Middle East and North Africa

Lebanon
Still current at: 27 November 2009 Updated: 04 November 2009

This advice has been reviewed and reissued with amendments to the Summary and the Terrorism section (rocket fired from Wadi al-Jamal towards northern Israel). The overall level of the advice has not changed.

(see travel advice legal disclaimer) .

Travel advice for this country

Entry requirements

Visas

British citizens can apply for a single entry tourist or family visit visa on arrival at the port of entry. British Overseas Citizens and British Protected Persons are required to obtain a visa prior to travel to Lebanon (unless they are travelling to Lebanon on their Lebanese documents).

Overstaying without the proper authority is a serious matter. You may be refused permission to leave until a fine has been paid.

It is considered a very serious offence for anyone of Lebanese descent to have visited Israel, whether or not they have travelled on a British passport. British travellers should not have Israeli stamps in their passports. If your passport contains Israeli stamps you may be refused entry to Lebanon even if you hold a valid Lebanese visa.

Entry visas for Lebanon are issued free of charge at the airport on arrival however, there is a charge at the border posts if entering Lebanon by road. On a single entry visa a traveller is permitted to travel to Syria as long as the return to Lebanon is made within five days.

As Visa requirements are subject to change, you may wish to contact the nearest Lebanese Embassy.

Passport validity

Your passport should be valid for at least 3 months from the date of your arrival in Lebanon.