Lebanon visa options for Germany passport holders

Visa types & longer-stay routes for Lebanon

Rules are written for non-Arab/non-GCC foreign nationals broadly (e.g. EU, UK, US, Canada); GCC and Jordanian citizens have separate visa-free/free-on-arrival arrangements, and Israeli passport holders are refused entry entirely.

• Most nomadsTourist

  Tourist / Visit Visa (incl. visa on arrival)

  Approx. 1 month on arrival, extendable up to 3 months (90 days) with General Security approval; verify per nationality.

  Insurance

  Recommendednot legally required for entry, but the US State Dept advises travel medical cover (~$50,000) plus medical-evacuation cover (~$100,000) given limited local facilities.

  Good for

  Leisure travellers, family visitors and short-stay tourists; many nationalities (EU, UK, US, Canada, others) get this on arrival at Beirut airport, others apply at an embassy first.

  Requirement

  Valid passport (no Israeli stamps/evidence), proof of accommodation and an onward/return ticket; no work permitted on this visa.

• Business

  Business Visa

  Up to about 3 months; verify, as duration varies by nationality and approval.

  Insurance

  Recommendednot a stated entry condition, but private travel/medical cover is strongly advised.

  Good for

  Foreign nationals attending meetings, negotiations or short business activities, not taking up local employment.

  Requirement

  Business purpose documentation (e.g. invitation); does not authorise employment, though it may precede a work-permit application.

• Work

  Work / Entry Visa + Work Permit

  Tied to the work permit, typically issued for 1 year and renewable; verify.

  Insurance

  Recommended/ employer-provided - no universal entry insurance mandate, but employees are generally covered via Lebanese social security / employer arrangements; private cover advisable. Verify current rules.

  Good for

  Foreign nationals taking up employment with a Lebanese employer/sponsor.

  Requirement

  Prior Ministry of Labour approval and an employer-sponsored application to General Security; a certified work contract and often a police-clearance certificate. Processing approx. 1-3 months.

• Study

  Student Visa / Student Residence Permit

  Entry often via 1-month visa on arrival (extendable ~2 months); for longer study a student residence permit covering the study period is required.

  Insurance

  Recommendedinstitutions commonly expect students to hold health cover; not a confirmed national entry mandate. Verify with the specific university.

  Good for

  Foreign nationals enrolled at a recognised Lebanese university or educational institution for programmes longer than the short-stay limit.

  Requirement

  Proof of enrolment at a recognised institution and evidence of financial means; the university supplies the application; permit fee around USD 300 (varies by nationality). Verify figures.

• Most nomadsResidence

  Annual Residence Permit (income / family / investor)

  One year, renewable; validity may be capped to passport validity (issued only if passport has 6+ months left, up to 1 year).

  Insurance

  Recommendedno stated insurance condition for the permit; private health cover strongly advised given local healthcare costs.

  Good for

  Foreign nationals staying long-term: spouses/family of Lebanese nationals, second-class workers, Arab businessmen/investors, or self-funded residents/retirees with sufficient income or blocked savings.

  Requirement

  For the income route: a blocked Lebanese bank account of at least approx. 1,000,000,000 LBP (approx. 2,000,000,000 LBP joint) OR documented monthly income of at least approx. 50,000,000 LBP, plus proof of accommodation. Thresholds in LBP fluctuate - verify the current figure.

• Residence

  Permanent (3-Year) Residence Permit - investor / high-income

  3 years, possibly renewable.

  Insurance

  Recommendedno insurance mandate stated; private medical cover strongly advised.

  Good for

  Higher-tier long-stay residents: Arab business investors, three-year work-permit holders, and high-net-worth individuals or retirees with substantial frozen savings.

  Requirement

  Self-funded route: a frozen Lebanese bank account of not less than approx. 4,500,000,000 LBP held for over three months, plus a notarised commitment not to work locally and proof of accommodation; investor route needs home-country and Lebanese authority attestation of investment projects. Fees are high (tens of millions LBP). Verify current LBP thresholds.

• Transit

  Transit Visa

  Short transit period (varies); verify per nationality.

  Insurance

  Recommendednot required; short-trip travel cover advisable.

  Good for

  Foreign nationals passing through Lebanon en route to a third country who are not eligible for visa-free entry.

  Requirement

  Onward travel documentation; issued single or double entry by General Security.

Lebanese visa rules vary sharply by nationality and are administered case-by-case by General Security; verify your specific passport with a Lebanese embassy before travel. Last checked: 2026-06.

Last verified June 2026

Germany → Lebanon: frequently asked

Do Germany passport holders need a visa to visit Lebanon?

Visa on arrival. Get the visa at the border on entry. Always confirm with the official source before booking.

Can a Germany passport holder live or work long-term in Lebanon?

Yes, via a long-stay visa. Lebanon has 7 documented visa types covering work, study, residence and — where it exists — digital-nomad routes.

Do I need travel insurance for Lebanon?

Entry to Lebanon never includes health cover, so travel medical insurance is strongly recommended.