of exemptions and other possible routes that more difficult passports can take. But if you fall into the category of being eligible for visa free or visa on arrival, the process couldn’t be simpler.
