Annual Residence Permit (Cash Bond Deposit)

Lebanon's Annual Residence Permit (Cash Bond Deposit) is a 1-year renewable residence permit for foreign and Arab nationals who demonstrate financial self-sufficiency by depositing a cash guarantee with the Ministry of Finance. It targets financially independent individuals — retirees, pensioners, and persons of independent means — who wish to live in Lebanon without engaging in paid employment. The permit is administered by the General Directorate of General Security under the Law of 10 July 1962 and Decree No. 10188 of 1962. A May 2024 policy change replaced the former frozen bank account requirement with a cash bond held by the Ministry of Finance, prompted by Lebanon's ongoing banking crisis.

• Foreign or Arab national of any nationality
• Cash bond of 1,500,000,000 LBP deposited with the Ministry of Finance — Treasury Directorate (via cash or fresh bank check)
• Notarized commitment not to perform any paid work in Lebanon (waived for applicants aged 64 and above)
• Valid accommodation in Lebanon (lease contract or property ownership document)
• Passport with at least 1 year of remaining validity
• No minimum income or professional qualifications required beyond the cash bond

• Completed and notarized application form
• Valid passport (minimum 1 year validity) plus 2 certified photocopies
• Three recent passport photographs (3.5 × 4.5 cm)
• Receipt of 1,500,000,000 LBP cash bond deposited with the Ministry of Finance — Treasury Directorate
• Notarized no-work commitment signed before a Notary Public (waived for applicants aged 64+)
• Lease contract or property ownership document

The permit is valid for 1 year and is renewable annually. The original cash bond can be used for subsequent renewals — no additional deposit is required. Renewal applications should be submitted before the permit expires; late renewals may incur a fee of 4,900,000 LBP and can result in penalties. Holders who reside outside Lebanon cannot renew their annual residence card (Article 15, Decree 10188). Extended absence may be treated as abandonment of residence status.

Spouse, minor children, and relatives aged 64 and above are covered under the principal applicant's permit. No separate financial requirements apply to dependants. Minors under 15 are exempt from application fees.

Lebanon operates a territorial tax system: income sourced in Lebanon is taxable, while income from foreign sources is not taxed in Lebanon. Non-working residents living on foreign passive income (foreign pensions, rental income abroad, overseas investment returns) generally have no Lebanese tax liability. Residents who hold foreign stocks or bonds and transfer profits to or from abroad must file an annual income declaration by 1 March.

Applicants must appear in person at a General Security regional office or the General Secretariat. The cash bond must be deposited with the Ministry of Finance before submitting the application. The application fee is 18,000,000 LBP; minors under 15 are exempt. Foreign nationals must first enter Lebanon on an appropriate entry visa before applying. Upon arrival, biometric data (fingerprints and photograph) is collected as part of the biometric residency permit system. Renewals may alternatively be submitted through LibanPost offices.

Engagement in any paid employment in Lebanon is strictly prohibited throughout the permit's validity. Applicants must sign a notarized no-work commitment before a Notary Public. This requirement is waived for applicants aged 64 and above. Violation of residence conditions may result in expulsion and a 3-year entry ban for a first offense, or a 10-year ban for a second offense.