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TITLE I - GENERAL PROVISIONS Article 1 Any natural person who is not of Lebanese nationality is, within the framework of the present law, considered as alien. Article 2 Without prejudice to international agreements and special laws, aliens are subject to the provisions of the present law in what concerns their entry and stay in Lebanon as well as their exit. Article 3 Members of the diplomatic and consular corps are exempted from the provisions of the present law. However, honorary consuls are exempted only from the provisions governing stay, entry and exit. Article 4 Aliens holding a visa for transit or stay, or of a residence card, may move freely throughout the Lebanese territory except for such zones as may be prohibited by the competent authorities. Article 5 A decree taken by the Council of Ministers on the proposal of the Minister of the Interior shall fix: A - Transit and stay taxes. B - The conditions and terms governing the granting of visas or residence cards, objects of the present law . C - The categories and persons that the Minister of the Interior may dispense from the traveller's document requirement because of their special cases. TITLE II - ENTRY INTO LEBANON Article 6 An alien may not enter Lebanon except through one of the posts of the General Security, on condition however that he is provided with the regulation documents and visas, as well as a passport on which a visa for transit or stay is affixed by one of Lebanon's representatives abroad, or by an authority entrusted with Lebanese interests abroad, or by the General Security. The Lebanese national may not enter Lebanon except through one of the posts of the General Security. As for the non-Lebanese who are not required to hold a passport, their entry into Lebanon shall be recorded at the frontier by the General Security Services. The enforcement of this paragraph shall be governed by a ministerial order from the Minister of the Interior. Any alien wishing to enter Lebanon to carry on a profession or to take up a paid job is required to obtain, prior to entry, a permit from the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, except for artists who shall be required to obtain a permit from the Directorate of the General Security. Article 7 By virtue of a decree taken on the proposal of the Minister of the Interior, visas for entry and stay may be suppressed for nationals of certain countries wishing to stay in Lebanon for a maximum three-month period, as tourists. TITLE III - TRANSIT AND STAY Article 8 The holder of a transit visa is authorised to enter Lebanon once and to stay for a maximum period of15 days. Article 9 In exceptional cases, the Directorate of the General Security is authorised to change a transit visa into a stay visa. Article 10 Stay-in visas may be granted for one or several trips, but their validity should not exceed a maximum six-month period to be computed from the date of the visa. Article 11 The Directorate of the General Security is authorised to grant several extensions of the stay-in visa up to a maximum period of one year to be computed from the date of their entry into Lebanon. Article 12 One-year residence cards or permanent residence cards valid for three years and subject to renewal may be granted by the Directorate of the General Security to aliens wishing to reside in Lebanon for one year or more. The bearer of a one-year or a permanent residence card may move into and out of Lebanon several times. TITLE IV - ARTISTS' ENTRY, STAY AND WORK Article 13 For the purpose of the present law, anyone who performs in night clubs where alcoholic drinks are retailed, or where variety shows are given to the accompaniment of music, whether food is service or not, is considered an artist. Article 14 By virtue of a decree issued on the proposal of the Minister of the Interior shall be fixed: A - The conditions of entry, stay and work of aliens and the taxes to which they shall be submitted. B - The conditions of the impresarios' work. TITLE V - EXIT AND EXPULSION Article 15 The Directorate of the General Security may impose on aliens an exit visa when considerations of the General Security so require. Article 16 Exit from Lebanon is allowed only through one of the posts of the General Security. A decree issued by the Council of Ministers shall establish, on the proposal of the Minister of the Interior, special regulations designed to facilitate and govern the movement of the inhabitants of villages bordering on the Lebanese-Syrian frontier within a radius fixed by the decree itself Article 17 Expulsion of an alien from Lebanon shall be carried out by virtue of a decision from the Director of the General Security when the alien's presence is considered a threat to public security. The Director of the General Security is then required to submit forthwith copy of his decision to the Minister of the Interior. Expulsion shall be carried out, either through notification of the person concerned of the order to leave Lebanon within the time-limit set by the Director of the General Security, or by escorting the unwanted person to the frontier by a detachment of the Inland Security Forces. Article 18 The Director of the General Security may, following the approval of the Public Prosecutor, put and retain under arrest the person due for expulsion throughout the period necessary for the completion of the travel formalities. TITLE VI - THE PASS Article 19 The Director of the General Security is authorised to grant aliens who may be bearing no travel documents, a pass enabling them to reach the countries to which they wish to go in the following two cases: A - If the alien is stateless or a refugee. B - If the alien is a national of a country which has no representative in Lebanon. Article 20 The pass is valid for a maximum period of three years according to what the Directorate of the General Security may appreciate. Article 21 The bearer of a pass is not authorised to return to Lebanon if he does not equally hold a permit for his return to Lebanon. Article 22 A tax shall be levied on the pass equal in amount to what is levied on a Lebanese passport. Article 23 It shall be possible to issue a group pass covering the father of the family, his wife and those of his children who may not have reached 15 years of age. Article 24 Validity of the pass shall be cancelled should the bearer of the pass move into the territory of a country in which there may be a representative of the nation of his own citizenship. TITLE VII - ALIENS' WORK IN LEBANON Article 25 Aliens who are not professional artists are forbidden to work or to carry on a profession in Lebanon if they do not bear a permit issued by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, in conformity with the laws and regulations in force. LFOE511 TITLE VIII - RIGHT OF POLITICAL ASYLUM Article 26 Any alien who may be under pursuit or under sentence from a non-Lebanese authority as a result of a political crime, or whose life or freedom are threatened, equally for political reasons, may apply for political asylum in Lebanon. The definition of political crime as set down in articles 196 and 197 of the Penal Code shall be taken into consideration. The provisions of articles 30 to 36 of the Penal Code regarding extradition remain applicable. Article 27 Asylum shall be granted by virtue of an order issued by a Commission composed of: The Minister of the Interior The Directors of Justice, Foreign Affairs and the General Security President Members In the event of a tie, the chairman shall have casting power. The decision issued by this Commission is absolute and may not be challenged, even for abuse of power. Article 28 A special card shall be remitted by the Directorate of the General Security to the political refugee. The card shall bear all such particulars as may identify the refugee as well as the conditions to which he shall be submitted. Article 29 The Commission may decline to grant asylum or to cancel asylum at any time or to restrict it by compelling the beneficiary to reside in a determined place, for instance. Article 30 The person who has been granted asylum in Lebanon shall refrain from all political activity. Article 31 In the event of expulsion of a former political refugee, such refugee may not be taken into the territory of a country where his life or his freedom are threatened. TITLE IX _ SANCTIONS (I) Article 32 Shall be under penalty of a term of imprisonment of between one and three months, or of a fine ofLL 100 to 500 and of expulsion from Lebanon: - Any alien who shall have entered Lebanon without complying with the provisions of article 6 of the present law. Any alien who shall have made a false declaration designed to conceal his true identity or who may have used forged identity papers. In all such cases, the Court shall not be authorised to grant the contravener the benefit of reprieve (from execution) nor sentence him to a term of imprisonment of under one month. Article 33 Shall be under penalty of a term of imprisonment of between one week and three months and of a fine ofLL 50 to 300, or of either penalty only: - Any alien who shall not have left Lebanon after he has been notified that his residence permit has not been renewed. Any alien who shall have infringed the provisions of articles 15 and 16 of the present law. - Any Lebanese who shall have re-entered Lebanon elsewhere than through the posts of the General Security. Article 34 Any alien who shall have infringed the provisions of article 17 of the present law shall be under penalty of a term of imprisonment of between one and six months. Article 35 The alien who shall have committed a second offence under one of the infringements therein designated or who shall have illegally re-entered Lebanon after his expulsion from it, shall be punishable by the hardest penalty referred to in the three preceding articles. Article 36 Any alien who, without valid reason, shall have neglected to apply for the extension of his residence permit within the regulation time-limit shall be under penalty of a term of imprisonment of between one week and two months and of a fine of LL 10 to 100, or of either penalty only. Article 37 Any person who accommodates an alien, for onerous consideration, is required to inform the service of the General Security accordingly, failing which he shall be under penalty of a fine of between LL 10 and 100. Article 38 Aliens who shall be in Lebanon upon the enforcement of the present law shall be granted a time¬limit of six months so that they may settle their situation as required by regulations, and in conformity with the provisions of the ministerial order which shall be drafted by the Ministry of the Interior within five days following the publication of the present law. Article 39 All previous provisions inconsistent with the present law are abrogated. Article 40 The present law shall come into force the day following its publication in the Official Gazette. Zouk, 10 July 1962 Signed: Fouad Chehab By the President of the Republic The President of the Council of Ministers Signed: Rachid Karame The Minister of the Interior Signed: Kamal Joumb1att All rights of total or partial reproductton are reserved LFOE511 DECREE No. 10188 OF 28 JULY 1962 Regarding the enforcement of the Law of 10 July 1962 regulating entry into Lebanon, stay and exit The President of the Lebanese Republic, Whereas the Lebanese Constitution, Whereas the Law of 10/7/1962, notably its article 5, On the proposal of the Minister of the Interior, And following the approval of the Council of Ministers, Decrees the following: I - TRANSIT AND STAY VISAS Article 1 In pursuance of the enforcement of the provisions of the Law of 10 July 1962 a "consular visa" is meant to connote any transit or stay visa granted by representative of Lebanon abroad or by a post of the General Security set up at the border to persons entering Lebanon without visa. Article 2 The consular visa is gained by mere affixing