Lebanon Travel requirements, advice , Coronavirus status and Visa Policy
2023-07-13 16:19:04
Lebanon is located in Western Asia. It is a developing country. Current Travel Advice to visitors travelling to Lebanon is Reconsider Travel. Check Lebanon Travel Advisory, visa Requirements below.
Travel advice and advisories
Published 12.04.2022
1. Passengers must have:
- a COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing that they were fully vaccinated at least 14 days and at most 6 months before departure; or
- a COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing that they were fully vaccinated and received a booster dose; or
- a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken at most 48 hours before departure from the first embarkation point; or
- a negative COVID-19 rapid antigen test taken at most 24 hours before departure from the first embarkation point. The test certificate must have a QR code.
- This does not apply to:
- passengers younger than 12 years;
- passengers returning to Lebanon within 7 days.
2. Airline crew staying for a maximum of 48 hours are subject to self-isolation until their next flight.
3. Passengers transiting through Beirut (BEY) to Syria must have:
- a COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing that they were fully vaccinated at least 14 days and at most 6 months before departure; or
- a COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing that they were fully vaccinated and received a booster dose;
- a negative COVID-19 PCR test result issued at most 48 hours before departure and are subject to a COVID-19 PCR test upon arrival, at their own expense; or
- a negative COVID-19 rapid antigen test taken at most 24 hours before departure from the first embarkation point. The test certificate must have a QR code.
- This does not apply to passengers younger than 12 years.
Travel Advisory By USA
Thu, 13 Jul 2023
Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed.
Reconsider travel to Lebanon due to crime, terrorism, armed conflict, civil unrest, kidnapping and Embassy Beirut’s limited capacity to provide support to U.S. citizens. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.
Do Not Travel to:
- the border with Syria due to terrorism and armed conflict
- the border with Israel due to the potential for armed conflict
- refugee settlements due to the potential for armed clashes
Country Summary: Local security authorities have noted a rise in violent crimes, including political violence. Multiple unsolved killings in Lebanon may have been politically motivated. U.S. citizens living and working anywhere in Lebanon should be aware of the risks of remaining in the country and review their personal security plans.
U.S. citizens who choose to travel to Lebanon should be aware that consular officers from the U.S. Embassy are not always able to travel to assist them. The Department of State considers the threat to U.S. government personnel in Beirut sufficiently serious to require them to live and work under strict security. The internal security policies of the U.S. Embassy may be adjusted at any time and without advance notice.
Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Lebanon. Terrorists may conduct attacks with little or no warning targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities.
The Lebanese government cannot guarantee the protection of U.S. citizens against sudden outbreaks of violence. Family, neighborhood, or sectarian disputes can escalate quickly and can lead to gunfire or other violence with no warning. Armed clashes have occurred along the borders, in Beirut, and in refugee settlements. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have been brought in to quell the violence in these situations.
U.S. citizens should avoid demonstrations and exercise caution if in the vicinity of any large gatherings or protests as some of these have turned violent. Protesters have blocked major roads, including thoroughfares between downtown Beirut and the area where the U.S. Embassy is located, and between Beirut and Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport.
Kidnapping, whether for ransom, political motives, or family disputes, has occurred in Lebanon. Suspects in kidnappings may have ties to terrorist or criminal organizations.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Lebanon.
If you decide to travel to Lebanon:
- Visit our website for information on Travel to High-Risk Areas.
- Avoid demonstrations and crowds.
- Stay alert in locations frequented by Westerners.
- Monitor local media for breaking events and adjust your plans based on new information.
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
- Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter.
- Review the Country Security Report for Lebanon.
- Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.
- U.S. citizens who travel abroad should always have a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.
Border with Syria – Level 4: Do Not Travel
For years Lebanon has witnessed deadly terror attacks in border towns along Lebanon’s border with Syria, including episodic clashes between the LAF and Syrian-based violent extremist groups. A 2017 LAF offensive expelled ISIS militants from territory along Lebanon’s border with Syria. The U.S. Embassy strongly urges U.S. citizens to avoid the Lebanon-Syria border region. The U.S. Department of State also warns U.S. citizens of the risk of traveling on flights that fly over Syria, which include some flights to and from Beirut.
Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Border with Israel – Level 4: Do Not Travel
There have been sporadic rocket, missile, and artillery exchanges between Israel and Hizballah impacting southern Lebanon, most recently in April 2022. The U.S. Embassy urges U.S. citizens to avoid this border area.
Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Refugee Settlements – Level 4: Do Not Travel
The U.S. Embassy urges U.S. citizens to avoid travel to refugee settlements, which are prone to outbreaks of violence including shootings and explosions.
Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Visa Policy for Visitors travelling to Lebanon
Visa required
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- Togo
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- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- Vanuatu
- Vatican City
- Vietnam
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- Zambia
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Conditional Visa on arrival
- Algeria (30 days)
- Egypt (30 days)
Free visa on arrival
- Andorra (1 month)
- Australia (1 month)
- Costa Rica (1 month)
- Dominican Republic (1 month)
- France (30 days)
- Iceland (1 month)
- Ireland (1 month)
- Japan (1 month)
- Mexico (1 month)
- Moldova (1 month)
- Netherlands (1 month)
- New Zealand (1 month)
- Norway (1 month)
- United Kingdom (1 month)
Visa on arrival
- Argentina (1 month)
- Armenia (1 month)
- Austria (1 month)
- Azerbaijan (1 month)
- Bahamas (1 month)
- Barbados (1 month)
- Belarus (1 month)
- Belgium (1 month)
- Belize
- Bhutan (1 month)
- Brazil
- Bulgaria (1 month)
- Canada (1 month)
- Chile (1 month)
- China (1 month)
- Croatia
- Cyprus (1 month)
- Czech Republic (1 month)
- Denmark (1 month)
- Estonia (1 month)
- Finland (1 month)
- Georgia (1 month)
- Germany (1 month)
- Greece (1 month)
- Hong Kong (1 month)
- Hungary (1 month)
- Iraq (30 days)
- Italy (1 month)
- Kyrgyzstan (1 month)
- Latvia (1 month)
- Liechtenstein (1 month)
- Lithuania (1 month)
- Luxembourg (1 month)
- Macau (1 month)
- Macedonia [FYROM] (1 month)
- Malaysia (1 month)
- Malta (1 month)
- Monaco (1 month)
- Montenegro (Extendable for 2 additional months Granted free of charge at Beirut International Airport or any other port of entry if there is no Israeli visa or seal, holding a telephone number, an address in Lebanon, and a non-refundable return or circle trip ticket.)
- Morocco (30 days)
- Panama (1 month)
- Peru (1 month)
- Poland (30 days)
- Portugal (1 month)
- Romania (1 month)
- Russia (1 month)
- Saint Kitts and Nevis (1 month)
- Samoa (1 month)
- San Marino (1 month)
- Serbia (1 month)
- Slovakia (1 month)
- Slovenia (1 month)
- South Korea (1 month)
- Spain (1 month)
- Sweden (1 month)
- Switzerland (1 month)
- Tajikistan (1 month)
- Turkmenistan (1 month)
- Ukraine (30 days)
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan (1 month)
- Venezuela (1 month)
Visa not required
- Bahrain (6 months)
- Jordan (3 months)
- Kuwait (6 months)
- Oman (6 months)
- Qatar (6 months)
- Saudi Arabia (6 months)
- United Arab Emirates (6 months)
Admission refused
- Israel
eVisa / Visa on arrival
- Kazakhstan (30 days)
Free Visa on arrival
- Singapore (1 month)
Visa on arrival (Conditional)
- Tunisia (30 days)
Multiple-entry visa on arrival
- Turkey (3 months)
Visa Requirements for Lebanon Citizens
References
- U.S Department of State - Bureau of Consular Affairs
- Systematic dataset of Covid-19 policy, from Oxford University
- International Air Transport Association (IATA)