Lebanon

LBN

Lebanon is a small eastern Mediterranean republic whose economy collapsed in 2019–2020 in one of the worst financial crises in modern history. The Lebanese pound lost over 95% of its value against the dollar, banks froze deposits, and the formal banking system effectively ceased to function for ordinary savers. Despite this, Beirut retains a cosmopolitan culture, Arabic-French-English trilingualism, a skilled professional class, and a territorial tax system that exempts foreign-sourced income entirely. Expats and remote workers transacting in USD can find low nominal costs, but infrastructure — electricity, water, internet — remains unreliable. Political deadlock and Hezbollah's armed presence add persistent instability. Citizenship by descent through a Lebanese father is available with no generation limit under current law.

→ If you hold a Lebanon passport, see the Lebanon nationality guide

Passport Rank

#101

Visa-Free

destinations

Country Details

Capital: Beirut
Currency: Lebanese Pound (LBP) / USD (de facto dual)
Languages: Arabic, French, English
Population: 5,500,000
Tax System: Territorial
Dual Citizenship: Allowed
Naturalisation: 10 years
Schengen / EU: No
Climate: Mediterranean (coast); semi-arid highland (Bekaa Valley)
English Proficiency Rank: #38
Territorial Taxation: Yes — foreign-sourced income may not be taxed

Indices

Cost of Living

Safety

Healthcare

Quality of Life

Tax Summary

Tax System: Territorial
Territorial Taxation: Yes — foreign-sourced income may not be taxed
Naturalisation: 10 years of legal residency
Dual Citizenship: Allowed

Cost of Living by City

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Monthly cost of living per major city in USD: rent, groceries, utilities, transit pass
City	Rent 1BR centre	Rent outside	Groceries	Utilities	Transit pass
Beirut	$600	$350	$180	$120	$20
Jounieh	$450	$280	$160	$110	$15

Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.

Climate

Beirut

13°J

14°F

16°M

20°A

24°M

27°J

30°J

31°A

28°S

24°O

19°N

15°D

Rainfall range: 0–191 mm/month · Daylight 10h (winter) to 14h (summer)

Visa Categories & Immigration Authority

Major Visa Categories

Tourist
Work
Investor
Student
Family
Domestic Worker

Authority: General Security Directorate
Official Portal: www.general-security.gov.lb
Phone: +961-1-425610

Naturalisation Details

Residence Years: 10
Language Test: No
Civic Test: No
Oath Required: Yes
Dual Allowed: Yes
Fee: $500
Processing: ~24 months

Real Estate

Avg price/sqm (capital): $2,200
Transaction taxes: 6%

Foreign buyers: Foreigners may purchase property subject to Council of Ministers approval; GCC nationals have reciprocal rights; total foreign ownership of any cadastral district capped at 3%.

International Schools

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International schools by city, curriculum, and annual tuition
School	City	Curriculum	Tuition (USD/yr)
American Community School Beirut	Beirut	American	$12,000–$22,000
Lycée Franco-Libanais Verdun	Beirut	French	$5,000–$12,000

Daily Life Logistics

Internet

12 Mbps median

15% fibre coverage

eSIM: Alfa Lebanon, touch (MTC)

Driving

IDP required

Exchange eligible: France, Germany, United Kingdom +1 more

Pet Relocation

Quarantine: none

Rabies titre required

EU pet passport: not accepted

Safety

GPI Rank

#139

Global Peace Index ranking (lower is safer)

Common Risks

⚠Currency exchange rate manipulation (fresh vs. lollar)
⚠Overcharging tourists in USD at unofficial rates
⚠Unlicensed money changers short-counting

Examples of areas to avoid: Dahiyeh southern suburbs (Hezbollah stronghold), Tripoli Bab al-Tabbaneh area, South Lebanon border zone

LGBTQ+ Legal Status

Same-Sex Marriage: Not legal
Civil Partnerships: Not recognised
Anti-Discrimination Law: No
ILGA Rank: #164

Religious Life

Halal Food: Widely available
Kosher Food: Limited
Prayer Facilities: Common

Sample Citizenship Test Questions

Q1. What is the official name of Lebanon's currency?

Answer: Lebanese Pound

Source: Banque du Liban

Q2. In what year did Lebanon gain full independence from France?

Answer: 1943

Source: Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Related Guides

Zero and low-tax residencies: the real list

Countries with zero personal income tax, territorial-only taxation, or special expatriate regimes — and what each one actually requires from you to qualify as a resident.

Exit tax: countries that charge you to leave

Country-by-country reference of departure taxes, deemed-disposition rules, and wealth-locking regimes that trigger when tax residency ends.

Sources & last verified

Last verified 2026-06-15