on the alien's passport of the transit or stay visa. Article 3 The consular visa is valid as from the day when it was granted and for the period designated in it. Article 4 The alien may obtain the transit visa from a representative of Lebanon abroad, or on his arrival at the frontier, by one of the General Security posts. Article 5 The alien who wishes to stay in Lebanon on a temporary basis may obtain a residence visa from a representative of Lebanon abroad, or on his arrival at the frontier, from one of the General Security posts, if he comes from a country where no Lebanese consular representation exists. Article 6 The consular visa may be issued without reference to the central authorities, to any alien, not included in one of the following categories: A - Those whose names are listed as unwanted. B - Artists referred to in article 13 of the Law of 10 July 1962. C - Aliens wishing to work in Lebanon or to carry on a profession therein. D - Bearers of a pass. E - Other categories set down by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants. Article 7 In implementation of the provisions of article 6 of the law of 10 July 1962 a "residence visa for work" is granted to any alien entering Lebanon for work or to carry on a profession. Article 8 A consular group visa is issued to sports teams, students ant tourist delegations and the like; the transit and stay visa shall be affixed on a document bearing the name of the members of the group or the delegation. Any alien who shall have entered Lebanon under a group visa is not authorised to stray from the group or the delegation except if he has obtained an individual transit or stay visa from the General Security Services. Article 9 The validity period of the consular visa must expire 30 days at least before the expiry of the passport on which it is affixed. The alien shall not be entitled, during the 15 days preceding the expiry of the validity of his passport, to take advantage of the visa granted contrary to the provisions of the first paragraph. Article 10 Any alien who has entered Lebanon with a transit visa who may wish to extend his stay, shall be required to file an application stating this request with the Directorate of the General Security, three days at least before the expiry of the validity of the said transit visa. In exceptional cases, the application for extension may be received even the very day of the expiry of the validity of the transit visa. Article 11 Any alien who may wish to extend the period of his temporary stay must, as a matter of principle, file a petition stating this request with the Directorate of the General Security, at least five days before the expiry of the validity period of the stay visa. In exceptional cases, the application for extension may be received even the very day of the expiry of the validity of the transit visa. Article 12 The Directorate of the General Security shall issue a residence permit valid for one or several entries into Lebanon for a period of six months or more to any alien residing in Lebanon on a temporary basis and wishing to leave the country, then return thereto. II - RESIDENCE CARDS Article 13 Any alien wishing to stay in Lebanon for over 12 months is required to file and sign an application that he shall file with the Directorate of the General Security at least 30 days before the expiry of the validity period of his permit for temporary stay. This Directorate shall decide on the cases to be approved and shall issue a card for an annual or permanent residence. On both the application and the permit, mention shall be made of all the particulars whereby the alien can be identified, including his address, the information concerning his passport and the object of his stay. Article 14 A residence card is delivered to any person of full 15 years of age and to any child who has left his parents' residence even if he has not yet exceeded this age. The card of each of the spouses shall mention the identity of the other, as well as the name of the children residing with them and who may not have attained full 15 years of age. Article 15 Application for the renewal of a residence card must be filed with the Directorate of the General Security, at least five days before the expiry of the validity period. In exceptional cases, the application may be received on the very day of expiry of the residence card. Cards for annual or permanent residence are not renewable if their holders reside outside Lebanon. Article 16 Cards for annual or permanent residence entitle their bearers to enter Lebanon in the course of their validity period provided they also hold regulation passports authorising them to return to their country. Article 17 The alien who shall have stayed outside Lebanon a total number of days in excess of six months shall forfeit the right to benefit from the card of annual residence. If he has stayed outside Lebanon for twelve months at a stretch, or a total number of days in excess of 18 months in the course of three years, he shall forfeit the right to benefit from the card of permanent residence. Article 18 The terms and conditions governing the release, free of charge, of residence cards to officials of foreign missions in Lebanon and to members of their families, as well as to their dependants shall be specified by ministerial order from the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants. III - TRANSIT AND STAY TAXES (1) Article 19 (as modified by Decree No. 7451 of31 May 1967, (Law No. 4/80 of7 April 1980, Decree-Law No. 31 of 14 June 1983, (Law No. 46 of 1 July 1988, Law No. 14 of20 August 1990, (and Law No. 280 of 15 December 1993 Taxes on transit and residence visas are assessed as follows and levied by means of a fiscal stamp which shall be affixed and cancelled on the same page of the visa: Tax on transit visa: 25,000 Lebanese pounds; however the transit visa is free of charge if it is granted for 48 hours by a General Security post set up at the border. Tax on residence visa: - for one travel: 50,000 Lebanese pounds - for two travels: 75,000 Lebanese pounds - for three travels or more: 100,000 Lebanese pounds Article 20 (as modified by Decree No. 7451 of31 May 1967 The group visa is issued for one month and many travels and no tax shall be levied to this effect. Article 21 (as modified by Decree No. 7451 of31 May 1967, (Decree No. 6722 of 13 November 2001, (and Decree No. 10955 of 17 September 2003 Are exempted from the tax on transit or stay visa, bearers of diplomatic passports, special and official, as well as service passports and those or United Nations personnel. The Heads of consular and diplomatic missions and the Director General of the General Security are authorised to grant courtesy visas to clerics, governing or formerly governing personalities, personalities known to be friendly, outstanding personalities of Lebanese origin, members of the diplomatic and consular corps and United Nations officials, as well as their families and all the persons previously designated who do not bear usual passports. Non-lebanese military men of every rank, seconded to Lebanese military academies and institutes belonging to the army or to security administrations, are exempted fom visa taxes for entry and stay during the whole period of their stay in Lebanon. The Director General of the General Security may grant courtesy stay permits for three years, renewable, to the following categories: - The Arab or foreign national whose mother is Lebanese, if he is not working. - The wife of a Lebanese, whether Arab or foreign., if she is not working. - The Arab or foreign national, born in Lebanon of non-Lebanese parents, if he is studying. - The Arab or foreign national of Lebanese origin who has another nationality and who must therefore obtain a stay permit in Lebanon. - Diplomats, irrespective of their nationality, who had been appointed in Lebanon and who wish to stay in the country after their retirement. - Special cases, as the Director General of the General Security may appreciate. Article 22 No tax shall be levied on any renewal of a transit or stay visa granted in Lebanon if extension does not exceed the maximum validity of such visa (15 days for the transit visa and 12 months for the residence visa). Consuls are not empowered to extend the validity period of transit and residence visas; they must renew them against payment of the regulation tax an each renewal. Article 23 (as modified by Law No. 1/70 of 19 January 1970, (Law No. 4/80 of7 April 1980, (and Decree-Law No. 31 of14 June 1983 The amount of the tax in respect of permanent or annual residence cards is fixed as follows, and shall be levied by means of fiscal stamps affixed and cancelled on the very page which bears the signature of the Director of the General Security or of his Deputy : Annual Permanent (3 years) 1 - For destitute persons and members of their families 2 - For students, low income persons and their families 3 - Other categories LL 60 LL 75 LL 300 LL 180 LL 225 LL 700 The Director General of the General Security shall determine, following enquiry, the bracket to which the applicant belongs. (1) Article 24 Aliens of under 15 years of age are exempted from the tax on the extension of the validity period of the stay visa and on the permanent or annual residence card. Article 25 Syrian nationals are exempted from the obligations deriving from article 23; there shall be levied on the permanent residence cards issued to them the value of a one-pound duty stamp. Article 26 The usual tax shall be levied on the stay visa granted to an alien entering Lebanon with a transit visa; it shall be likewise if he enters Lebanon with a stay visa. A new tax shall be levied on all new residence cards or on any renewal of his card. (I) The amounts of taxes are periodically modified. Article 27 The regulation tax levied on transit visas and on residence cards may not be refunded. IV - EXEMPTION FROM THE USE OF PASSPORTS Article 28 Without prejudice to the current practice and customs regarding the movement and residence of nationals of the Syrian Arab Republic as well as to the provisions of the agreement concluded between the Lebanese State and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan regarding the movement and residence of the nationals of the two countries, or to all other agreements subsequently concluded with other States to regulate this matter, the categories of aliens and persons that the Minister of Interior may exempt by ministerial order from the use of passports in specific cases are listed as under: 1 - Palestinian refugees in Lebanon or in the Syrian Arab Republic during their movement between the two countries; 2 - Aliens residing in Lebanon or in the Syrian Arab Republic during their movement between the two countries; 3 - Sea and air travellers wishing to visit the country while their vessel or aircraft lies at anchor in the harbour or stands at airport, or while awaiting a connection; 4 - Tourists, students and athletes, on their arrival, their travelling in groups duly constituted or in delegation; 5 - Sea and air crews and their assistants, on their entering Lebanon or the Syrian Arab Republic, either to report to duty on board their vessels and aircraft, or to reach their place or residence; 6 - Members of foreign armed forces and the United Nations, on their entry as tourists; 7 - In exceptional cases, other persons, as the Minister of the Interior or the Director of the General Security may appreciate. A ministerial order from the Minister of the Interior shall fix the nature of the documents which shall be used in the cases listed in the preceding subparagraph regarding entry, stay and exit. Zouk, 28 July 1962 Signed: Fouad Chehab By the President of the Republic, The President of the Council of Ministers Signed : Rachid Karame MINISTERIAL ORDER No. 319 OF 2 AUGUST 1962 Regulating the situation of aliens in Lebanon The Minister of the Interior, Whereas Decree No. 7996 of 4/11/1961, Whereas the Law of 10/7/1962, notably its article 38, Orders the following: Provisions regulating the situation of aliens in what concerns their residence Article 1 Non-Lebanese nationals now in Lebanon are required to set their situation in order in what concerns their residence. They stand under one of the five classifications thereunder: 1 - Alien residents by virtue of transit visas or of temporary stay visas affixed on their passport. 