1. Main Visa and Work Permit Types

1.1 Tourist and Business Visits

Visitor eligibility should be assessed according to the applicant’s nationality, travel document, and current entry requirements.

Business meetings and market visits should remain consistent with the declared purpose of travel. A business visitor arrangement cannot be used to cover:

1. Long-term on-site assignments
2. The duties of an ordinary local position
3. Continuous service delivery

Visa validity, the permitted number of entries, and the authorised duration of stay are separate matters.

Any extension conditions should be confirmed from the specific approval document.

An ordinary visitor invitation does not replace preliminary approval from the labour authorities, a Work Permit, or the dedicated authorisation required for a short-term technical expert.

If the applicant’s actual activities may constitute work, the appropriate permit pathway should be confirmed before travel.

1.2 Standard Work Permit and Employment Residence Permit

When a foreign national is employed on a long-term basis by a Lebanese employer, the process will generally involve:

1. Obtaining preliminary approval from the labour authorities
2. Entering Lebanon under the appropriate employment-related arrangement
3. Obtaining a Work Permit
4. Applying for employment residence based on the valid labour authorisation

The applicant’s occupation, nationality, position category, and the employer’s local employment conditions must comply with the applicable requirements.

Whether the proposed occupation is open to foreign nationals will also directly affect eligibility.

Preliminary labour approval may expire if, for example, the employee does not enter Lebanon within three months. It cannot be retained indefinitely and used at a later date.

A Work Permit may be issued or renewed for a period of up to two years. The actual validity period is determined by the competent authority.

An employment residence permit is generally valid for no more than one year and is also limited by the validity of the employee’s passport.

Therefore, even when the Work Permit remains valid, the employee and employer must separately monitor and maintain the employment residence permit.

1.3 Short-Term Technical Expert Visa

The short-term technical expert visa applies to eligible experts invited by a Lebanese company to perform an approved temporary technical assignment in Lebanon.

The inviting company and applicant should provide evidence of:

1. The specific technical assignment
2. The applicant’s professional expertise
3. Work location
4. Applicable insurance coverage

A visa arrangement processed through a port of entry does not mean that the individual’s work must be performed at the port. It also does not remove the requirement to obtain the necessary approval in advance.

The short-term technical expert visa is valid for a maximum of one month and cannot be renewed.

Its permitted scope cannot be expanded without approval, and it should not be used for long-term on-site work or routine customer services.

If the technical assignment is expected to exceed one month, or the short-term assignment develops into continuous employment, the standard employee Work Permit pathway should be reassessed.

Employers cannot avoid the time limit by renewing the technical expert visa or informally expanding the scope of the original assignment.

2. Entry, Dependants, and Other Arrangements

2.1 Entry and Stay

Before travel, applicants and employers should confirm the applicable:

1. Nationality restrictions
2. Permitted ports of entry
3. Security requirements

Approval of a visa does not guarantee that every location or project will remain accessible.

Ordinary business visits and short-term technical expert assignments have different documentation requirements and permitted work boundaries.

The visa and permit pathway should be selected according to the applicant’s actual assignment. An invitation letter alone does not establish that the applicant may perform work in Lebanon.

2.2 Dependants and Other Statuses

Eligibility for accompanying-family status should be assessed according to the principal applicant’s residence status and the qualifying family relationship.

Dependant status does not automatically grant the right to work in Lebanon.

If the principal applicant’s Work Permit or residence status ends, the family members’ lawful basis for remaining in Lebanon should also be reviewed.

Any necessary arrangements to maintain, change, or end the family members’ immigration status should be completed promptly.

3. Renewals, Changes, Termination, and Status Maintenance

Work permits and employment residence permits are administered by different authorities and may have different validity periods.

Employers and employees should separately monitor each document’s expiry date, renewal deadline, and permitted scope of work.

4. How sailglobal Can Help

If your company plans to send personnel to Lebanon for business visits, local employment, short-term technical projects, or assignments involving accompanying family members, sailglobal can help you understand the applicable pathways and application requirements.

The assessment can consider the applicant’s status, job responsibilities, assignment duration, and proposed travel arrangements.

Visa, Work Permit, and residence applications are independently reviewed by the relevant Lebanese authorities. sailglobal cannot guarantee an approval outcome or a fixed issuance date.