Lebanon
LBNLebanon 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.
- Naturalisation
- 10 years
- Tax system
- Territorial
- Currency
- Lebanese Pound (LBP) / USD (de facto dual)
- Dual citizenship
- Allowed
- Capital
- Beirut
- Region
- middle east
- Population
- 5,500,000
- Cost-of-living
- 28 /100
Passport Rank
#101
Visa-Free
41
destinations
Visa-free travel
A Lebanon passport has visa-free access to 41 destinations. See the full Lebanon passport breakdown →
Passports that enter Lebanon without a prior visa (102)
Visa-free, visa on arrival, or on an eTA.
Community-sourced (passport-index, synced 2026-08-18) — verify with the embassy before travel.
Immigrating to Canada from Lebanon
Current IRCC processing times for Lebanon nationals, by application type.
| Visitor visa (outside Canada) | 71 days |
| Super visa | 24 days |
| Study permit | 8 weeks |
| Work permit | 7 weeks |
| Sponsor a dependent child | No processing time available |
| Adopted child (citizenship) | Not enough data |
| Government-assisted refugees | 16 months |
| Privately sponsored refugees | sponsor: 1 month / refugee: 29 months |
Your application may take longer than the times shown here. They’re not a maximum or a guarantee.
As of 2026-09-22 (IRCC). See all Canada processing times →
Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — “Check processing times”. This is a copy of the version available at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html. Reproduced under the Government of Canada’s non-commercial reproduction terms; not endorsed by or affiliated with IRCC.
Sources & last verified
Government of Canada — non-commercial reproduction (canada.ca Terms and conditions)
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
- GDP per capita
- $4,473
- Life expectancy
- 77.94 yrs
- Population growth
- 0.75%/yr
- Territorial Taxation
- Yes — foreign-sourced income may not be taxed
GDP per capita, life expectancy, and population growth: World Bank (2025).
Indices
Cost of Living
28
Safety
42
Healthcare
45
Quality of Life
85
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
← scroll the table →
| 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
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
← scroll the table →
| 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
Regulators & official sources
Bodies that regulate immigration advice in Lebanon, and the official sources indexed for it by Visa Atlas. Descriptions are verbatim; each links to its source.
Beirut Bar Association
BBAProfessional association for lawyers in Beirut. Immigration status is administered by Lebanese state authorities including General Security and the Ministry of Labor.
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.
Related on The Citizenship Desk
Visa routes
Official visa and residence routes for Lebanon, indexed from Visa Atlas. Each links to its government source. This is a licensed external index, distinct from our own curated visa guides.
Residence
Permanent Residence Permit
ResidenceRenewable three-year permanent residence for listed income, investor or long work-permit cases.
Short-term / business
Embassy Business Visit Visa
Short-term / businessCommercial-visit visa route supported by an invitation from a Lebanese commercial partner.
Embassy Tourist or Visit Visa
Short-term / businessVisitor visa filed through a Lebanese embassy abroad for tourism or a private visit.
Work (sponsored)
Domestic Worker Visa and Residence
Work (sponsored)Sponsored domestic-worker process involving prior authorization, General Security visa handling, labor permit and residence steps.
Work Visa Authorized by the Ministry of Labor
Work (sponsored)Work visa category that General Security identifies as requiring Ministry of Labor authorization.
Family
Annual Residence for Family Members
FamilyAnnual residence categories for listed family members of Lebanese citizens or foreign residents.
Family Visit Visa
FamilyShort family-visit visa route requiring the general embassy visa file plus evidence of the family relationship.
Study
Religious Student, Volunteer, Missionary or Clergy Residence
StudySpecial visa and residence framework for religious students, clergy, missionaries and volunteers hosted by accredited institutions.
Intra-company transfer
Foreign Expert Port Visa
Intra-company transferShort technical or administrative expert visa at a port for stays of up to one month.
Sources & last verified
Route index from Visa Atlas (CC BY 4.0), as of 2026-09-12. Each route links to its official government source.
Sources & last verified
- Last verified