2 - Aliens who may be bearers of passports residing in Lebanon by virtue of residence cards for a given period or not issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants or by the Directorate of the General Security on the evidence of their passports. 3 - Aliens who do not bear identity papers from their country of origin and residents in Lebanon by virtue of residence cards issued by the Directorate of the General Security or identity cards issued by the Directorate General of the Department or Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon. 4 - Aliens whose entry into Lebanon is allowed on production of their identity cards and staying in the country by virtue of temporary or permanent residence cards. 5 - Aliens who are bearers of identity papers issued by their country of ongm or by organisations to which they belong and who are staying in Lebanon by virtue of temporary documents initialled by the General Security Services. Article 2 Persons referred to in the preceding article are allowed a time-limit expiring 30/9/1962 to obtain from the General Security Services the visa or the permit required by regulations, in conformity with their classification under one of the headings of the said article. Article 3 The residence period of aliens within the first and the second classifications shall be fixed and extended in pursuance of the provisions of Decree No. 10188 of28 July 1962. LFOE511 Article 4 The Directorate General ofthe Security Forces and the Directorate of the General Security shall take all the necessary measures to provide aliens under the third and fourth classifications before 30/9/1962 with temporary or permanent residence cards, bearing their surnames, names, place and of the birth, nationality, address in Lebanon, and identity of the persons under IS years of age accompanying them. Article 5 Residence cards issued to Syrian nationals by the Directorate General of Census and Civil Status stand valid for their bearers and the bearers' spouses and children under 15 years of age until such cards have been changed or cancelled by instalments by the General Security Directorate between 30/9/1962 and 30/9/1963. Article 6 The provisional receipt issued to any person applying for a residence card and comprised within the third classification stands valid for the residence of these bearers as well as for their wives and members of their families until such time as a final decision has been taken on the matter. Article 7 A temporary residence card shall be issued to any Syrian national who has applied for it, upon production of the identity card issued by the Syrian Civil Status Services or of any other document in lieu thereof Article 8 A permanent residence card shall be issued to any Syrian national who shall produce evidence that he has a domicile or a permanent job in Lebanon. Article 9 A temporary residence card valid for a maximum period of three months shall be delivered to any Jordanian national who entered Lebanon on presentation of his identity card. The period of his stay shall be extended in conformity with the provisions of article 3 of the present ministerial order. Article 10 The period of residence of aliens under the fifth classification shall be fixed and extended in conformity with the instructions that shall be subsequently issued by the Director of the General Security. Beirut, 2 August 1962 The Minister of the Interior Signed: Kamal Joumblatt MINISTERIAL ORDER No. 320 OF 2 AUGUST 1962 Concerning the procedure to be followed by frontier posts at entry and exit The Minister of the Interior, Whereas Decree No. 7996 of 4/11/1961, Whereas the Law of 10/7/1962, notably its article 6, Whereas Decree No. 10188 of28/7/1962, Orders the following: Article I Without prejudice to the application of exceptional procedures mentioned III the present ministerial order, any person entering or leaving Lebanon is required to : A - Bear a travel document which shall be initialled by the General Security post set up at the frontier. B - Fill an entry or exit form indicating his surname, name, date and place of birth, his nationality, his profession, his address in Lebanon, the names of his wife and children who are stated on the same travel document as travelling companions, and in certain case, such particulars as may be mentioned on this document and the visa. Article 2 The General Security post set up at the frontier shall initial the travel document and the entry or exit form, state therein the end of the authorised stay, then shall send such form to the Directorate of the General Security, after having entered on a social register the data it contains. Article 3 If a non-Lebanese national wishes to leave the country with a document other than the one he used for entry, he shall ask the General Security Services, 24 hours at least before the date of his departure, to affix on this new document the necessary visas. Article 4 The non-Lebanese national may not leave the country except with such persons as may have accompanied him for entry, except if he proves that the latter have obtained individual residence cards or if he lodges the necessary documents which guarantee his return within a time-limit of not more than one week. Infringers shall not receive individual residence cards except after they have obtained individual travel documents or identity cards. Article 5 Contrary to the provisions of the first paragraph of article I of the present ministerial order, the Lebanese national is authorised to move between Lebanon, the Syrian Arab Republic and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan merely with his identity card. However, he shall be forbidden to leave anyone of these two countries to travel abroad without his serving prior notification to the Lebanese General Security post or the Lebanese Consulate standing nearest to him. This shall be noted on his passport. Article 6 The references mentioned on the entry or exit form of the Lebanese national on the occasion of his movements between Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic shall not be entered on the special register provided under article 2 of the present ministerial order. Article 7 Contrary to the provisions of the first paragraph of article 1 of the present ministerial order, aliens listed in the following categories are authorised to enter and leave Lebanon by virtue of the documents mentioned hereinafter and the provisions of the second paragraph of the said article shall be applicable only to categories 1 and 2 : A - Palestinian refugees in Lebanon or in the Syrian Arab Republic required to hold their identity card as well as a permit issued by the General Security (1) B - Aliens residing in the Syrian Arab Republic, to the exclusion of those mentioned in the categories of article 6 of Decree No. 10188 of 2817/1962, as well as those residing in Lebanon shall be required to hold their residence card or a residence visa issued by one of the two countries. C - Members of the international Emergency Force and of the foreign armed forces entering Lebanon as tourists are required to hold individual cards, or individual or group assignment orders. D - Groups of tourists, students and athletes shall be required to hold individual or group travel documents, additionally to lists mentioning their names and nationalities. E - Sea and air crews wishing to reach their domicile, vessel or aircraft are required to bear professional passports. F - Travellers allowed to visit the country, while their ship rides at anchor in a Lebanese port, or while their aircraft stands parked in a Lebanese airport, or when they wish to change them, are required to hold provisional permits issued by the General Security post at the harbour or the airport. G - In exceptional cases left to the appreciation of the Minister of the Interior or the General Security Director, other categories are required to produce at entry and exit the document which shall be designated. Article 8 (as modified by Ministerial Order No. 119 ofl August 1969) A Syrian national entering Lebanon shall complete an entry form; a residence permit valid for three months, renewable according to the instructions of the Director General of the General Security, shall be granted to him. Residence permits granted to Syrian nationals before the enforcement of the present ministerial order shall be considered valid for three months as from the date of publication of the present ministerial order in the Official Gazette. (1) Ministerial Order No.1 of6 January 1970 specifies Palestinian refugees residing in Lebanon are authorized to make for the Syrian Arab Republic and return to Lebanon on presentation of their identity card. They are not required to obtain the permit mentioned in paragraph A of article 7 of Ministerial Order No. 320 of 2 August 1962. Article 9 The provisions of the first and second paragraphs of the preceding article shall be applicable also to Jordanian nationals, but they shall be allowed a maximum residence period of only three months. Article 10 Jordanian or Syrian nationals who entered Lebanon before 20/8/1962 shall not be authorised to leave the country unless they carry a residence card either of a temporary or a non-temporary validity. Syrian nationals holding residence cards issued by the Directorate General of Census and Civil Status or by the Directorate of the General Security, are required to complete on entry or exit, entry or exit forms, indicating only their surnames, names, nationality, the nature of the residence card and such persons as may accompany them. Article 11 The provisions of article 9 of the present ministerial order are applicable to the alien authorised to move between Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic on presentation of a visa or of a Syrian residence card. Article 12 The provisions of the second paragraph of article 10 of the present ministerial order are applicable to the alien authorised to move between Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic on presentation of a Lebanese residence card. Article 13 Every General Security post shall have to compile a daily statement listing the names and professions of aliens moving between Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic on production of a visa or a residence card that they bear in their capacity as members of the diplomatic or consular corps, or of officials seconded to these two corps in each of the two countries. Article 14 Every General Security post shall have to compile a statement mentioning the number and grades of members of the United Nations Emergency Force entering or exiting on production of assignment orders, such statement to be subsequently sent over to the Directorate of the General Security supported by copy of these assignment orders. Article 15 On entry, groups of tourists, students and athletes shall submit to the General Security post a four-copy statement, listing the names of their members classified according to nationalities, as well as the date and place of their birth. The General Security post shall affix the "Entry" stamp on these four copies, record the period of the authorised stay and send a copy to the General Security, keep a second copy in its files, and return the third and fourth copies to the group leaders. On exit, the General Security post shall affix the "Exit" stamp on the third and fourth copies, subsequently send out a copy to the Directorate of the General Security, keeping the last one in its files. Article 16 The provisions of articles 14 and 15 of the present ministerial order are applicable