Work visa (Ministry of Labour approval) and annual work residence permit
Foreign workers in Lebanon need a work visa authorised by the Ministry of Labour, then an annual work residence permit from General Security. General Security sets residence fees by category, from LBP 18,000,000 (Category 4) to LBP 108,000,000 (Category 1, including family members). Spouses and children of a Category 2 worker can get residence at the same fee as the worker.
Life in Lebanon
Money
3
Currency
Lebanese Pound
LBP
Lebanese Pound
Cost of living
65
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2025
Tax
2–25%
Income tax (national)
VAT 11%
Progressive salary tax with seven positive rates from 2% to 25%; bracket amounts in LBP were revised after the currency collapse.
Living
1
Happiness
#139 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
Your edge here Members
What gives you an edge here: passports, visas and permits you hold, work, study, language and family ties
Who it’s for
Foreign nationals hired by an employer in Lebanon, and their families.
Eligibility
Ministry of Labour authorisation
General Security lists 'a work visa authorised by the ministry of labor' as a visa type; the employer starts the process.
Residence category
The annual work residence permit is issued in Categories 1 to 4, with different fees.
Family members
Show the listed documents to get residence for a wife and children of a worker with a second-class annual permit.
- Fee is the same as the worker's fee
- Marriage certificate and passports valid at least a year
- Three photos and a copy of the worker's permit
- Notarised statement that the wife and children do not work
Official wording
The wife and children of a foreigner with an annual work residence permit (second class) can get residence at the same fee as the worker, with a marriage certificate, passports valid at least a year, three photos, a copy of the worker's permit and a notarised statement that the wife and children do not work.
A sneak peek at what's inside
- Document checklistPrior work approval
- FeesAnnual Work Residence Permit Category 1 (with family members)
- Steps to applyEmployer obtains prior approval from the Ministry of Labour
The full requirements are for members
Create an account and subscribe to see every requirement, the full document checklist, fees, steps, processing times and conditions, and how your profile compares.
- 4 documents
- 6 fees
- 4 steps
- Processing times and conditions
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