to foreign military personnel entering as tourists. Article 17 Any person in charge of a vessel or aircraft entering or leaving Lebanon shall submit to the General Security post a list of the crews and their assistants wishing to enter or leave Lebanon. This post shall check the statements submitted and authorise the persons whose names are listed to enter or exit on production of their professional passports, and shall take measures as may be necessary to make certain of the departure of all the aliens who had entered in conformity with the provisions of the present paragraph. The post shall pass on the Directorate of the General Security a statement listing the names of the crews who stay in Lebanon for a certain time, the period of which shall be fixed by the Director of the General Security. Article 18 The provisions of articles 3 and 4 of the present ministerial order are applicable to any non¬Lebanese crew member: A - Who may gave entered on the evidence of an ordinary travel document and wishes to exit with a professional passport; B - Who may have entered on the evidence of a professional passport and wishes to exit with a usual travel document. Article 19 Professional passports held by sea or air crews and their assistants may be taken in lieu of travel documents. The provisions of article 15 of the present ministerial order shalt be applicable to them: A - If they wish to move into the Syrian Arab Republic as tourists and enter Lebanon while their vessel or aircraft is laid up in a Lebanese harbour or airport. B - If they wish to enter Lebanon coming from the Syrian Arab Republic, or exit from Lebanon to return there in order to report to duty on their vessel or aircraft in one of the two countries. Article 20 Every General Security post set up at the frontier shall transmit the name of the sea or air crew member who shall have left the country through it to the post of his entry in conformity with the provisions of article 17 or article 18 of the present ministerial. order. Article 21 Sea and air crews entering Lebanon or exiting, outside their duty hours, on production of a valid professional passport shall comply with the provisions of the second paragraph of article 1 of the present ministerial order. Article 22 The Director of the General Security shall lay down the cases when travellers whose vessels or aircraft are in a Lebanese port or airport, or who change their vessel or aircraft in the same seaport or airport, shall be entitled to visit the country. Article 23 The Directorate of the General Security shall issue special cards in lieu of arrival and exit forms to those persons whose personal state or work requires numerous trips between Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic. The General Security posts set up at the frontier shall list the cards or the persons moving in or out, and send such lists to the Directorate of the General Security after affixing on the cards the "Entry" or "Exit" stamp. Article 24 The provisions of the last paragraph of article 8 of the present ministerial order are applicable to categories C, D and F designated in article 7 of the present ministerial order, and to sea and air crews entering or exiting, in conformity with the provisions of article 17 of the present ministerial order. Article 25 The present ministerial order shall come into force as from 15 August 1962. Beirut, 12 August 1962 The Minister of the Interior Signed: Kamal Joumblatt DECREE No. 10267 OF 6 AUGUST 1962 Conditions governing artists' entry and stay in Lebanon The President of the Lebanese Republic, Whereas the Lebanese Constitution, Whereas the Law of 10/7/1962, notably paragraph A of its article 14, On the proposal of the Minister of the Interior, Decrees the following: Article 1 Additionally to the general laws and regulations governing all aliens, the entry of artists (male and female) into Lebanon as well as their stay in this country, are regulated by the provisions of the present decree, except for those of Syrian nationality. Article 2 The entry into Lebanon of a foreign artist wishing to work therein or as tourist is subject to the prior approval of the Directorate of the General Security. Article 3 The operator of a night club who wishes to bring into Lebanon foreign artists to perform in his establishment is required to file with the Directorate of the General Security the following documents: A - A petition, supported by a work contract for each artist, individually, except if he is a member of a group or artists. B - An "operation" permit issued by the General Commissariat for tourism and summer and holidaying C - A banker's guarantee or a guarantee in cash, the amount of which shall be assessed by the Director of the General Security covering the payment of the artists' fees and their travelling expenses should the need arise. Article 4 Any night club operator wishing to have a foreign artist already on the territory of the Lebanese Republic perform in his establishment is required to comply with the conditions set: down in the preceding article. Article 5 The guarantee may not be refunded, wholly or partially, except after the approval of the Director of the General Security, and following confirmation that the foreign artist has actually left the Lebanese territory or has begun working in another establishment. Article 6 Within 48 hours of his entry into Lebanon, the artist is required to report to the Directorate of the General Security, carrying with him his passport, three copies of his final work contract and two photographs in case he is in Lebanon for the first time. Article 7 The work contract is to specify the terms of the agreement, the date his assigrunent begins, its duration and the hours of the foreign artist's arrival at and departure from the establishment. Article 8 Artists are forbidden to stay outside the approved hotels and boarding-houses, except for exceptional cases left to the appreciation of the Director of the General Security, notably if the artist is accompanied by the spouse or in similar cases. Article 9 The foreign artist's work period in Lebanon is not to exceed six months at a stretch; he is not authorised to return for another work assignment except after an absence of equivalent duration to his previous stay. Artists of Arab nationality and members of international troupes are exempted from these provisions. Article 10 Foreign artists under age may not carry on their profession in Lebanon but with the full agreement of their parents or guardians and as members of artistic groups. They are strictly forbidden to sit at tables in cabarets. Article 11 The residence permit of the artist who does not perform daily without valid reason shall be cancelled. Article 12 The Director of the General Security shall fix, when required, the maximum number of foreign artists authorised to work in each night club. Article 13 In order to receive his work permit, the foreign artist is required to settle the tax levied by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs on all categories of aliens. Article 14 The Directorate of the General Security shall levy on the alien a work tax by means of a duty stamp which shall be stuck and cancelled on the page of his passport mentioning his entry. Article 15 The Director of the General Security may, in view of the importance of such infringements as may be committed, take the following measures: Serve notice to the artist or the night club operator and keep a copy of same in his file; - Refuse approval for the extension or the renewal of the work contract; - Suspend the artist, expel him from the Lebanese territory and forbid him subsequent entry. Article 16 The Director of the General Security may cancel the residence permit of a foreign artist, upon the artist's request, if it is proved that she is under threat of discriminatory measures. In this event, she shall not be authorised to return to Lebanon within the six-month period following her exit. Article 17 The female alien, who shall have carried on in Lebanon her artistic profession, shall not be allowed to re-enter the Lebanese territory either as artist or to carry on another profession within the 12-month period following the end of her work as artist. Zouk, 6 August 1962 Signed: Fouad Chehab By the President of the Republic The President of the Council of Ministers Signed: Rachid Karame The Minister of the Interior Signed: Kamal Joumblatt DECREE No. 17561 OF 18 SEPTEMBER 1964 Regulating the work of aliens The President of the Lebanese Republic, Whereas the Lebanese Constitution, Whereas the Code of Labour of23 September 1946, notably articles 9 and 54, Whereas the Law of 10 July 1962 concerning the entry, exit, work and stay of aliens in Lebanon, notably articles 6 and 25, On proposal of the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Following the advice of the State Council by its Decision No. 66 of 18/6/1964, And after the approval of the Council of Ministers in the course of its meeting held on 26 August 1964, Decrees the following: Article 1 Without prejudice to the enforcement of the principle of reciprocity, and the provisions of specific laws and regulations in force, as well as well as conventions previously approved by the legislature or which would have been previously approved by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs concerning foreign experts engaged for the execution of work required for public interest, the issue of work permits on the Lebanese territory to aliens is submitted to the following conditions: PRIOR APPROVAL Article 2 Any alien seeking entry into Lebanon to carry on a profession or do any job, paid or free of charge, is required to obtain the prior approval of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. However, if the alien is an artist, such approval is to be given by the Directorate of the General Security. Article 3 Application for the issue of a prior approval shall be filed with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs either through the Lebanese Mission abroad, or via the legal representative in Lebanon of the party concerned. Article 4 The application must include all information regarding his technology and possibilities and, particularly, his name, his nationality, his date of birth, his religion, the nature and duration of his work, his qualifications, the employer's name, if the case concerns a wage-earner or salary¬earner, and finally an undertaking that the said approval shall benefit none in his family. LFOE511 Article 5 In case the alien who has filed the application for prior approval is a wage-earner or salary¬earner, the employer must equally submit to the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs an application wherein he declares that he approves of the arrival of the alien, such application to be supported by evidence and documents confirming the bona fides of the statements contained in the petition of the foreign national and a word contract duly legalised by a Lebanese Notary or by one of the Lebanese diplomatic Missions accredited abroad. Whenever the alien wishes to wishes to undertake a work on his own account or represent any company, he is required to file with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, through the Lebanese Mission abroad, or via a legal representative in Lebanon, copy of the evidence and documents confirming the bona fides of the statements contained in his application and declare the extent and possibility of Lebanese manpower contribution. WORK PERMIT Article 6 Any alien who should have obtained prior approval is required, within 10 days of his entry into Lebanon, to file with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, a petition for the release of a work permit as is provided under article 25 of the Law of7 October 1962. The Ministry may cancel the prior approval in case the beneficiary has not entered Lebanon within a maximum period of three months dating from the dispatch of the prior approval by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. The prior approval shall equally be considered cancelled as a matter of course if he fails to come to the Ministry to exchange it for a work permit within the time-limit of 10 days as prescribed in the first paragraph of the present article, except for cases of force majeure. Article 7 The work permit is an extension of the prior approval and a complementary condition to the latter. If the validity period of the permit is elapsed or if its renewal is refused, the effect of the prior approval is equally suspended and the party concerned shall be required, in this event, to obtain a fresh one if he wishes to work in Lebanon. Article 8 Provided that the Lebanese national is given the benefit of preferential right, it is possible to grant the alien residing in Lebanon or who intends entering it after obtaining prior approval, a work permit or to renew same, if he meets one of the following conditions: 1 - If he is a specialist or an expert and that his job cannot be done by a Lebanese national. The interested Department may require the employer to publish a notice on his own expense, in three local dailies that the Department shall designate, at least three times. The notice shall state the nature of the job, the qualifications required, and it shall invite interested parties to contact, to this end, the Control Department of Working Aliens at the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. The interested Department is authorised to evaluate those cases where it shall require the compulsory training of a Lebanese national as a condition and shall fix its duration in the light of the importance of specialisation and the qualifications of the Lebanese national. 2 - If he has entered Lebanon prior to I January 1954, resided in it ever since, and has been working in a concern at least nine months at a stretch per calendar year. 3 - If he has taken to wife a Lebanese national. He shall be required to prove that he has been married for at least one calendar year on the evidence of a declaration issued by the Directorate General of the Personal Status Office in Beirut or by one of its provincial services. 4 - If he is born of a Lebanese mother or if he is of Lebanese origin. In this event he will be required to produce supporting evidence either by a declaration issued from the Directorate General of the Personal Status Office in Beirut or one of its provincial services, or eventually by extract from a Court award, final and unchangeable. 5 - If he is one of the managers of foreign companies, a chief accountant or a deputy manager, in one of the branches of these companies in Lebanon or operating in the Middle East. 6 - If he is the representative of a foreign company by virtue of a legal mandate and if he exercises no activity direct with the public. 7 - If he is the Head of a concern, a handicraft, a profession or an industry and that he meets the following two conditions: A - That he has been residing in Lebanon since before the beginning of 1954 and that he has initiated his activity before I January 1960. B - If he entered Lebanon after I January 1960 or if he wished taking residence in it after having obtained prior approval, on condition that his capital is not under LL 50,000 and that he has at least three Lebanese wage-earners or salary-earners in his employ. However, if aliens have founded jointly a private company, the capital of each partner must not be under LL 50,000. They must equally employ Lebanese wage-earners or salary¬earners in the proportion of three wage-earners or salary-earners per partner. Article 9 The Minister of Labour and Social Affairs shall designate, each year, in the course of the month of December, on the proposal of the General Manager, and following the advice of interested Government Administrations and Agencies, when the case so requires, the jobs and professions which the Ministry considers as essentially reserved to Lebanese nationals. Article 10 An order issued jointly by the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs and the Minister of National Education shall lay down the conditions required for foreign teachers to qualify to carry on their . profession in private educational establishments. GENERAL PROVISIONS Article 11 (as modified by Decree No. 1582 of25 April 1984) 1 - Applications for a work permit shall be filed, in Beirut with the Ministry of Labour - Control Department of Working Aliens, and in the Mohafazats (governorates) with the regional departments attached to the Ministry of Labour. 2 - The Minister shall give a decision on these applications, and he shall sign the cards relating thereto; he may decide to delegate these powers to the Director General or to the Heads of the administrative units directly attached to him. 3 - In the Mohafazats (governorates), the Head of the regional department attached to the Ministry of Labour shall give a decision on the applications of servants and agricultural labourers only, and he shall sign the labour cards relating thereto. Article 12 (as modified by Decree No. 1582 of25 April 1984) The Head of the Control Department of Working Aliens in Beirut and the Heads of the regional departments in the Mohafazats (governorates) shall deliver the work permit signed by the Minister, and they shall notify his decisions for rejection within fifteen days. Article 13 (as modified by Decree No. 1582 of25 April 1984) Decisions concerning applications for prior approval, work permit or permit renewal, must be taken within a maximum time-limit of one month dating from the filing of the application, supported by relevant documents. The decision concerning one of these applications cannot be postponed beyond this period, except with the approval of the Minister. Article 14 (as modified by Decree No. 14268 of 4 March 2005) The work permit may be granted or renewed for a maximum period of three years dating from the day of its issue. Any permit for which application for renewal has not been filed at least one month before the expiry of its validity period shall be considered cancelled as a matter of course and the alien becomes deprived of the work permit and open to proceedings and penalties as are provided by the laws and regulations in force. Article 15 It is forbidden to any holder of a prior approval or work permit to change the nature of his job or to move to another concern before having obtained the prior approval of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. LFOES!l Article 16 It is possible to re-examine applications previously rejected on the production of new documents which interested parties were not in a position to submit in due course. Article 17 The work permit shall be cancelled at any moment if it appears that the documents previously submitted were inaccurate and whenever the interest of Lebanese manpower so requires, notably in the following cases: 1 - If the concerns dismisses a Lebanese wage-earner or salary-earner in conformity with the provisions of article 50 of the Lebanese Code of Labour and retains to his post a foreign wage-earner or salary-earner with the same qualifications and conditions of work. 2 - If the concern refuses to give priority to a Lebanese national meeting the various work conditions required. 3 - If the concern fails to honour its undertaking to initiate a Lebanese national to work in the place of the alien. 4 - If the alien infringes the conditions set in the prior approval and the work permit. 5 - If the alien has been convicted for a crime or an infamous offence. Article 18 Trade unions may submit every year, in the course of January, an approximate list of the number of Lebanese in each profession, as well as the name of the unemployed, their address and their qualifications. Article 19 An order from the Director General of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs shall designate the documents which must be presented with each category of applications, it being understood that in all cases it is required to produce an extract of the Police Record the date of which does not go back beyond six months. Article 20 The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs is authorised to require the different administrative and public services to suspend any formality presented by an alien or a foreign firm likely to lead him to do any job in Lebanon, with or without remuneration, so long as the interested party does not produce the regulation permit to work in Lebanon referred to under the Law of 10 July 1962. Similarly, they shall suspend these formalities whenever the alien is guilty of any infringement to the provisions of the Code of Labour, the law governing the residence of aliens as well as decrees and orders referring thereto. Article 21 Any infringement to the provisions concerning prior approval puts the contravener under the penalties of article 32 of the Law of 10 July 1962; and any infringement to the stipulations of the present decree, to the exclusion of those mentioned in the preceding paragraph, makes the contravener open to penalties provided under article 2 of the Law of 17 September 1962 amending articles 107 and 108 of the Lebanese Code of Labour. Article 22 The provisions of the present decree are not applicable to applications registered with the Control Department of the Working Aliens prior to the date of its publication in the Official Gazette. Article 23 The present decree shall come into force upon its publication in the Official Gazette. Zouk, 18 September 1964 Signed: Fouad Chehab By the President of the Republic The acting President of the Council of Ministers Signed: Gebran Nahas The Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Signed: Dr Rida Wahid. DECREE No. 9816 OF 4 MAY 1968 Enforcing the urgent draft law tabled before the Chamber of Deputies by Decree No. 5970 of 14 November 1966 purporting to modify certain provisions. of the Law of 17 September 1962 and concerning the modification and the drafting of texts repressive of offences relating to infringements of the Code of Labour, the Social Security Law and the employment of aliens without work permit The President of the Lebanese Republic, Whereas the Lebanese Constitution, notably its article 58, Whereas the Government has tabled before the Chamber of Deputies by Decree No. 5970 of 14/11/1966 a draft law vested with urgent character purporting to modify certain provisions of the Law of 17 September 1962 and concerning the modification and drafting of repressive texts relating to infringements to the Code of Labour, the Social Security Law and the employment of aliens without work permit, Whereas more than 40 days have elapsed since the communication of the said draft law, which has not yet been examined by the Chamber of Deputies, On the proposal of the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, And after the approval of the Council of Ministers, in the course of its meeting held on 24 April 1968, Decrees the following: FIRST ARTICLE Is enforced the urgent draft law tabled before the Chamber of Deputies by virtue of Decree No. 5970 of 14 November 1966 purporting to modify certain provisions of the Law of 17 September 1962 concerning the amendment and drafting of repressive texts relating to infringements to the Code of Labour, the Social Security Law and the employment of aliens without work permit, and worded as follows: Article 1 The following subparagraph is added to article 2 of the Law of 17 September 1962 regarding the repeal and replacement of articles 107 and 108 of the Code of Labour . Extenuating circumstances or judgement with stay of execution may not be granted for an infringement committed by a contravener or his substitute already served with formal notice to put his situation in order. Every infringement shall be the object of a separate judgement for as many wage-earners or salary-earners as there may be, cumulative penalties being forbidden. Article 2 Article 3 of the Law of 17 September 1962 is amended as follows: The contravener shall not be prosecuted if, within fifteen days of the drafting of the proces¬verbal, he pays the minimum fine provided under article 2 of the law above, barring a second offence within a year's time. Article 4 of the Law of 17 September 1962 is amended as follows: Whoever opposes himself to a civil servant in charge of establishing the contravention in the official discharge of his duties or on the occasion of such discharge, interferes with his activities or prevents him from fulfilling (his obligations) is, without prejudice to sanctions provided by the Penal Code, under penalty of a fine of between 500 and 1,000 Lebanese Pounds and of a term of imprisonment of between one and three months or of either penalty, provided that extenuating circumstances or stay of execution are not granted and that the penalty is doubled in the event of a second offence. Article 4 Whosoever employs an alien on the basis of a work contract or of an industrial agreement unsupported by a prior permit or without work permit delivered by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs is punishable by a fine which, in any case, may not be under fifty Lebanese pounds for each working day nor more than 100 pounds, such penalty being doubled in the event of a second offence within three calendar years. Article 5 Any violation to article 80 of the Social Security Law enforced by Decree No. 13955 of 26 September 1963 renders its author liable to penalties under article 2 of the Law of 17 September 1962 and of subsequent amendments and renders the provisions of article 2 of the present law enforceable on him. Fines are payable at the Directorate of the National Fund for Social Security. Impediments and oppositions which the civil servants of the National Fund for Social Security may encounter in the discharge of their duties shall be punished in conformity with article 3 of the present law. Civil servants may, if the need arises, require the assistance of public administrations and of the security forces in the execution of assignments entrusted to them. Article 6 Summary procedures are applicable to violations of the Code of Labour and relative regulations, as well as to infringements to the law of the National Fund for Social Security and to breaches concerning aliens' employment and work. Article 7 All provisions contrary to or of a wording inconsistent with the provisions of the present law are repealed. Article 8 The present law shall come into force upon its publication in the Official Gazette. SECOND ARTICLE The present decree shall be published and notified wherever there shall be need, and it shall be enforced upon its publication in the Official Gazette. Sin El-Fil, 4 May 1968 Signed: Charles Helou By the President of the Republic The President of the Council of Ministers Signed: Abdallah Yafi The Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Signed: Edouard Honein MINISTERIAL ORDER No. 519/68 OF 27 SEPTEMBER 1968 Concerning residence in Lebanon of members of foreign diplomatic missions, international organisations and their personnel The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Whereas the Law of 10 July 1962 regulating entry into Lebanon, residence and exit, Whereas Decree No. 10 188 of 28 July 1962 and notably article 18, regarding the terms and conditions governing the grant, free of charge, of residence permit to the personnel of foreign diplomatic missions in Lebanon, as well as to members of their family and persons seconded to them, On the proposal of the Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Orders the following: Article I Members of foreign diplomatic missions and international organisations in Lebanon, as well as persons seconded to them, fall under 5 categories: I - Bearers of diplomatic passports and members of their families. 2 - International officials seconded to the United Nations, and the members of their families, bearing passports emanating from the United Nations. 3 - Bearers of special passports, their servants and members of their families. 4 - Bearers of ordinary passports from among the administrative and technical officials seconded to diplomatic or consular corps or also to the United Nations and members of their families. 5 - Foreign employees of foreign missions or international agencies in Lebanon and the special servants seconded to the persons listed in categories 1, 2 and 3. Article 2 Residence permits are granted, free of charge, to persons included in the five categories mentioned in article I of the present ministerial order. These documents entitle their bearers to reside in Lebanon and to enter therein without visa throughout the period of their validity. Article 3 A photograph of the bearer shall be stuck on the residence permit. Moreover, this document shall mention the bearer's surname, name and nationality, and the function he has in the mission or international agency. A special kind of residence permit shall be reserved to each one of these categories. Article 4 Permits issued to persons within categories 1, 2 and 3, shall remain valid as long as the bearer's mission in Lebanon shall last; as for the permits delivered to persons within categories 4 and 5, they shall remain valid for a period of 3 years subject to renewal in case their beneficiaries hold valid passports. Article 5 Application for a permit, whatever the category of the official applying for it, shall be lodged with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, together with three photographs on which shall be affixed the mission's stamp. It shall also mention such particulars as shall combine to identify the applicant fully, including his nationality, the kind of passport he bears, his function (and in what concerns members of the family the degree of kinship with the official), his place of residence, and the date of his entering Lebanon. Applications shall bear the stamp of the agency or of the mission where the interested party is employed and also the signature of his superior in charge and of the latter's approval of the application. Article 6 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants shall release the residence permit concerning the persons within categories I and 2. These documents shall be signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs or his deputy. Article 7 The Directorate General of the General Security shall issue the residence permit concerning the persons within categories 3, 4 and 5. These documents shall be signed by the Director General of the General Security or his deputy. As for the servants seconded to the members of the 4th category, they are subject to the general rules provided by the regulations in force. Article 8 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants shall remit the Directorate General of the General Security a monthly detailed list of the permits issued, together with the photographs of the beneficiaries. Article 9 Every mission as well as every agency shall withdraw the permit of its bearer upon the expiry of his mission in Lebanon, and return it to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants; they are also required to provide him with a valid document whenever needed for travelling. Article 10 The present ministerial order shall come into force upon its publication in the Official Gazette. It shall be published and notified wherever there shall be need. Beirut, 27 September 1968 The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Signed: Fouad Boutros DECREE No. 11614 OF 4 JANUARY 1969 Enforcing the draft law tabled before the Chamber of Deputies, as a matter of urgency, by Decree No. 10845 of 101911968 regarding the acquisition in Lebanon of real rights on landed property by aliens The President of the Lebanese Republic, Whereas the Lebanese Constitution, notably its article 58, Whereas the Government has tabled before the Chamber of Deputies, by Decree No. 10845 of 10 September 1968 a urgent draft law regarding the acquisition in Lebanon by non-Lebanese nationals of real rights on landed property, Whereas more than forty days have elapsed since the communication of the said draft law to the Chamber of Deputies without the latter adjudicating thereon, On the proposal of the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Finance, And following the approval of the Council of Ministers on 211/1969, Decrees the following: FIRST ARTICLE The draft law tabled before the Chamber of Deputies by Decree No. 10845 of 10/911968 as a matter of urgency, regarding the acquisition in Lebanon by non-Lebanese nationals of real rights on landed property, is hereby enforced. The draft law reads as follows: Article 1 (as modified by Law No. 296 of3 April 2001) No non-Lebanese person, either natural or juridical, and also no Lebanese juridical person reputed by the present law to be alien, are entitled either by contract or by any other legal deed concluded between living persons, to acquire a real right on landed property on the Lebanese territory, or any real right of the other rights referred to in the present law, except after obtaining a permit granted by decree issued by the Council of Ministers on the proposal of the Minister of Finance. No derogation of this rule shall be allowed except in specific cases explicitly defined in the present law or in a special text. No real right of any sort may be acquired by a person not carrying a nationality issued by a duly recognised state, or by any person in case the acquisition conflicts with the provisions of the Constitution in what relates to the rejection of the implantation. Article 2 In pursuance of the present law the non-Lebanese juridical persons are taken to be : - Partnerships and limited liability companies of which all the shares are not held by Lebanese natural persons, and which, according to their Articles, are prohibited to convey such shares to non-Lebanese nationals or the other companies except exclusively Lebanese companies. - Joint-stock companies and partnerships limited by shares of which all the shares are not registered shares held by Lebanese natural persons or exclusively Lebanese companies, whose Articles prohibit the conveyance of such shares to natural persons other than Lebanese. Article 3 (as modified by the Law promulgated by Decree No. 5131 of 19 March 1973 (and Law No. 296 of3 April 2001 With due regard to the provisions of the new article I, shall be excepted and exempted from the permit requirement: 1 - The acquisition by non-Lebanese natural or juridical person or persons considered as non-Lebanese as a matter of course, of either already built property or property intended as a building site, the surface of which all over the Lebanese territory does not exceed three thousand square metres. 2 - The acquisition of real rights on landed property under the provisions of articles 33 and 40 of the Law N¡ã 58 of29/5/1991 (Law relating to expropriation). 3 - The acquisition of real rights on landed property in implementation of special laws making such acquisition a compulsory requirement as a security, or allowing it for some other reason, always within the limits defined by such laws and the conditions they impose. 4 - The acquisition of the following real rights: A - The right of inheritance for heirs B - The right stemming from a will or from a donation concluded between non-Lebanese persons comprising among their heirs, upon death, notably the ascendants, descendants and spouses. C - The rights created by contracts of usufructs, pledge, sale with privilege of repurchase, exploitation, collateral security, or lease as stipulated under Order N¡ã 12 of 16/111934 relating to share-tenancy (in French : bail emphyteotiquey; on condition that the provisions of articles 4 and 5 are observed for the acquisition of these rights. Article 4 The right of usufruct and the right of ordinary lease for a respective duration in excess of 10 years, as well as the right of lease referred to in Order No. 12 of 16 January 1934 for a duration of more than 20 years may not be acquired before a permit has been obtained. Article 5 (as modified by Law No. 296 of3 April 2001) The pledge, sale with privilege of repurchase, collateral security by the non-conveyance of the property for a given period exceeding ten years, are subject to a permit before acquisition. Mortgage or concession need no permit. However, the non-Lebanese creditor of a debt resulting from pledge, sale with privilege of repurchase, exploitation, mortgage or concession, may not purchase the real right by agreement or by judicial auction without prior permit, except if no Lebanese bidder comes forward to buy it at" the first fixed price for the bidding or at a price higher than the amount of the debt under guarantee and its accessories. In such a case, the non-Lebanese creditor is entitled to acquire the right through higher bidding, provided that he subordinates his acquisition to the condition of selling it to a Lebanese national within a time-limit not exceeding two years to be computed from the date when the decision to convey becomes final, under penalty of the sale of this right in accordance with the provisions set out in the new article II. If the creditor is a bank, its acquisition shall be governed by the provision of article 154 of the Code of Money and Credit. Article 6 (abrogated by Law No. 296 of3 April 2001) Article 7 (as modified by Law No. 296 of3 April 2001) A - Non-Lebanese natural or juridical persons, or persons who, as a matter of course, are reputed to be non-Lebanese, following the implementation of the Law promulgated by Decree N¡ã1l614 of 4/1/1969, may not acquire more than three per cent (3%) of the surface of the whole Lebanese territory, and provided that this proportion does not exceed 3% (three per cent) of the whole surface of each Caza (district). In the Mohafazat (governorate) of Beirut, the acquisition may not exceed ten per cent (10%) of the total surface of this Mohafazat. B - In the computation of the aforementioned percentages, acquisitions by Lebanese companies who are reputed to be non-Lebanese within the provisions of article 2 of the Law promulgated by Decree N¡ã 11614 of 4/1/1969, shall be taken into account, with the exception of: 1 - Companies of persons and companies with limited liability, in which the majority, that is more than fifty per cent (50%) of the shares, is held by Lebanese natural persons or by purely Lebanese companies, whose statutes prohibit the transfer of these shares to non¬Lebanese. In such cases, only a proportion of fifty per cent (50%) of the surfaces held by such companies shall be taken into account for the computation of the percentages mentioned in this article. 2 - Joint stock companies or partnership companies limited by shares, in which the majority of shares, that is more than fifty per cent (50%) of the shares, is held by Lebanese natural persons or pure Lebanese companies whose statute prohibits the transfer of these shares to non-Lebanese. In such cases, only a proportion of fifty per cent (50%) of the surface held by such companies shall be taken into account for the computation of the percentages mentioned in this article. The attainment of the proportions of acquisitions shall be made public by a decree from the Council of Ministers, under a proposal by the Minister of Finance. Shall be held in suspense the acquisition by non-Lebanese persons or by persons regarded as non-Lebanese under the provisions of article 2 of the Law promulgated by Decree N¡ã 11614 of 4/1/1969, of real rights on landed property, unless such an acquisition takes place between non-Lebanese persons or between persons who, as a matter of course, are regarded as non-Lebanese. The automated centre at the Ministry of Finance - Department of land register - will be in charge of the publication of the required statements and statistics to reveal the level of the aforementioned proportions. Whenever the legal (prescribed) levels are reached, the Department" ofland register will take the necessary steps to put an end to the registration of real rights in the name of non-Lebanese persons. Announcements to this effect shall be published in the Official Gazette every six months. Article 8 (as modified by Law No. 296 of3 April 2001) For the assessment of the surfaces which non-Lebanese persons may acquire with or without permit in accordance with the provisions of the present law, the husbands, wives and the children under age, are considered as one person. For the purpose of this article, a child who has not completed eighteen years, will be considered as being under age. Article 9 The application for a permit is to be filed with the Minister of Finance. Particulars to be included are the landed property and the real right that the applicant wishes to acquire. The application is then referred to the Council of Ministers, together with a favourable or unfavourable comment. The Council of Ministers is vested with absolute power of appreciation to grant or refuse the permit. Its decisions on rejection are subject to the control of no authority whatsoever. Article 10 Validity of the decree granting the permit is cancelled for non execution within the year following its publication in the Official Gazette, except if delay can be ascribed to a juridical dispute between the beneficiary of the permit and the person who has taken up the right in his place and if the legal proceedings have been recorded on the real estate rolls within the aforementioned time-limit, or if it is due to a juridical impediment beyond the beneficiary's volition. In both cases, the time-limit is interrupted throughout the instance or until the said judicial obstacle has been removed. Article 11 (as modified by Law No. 296 of3 April 2001) It will be the duty of any natural person acquiring a right on landed property in accordance with the present law, to complete the construction of a building on the property subject of the right within a time-limit not exceeding five years from the date on which the property was recorded on the land register. This time-limit may be renewed once, by a decision from the Council of Minister. Likewise, it will be the duty of any juridical person to earmark the properties object of the acquisition for the original purpose of the acquisition of the permit, within the aforementioned time-limit, on pain of extinction or annulment of the right, and its sale, with any construction thereon, by the Ministry of Finance, for the contravener's account and at his risks in conformity with the provisions of Decree-Law N¡ã 147 of 12/6!l959 (procedures for collecting direct taxes and similar charges). Any surplus profit resulting from the sale will be forfeited in favour of the (Lebanese) Treasury, once the total amount of the price and legal charges has been restituted to the rightful holder. Civil courts are the right authority to adjudicate any conflicts resulting from the implementation of the provisions of the present article. - The time-limits previously granted for the implementation of the present law, whether already expired or still to expire, will be regarded as having been extended as a matter of course and without the need for a special text to this effect, on condition that the extension does not exceed five years from the date of enforcement of the present law. Article 12 None of the companies referred to in the preceding article and in paragraph 2 of article 3 which would have acquired a real right on landed property in conformity with the present law, may introduce in their Articles, except in the case of a partner's death, a modification likely to reduce the contributions or shares of the Lebanese nationals, such modification being under penalty of nullity and legal proceedings against the partners who have approved the amendment, and the directors who have carried it out are liable to the sanctions provided in article 16. Article 13 (as modified by Law No. 296 of3 April 2001) Upon the dissolution of companies, establishments and associations already in possession of a permit, or exempted from a permit to acquire real rights of landed property in Lebanon, the division of these rights and their allotment among non-Lebanese partners are prohibited, except in conformity with the provisions of the present law. Article 14 (abrogated by Law No. 296 of3 April 2001) Article 15 The applicant for the registration of a real right covered by the present law must produce official evidence emanating from the competent services specifying the areas that he holds on the Lebanese territory, accompanied by a written declaration signed by him and certifying that he owns none other but these areas. Joint stock companies and partnerships limited by shares considered as of right to be non¬Lebanese must in lieu of the foregoing evidence produce a declaration signed by their board chairman and approved by the supervisory commissioners, stating the areas and the sites of the landed property that they hold in conformity with entries in their books. Whoever files evidence or a declaration contrary to what is true is liable to penalties as provided under article 16 of the present law, and the landed properties which have been acquired on the basis of an erroneous evidence or declarations shall be confiscated without compensation. Confiscation is declared by the very judge who utters the indictment of the offence in question, and the aforementioned landed property shall be annotated as from the indictment of the offence. Article 16 Any contract or deed concluded in violation of the present law and of the texts governing its enforcement is null of nullity absolute, and non-existent as of right. Anyone who has concluded it, participated in it, or intervened therein, in any manner whatsoever, who has approved or registered it with due knowledge of the fact, shall be under sentence of hard labour and of a fine going from the amount of its real value to threefold such amount. These provisions are applicable to any judicial deed carried out by "middlemen" in order to by¬pass the present law. Any clause intended to guarantee the implementation of such a void deed or to pledge the payment of an indemnity in the event of non-execution is null. Article 17 (abrogated by the Law promulgated by Decree No. 5131 of 19 March 1973) Article 18 The provisions of the present law are not applicable to the permit for the acquisition of real rights on landed property granted prior to its enforcement if the permit is issued within one year of its enforcement. Article 19 (as modified by Law No. 296 of3 April 2001) For the computation of the percentages of acquisitions stipulated in paragraph "A" of the new article 7, the surfaces already acquired under a permit, or without a permit, following the date of enforcement of the Law promulgated by Decree N¡ã 11614 of 4/111969, as well as the surfaces acquired with or without a permit following the implementation of the present law, will be taken into account, with due regard to the provisions of the new article 7 and the provisions of the last paragraph of the new article 11. Article 20 Within the limitations of the maximum area provided by the present law, non-Lebanese nationals, natural or juridical, may conclude special arrangements designed to create a real right the realisation of which is subordinated to the issue of the compulsory permit. Such arrangements are reputed, as of right, requiring no other formalities whatsoever, if the time-limit set therein for the release of the permit expires, provided that such time-limit is not in excess of one year. If it is in excess of one year or if the arrangement provides for no time-limit, such time-limit is considered to be one year, as of right. Article 21 Details of enforcement of the present law shall be determined by decree issued by the Council of Ministers. Article 22 Provisions of Law No. 59/66 of 10/9/1966 as well as all texts contrary to the present law or inconsistent with it are abrogated. Article 23 The present law shall go into force upon its publication in the Official Gazette. SECOND ARTICLE The present decree shall be published and notified wherever there shall be need; it shall go into force upon its publication in the Official Gazette. Sin El-Fil, 4 January 1969 Signed: Charles Helou By the President of the Republic The President of the Council of Ministers Signed: Abdallah Yafi The Minister of Justice Signed: Hussein Oueni The Minister of Finance Signed: Abdallah Yafi MINISTERIAL ORDER No. 136 OF 20 SEPTEMBER 1969 Regarding the aliens' card certifying stay in Lebanon The Minister of the Interior, Whereas Decree No. 11860 of 15 January 1969, Whereas the Law promulgated on 10 July 1962 to regulate entry into Lebanon, stay and exit, Acting on the proposal of the Director General of the General Security, Orders the following: Article 1 Unless he stands within the categories referred to in article 4 of the present ministerial order, any alien, residing in Lebanon for more than three weeks, is required to report within the week following the said period to the post ofIniand Security Forces having jurisdiction over his place of residence in order to obtain a card certifying his stay, his wife's stay and that of his children under age domiciled with him, then to exchange this document against another whenever he changes his place of residence, within the week following such change. Article 2 The officers commanding posts of the Inland Security Forces are to make certain that the address stated by the alien is correct, then record same, on their own responsibility, on the card certifying stay, They are also required to remit the counterfoil to the interested party. As for the card itself, this has to be sent immediately over to the Directorate General of the General Security according to a procedure which shall be laid down in agreement with the Directorate General of the Inland Security Forces and the Directorate General of the General Security. Article 3 The alien is required to keep with him the card counterfoil in order to be able to produce it upon request and hand it over to the General Security frontier post on leaving the country. Article 4 This procedure does not concern the categories mentioned thereunder: A - Children under age recorded on their father's passport. B - The wife recorded on her husband's passport. C - Diplomats holding residence permits issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants. D - Aliens holding annual or permanent residence permits issued by the Directorate General of General Security. E - Palestinian refugees residing in Lebanon and bearing an identity card emanating from the Directorate General of the Palestinian Refugees Affairs Department. Article 5 Persons comprised in item D of article 4 above are required to advise the General Security Services within one week of their change of domicile. LFOE511 Article 6 The counterfoil of the card certifying stay does not, in any way, stand in lieu of the residence permit. Article 7 Any infringement to the provisions of the present ministerial order shall render its author liable to the penalties provided by article 770 of the Penal Code. Article 8 The present ministerial order shall come into force one month following its publication in the Official Gazette; aliens are allowed a time-limit of two months from the said publication to comply with the order Article 9 Ministerial Order No. 79 of 23/5/1967 IS repealed and the cards certifying stay issued in conformity with its provisions are void. Beirut, 20 September 1969 The Minister of the Interior Signed: Ade1 Osseiran EXTRACT FROM LAW No. 1/70 OF 19 JANUARY 1970 (Work permit taxes) (1) ............................................................................................ ~ . Article 26 (as modified by Law No. 4/80 of7 April 1980, (Decree-Law No. 31 of 14 June 1983, Law No. 1/84 of 13 June 1984, (Law No. 44/86 of24 September 1986, Law No. 280 of 15 December 1993, (Law No. 409 of7 February 1995, Law No. 490 of 15 February 1996, (Law No. 671 of5 February 1998, Law No. 107 of23 July 1999, (and Law No. 392 of8 February 2002 Firstly: The monthly tax levied on the work permit of foreign artists and musicians is fixed as under: - 500,000 Lebanese pounds per month or portion thereof for persons working in first-class night clubs. - 250,000 Lebanese pounds per month or portion thereof for persons working in second-class night clubs. All night clubs classified in the first and second categories by the Ministry of Tourism are considered as first-class night clubs. All night clubs classified in the third and fourth categories by the said Ministry are considered as second-class. The Directorate General of the General Security levies this tax from artists by means of duty stamps affixed and cancelled on the travel document of the person concerned, in the page bearing the residence permit. Secondly: 1 - The annual tax levied on the work permit of aliens other than those designated In subparagraph 1 of the present article: 1,800,000 Lebanese pounds for the alien of the first category 960,000 Lebanese pounds for the alien of the second category 480,000 Lebanese pounds for the alien of the third category 240,000 Lebanese pounds for the alien of the fourth category The same tax is due for the renewal of the permit. - Any alien exercising an important trading, industrial, banking or tourist profession, and whose monthly salary is more than threefold the amount of the monthly minimal wage, is considered as belonging to the first category. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (I) The amounts of taxes are periodically modijied. LFOE511 - Any alien who carries on one the aforementioned professions on a lesser scale or who exercises a free trade, and whose monthly salary is above twofold but less than threefold the monthly minimal wage, is considered as belonging to the second category - Any alien who plies a handicraft trade or has a retail trade and whose monthly salary ranges between the monthly minimal wage and twofold the monthly minimal wage, is considered as belonging to the third category. - Other aliens, notably those who are not subject to the Code of Labour and whose monthly salary is less than the monthly minimal wage, such as domestic servants for example, are considered as belonging to the fourth category. The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs levies this tax from artists, as well as from musicians, by means of duty stamps affixed and cancelled on the page where the official in charge of granting or renewing the permit has signed. The Director General of the aforementioned Ministry shall determine, following enquiry, the category to which the applicant for the permit belongs. 2 - The tax for prior approval amounts to : - 600,000 Lebanese pounds for the first and second aforementioned categories - 120,000 Lebanese pounds for the third aforementioned category. - 36,000 Lebanese pounds for the aforementioned category. 3 - Palestinians registered at the Directorate General for Refugee Affairs, holders of nationality under study, and Syrians: 25% of the amount of the aforementioned taxes levied on the work permit of aliens and on prior approval. 4 - The Minister of Labour shall determine, following enquiry, the category to which the applicant for a permit belongs. 5 - The tax is levied, either in cash at one of the Treasury Cash Offices of the Ministry of Finance in Beirut and the Mohafazats, or by a stamping machine for stamp duties as mentioned in Decree-Law N¡ã 67/67 of 5/8/1967, or by stamp duties . MINISTERIAL ORDER No. 42/2 OF 2 FEBRUARY 1970 Classifying the aliens working in Lebanon The Director General of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Whereas Decree No. 17561 of8 September 1964, . Whereas the last subparagraph of article 26 of Law No. 1170 of 19 January 1970, In pursuance of the inquiry conducted by the said Ministry, Orders the following: Article 1 Is considered an important trading, industrial, banking or tourist profession, and is bracketed within the first category, the alien who is the owner thereof wholly or in partnership, in accordance with the following conditions: 1 - Trade: If the capital of the enterprise is in excess of LL 100,000, and the Director General of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs is empowered to estimate the capital, should the need arise. 2 - Industry: If the number of the wage-earners employed at the works is in excess often. 3 - Banks and exchange houses: Irrespective of the number of salary-earners working therein. 4 - Tourist concerns: If the number of salary-earners working therein is not under five. Article 2 Representatives of foreign companies are bracketed under the first category irrespective of the nature and importance of the activities undertaken by these companies. Article 3 Is considered a trading, industrial, banking or tourist profession of lesser importance and is bracketed within the second category, the alien who is owner thereof, either wholly or in partnership : 1 - Trade: If the capital ranges between LL 50,000 and 100,000; the Director General of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs is empowered to estimate capital, should the need anse. 2 - Industry: If the number of the wage-earners working therein varies between 3 and 10. 3 - Tourist concerns: If the number of the salary-earners working therein is under five. Article 4 Are bracketed within the second category all persons carrying on a liberal profession, other than industrial or trading, such as doctors of medicine, journalists, dispensing pharmacists and the like. Article 5 Is considered as handicraft or minor trading activity and is bracketed within the third category the alien who is responsible therefor, either solely or in partnership, in accordance with the following conditions: 1 - Trade: If the capital of the concern is under LL 50,000; the Director General of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs is empowered to evaluate such capital should the need anse. 2 - Industry: If the number of wage-earners working therein is under three. Article 6 Foreign wage-earners classified as under: 1 st category : - 2nd category : - 3rd category : - 4th category : and salary-earners working in national or foreign establishments are If their monthly pay is over LL 2,000. If their monthly pay ranges between LL 1,000 and 2,000. If their monthly pay ranges between LL 400 and 1,000. Other foreign labourers, notably manual workers who draw a monthly wage of under LL 400(1) Article 7 The present ministerial order shall be published and notified wherever there shall be need. Shiah, 2 February 1970 The Director General of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs Signed: Abbas Farhat (1) The amounts of the monthly pay are periodically modified. LFOE511 MINISTERIAL ORDER No. 365 OF 10 AUGUST 1999 Concerning information to be communicated to the General Security by establislunents accommodating aliens for onerous consideration The Minister of the Interior, Whereas Decree NO.4 of 4 December 1998, Whereas the Law of 10 July 1962, notably its article 37, Orders the following: Article 1 Any operator of a hotel, boarding-house, furnished apartments of every description, category and class, as well as similar establislunents, is required to inform the Directorate General of the General Security about the entry or exit of foreign persons in his establislunent. Article 2 The Director General of the General Security shall fix the date of enforcement of the present ministerial order and the characteristics of the required information forms, as well as the registration procedure to be followed by the establislunents mentioned in article 1. Article 3 The present ministerial order shall come into force as from its publication. It shall be notified wherever there shall be need. Ministerial Order No. 309 of31/7/1962 is abrogated. Beirut, 10 August 1999 The Minister of the Interior MichelMurr |
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