Home | Chat | Cities Portal Forum Maps | Touristic Sites Weather

Shopping | Contact us | Photos Guest Book

  Latest Lebanese News


 
 

 

  About Lebanon


Lebanon is packed with history, archaeology, natural beauty and a handsome population of fun-loving people whose hospitality and warmth extends the length and breadth of the country.This website is dedicated to all Lebanese around the world and it is a part of Tripoli-Lebanon.com and Nasaco.net

Our main goal is to reflect the real and beautiful image of our beloved country Lebanon. We have included a number of resources on this site that will be useful for Lebanese in Lebanon and for those living abroad. This website will be updated regularly and the news section is updated around the hour.

General Tips About Lebanon

Visa Requirements & Fees

Tourist visas are available at the airport for holders of the following nationalities: Western Europeans, citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the US, Canada, Australia, Japan and South Korea. Passports containing a visa to Israel (valid or expired) are denied entry.

Fifteen-days visa: 25,000 LBP
Three-months visa, single entry: 50,000 LBP
Multi-entry tourist visa: 100,000 LBP       

Returning Lebanese Nationals

Requirements for customs clearance (at the airport or the port): Proof of residency in a foreign country, change of residency certificate (attested by the Lebanese embassy in the country of former residence), proof of residency in Lebanon (a rent contract attested by the municipality or an ownership deed certified by the mayor).

Non-Nationals moving to Lebanon

Requirements to avoid paying import duty on personal effects are the following: A certified letter from former/present employer stating change of residence, job title, nature of work you will be doing in Lebanon, legalised by the Lebanese embassy in country of origin and by the local authorities. Also, you will need a detailed packing list, a rent contract (legalised by local municipality), a work permit and a residence visa. In case you are bringing a pet with you, make sure to have an international health certificate from your local vet. Dogs must be vaccinated against rabies (not more than 30 days).

Medical checklist before arrival

You will require the following: up to date tetanus injection, hepatitis A, valid medical insurance and current medical report from your doctor.

Useful Numbers

Fire Brigade 175
Civil Defense 125
Internal Security 112
Police 160
Red Cross 140
Operator 100
Information 120
Airport 01.628000
Tourist Police 01.350901 - 01.343286 - 01.343209

Climate / Tips for packing

On its coastal area, Lebanon enjoys a Mediterranean climate (hot summers and mild winters). Summer temperatures in the capital (Beirut) range from 29o C to 32 o C (84oF to 90oF). Winter temperatures range from 16oC to 20oC (61oF to 66oF).
In the summer, mountain regions, with their cooler and less humid weather, attract many residents. In winter, temperatures at higher altitudes can drop below zero and many mountaintops remain covered with snow throughout most of the year.
Since Lebanon enjoys a summery climate from May to October, pack some light cotton and linen cloths. Don’t forget your bathing suit! If you’re planning on visiting Lebanon during the winter (November to April), it would be advisable to wear warmer cloths (woollens, polo-necks…). We also recommend you bring a coat and scarf.
Don’t forget to pack a couple of smart evening outfits, for dining out in Lebanon can be a very stylish affair!

Geography

Lebanon is situated along the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea, with a 10,452Km2 surface. All regions are within easy reach: it will take a maximum of 4 hours by car to reach the most far-flung places from Beirut.
Beirut, Tripoli, Byblos, Sidon, Tyre and other major cities are situated on the narrow coastal plain, only 6 Km2 at the widest point. Mount Lebanon, a rugged and rocky landscape, rises steeply from the coastal plain, with the highest peak at 3,360m. The Anti-Lebanon mountains are almost of the same hight and length, and form a natural border with the neighbouring countries to the east.
In between is the Beqaa Valley with a central plateau at an average of 760m above sea level. Throughout history, the Beqaa Valley has been considered a major agricultural region, rich with historical sites.

Population

Local population: 4,000,000 citizens (with 17 religious communities, most of which are Christian, Muslim and Druze)

Language

Besides Arabic, most Lebanese speak French and English.
Spoken Arabic slightly differs from the written Arabic.

Currency

The local currency is the Lebanese Pound or Lira (LL or LBP). You can pay in dollars as well.
Notes are in denominations of LL1,000 – LL5,000 – LL10,000 – LL20,000 – LL50,000 – LL100,000.
Coins are in pieces of LL50 – LL100 – LL250 – LL500.
The US Dollar (to date): 1$ = ~ LL1,500

Time

Local time is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+2 GMT) from October to March, and 3 hours (+3 GMT) from April to September.

Tourist Refund - Value added Tax - VAT

Starting 01 February 2002, tourists departing from Lebanon are entitled to a VAT refund on goods purchased during their stay.
During the February Shopping Festival, and until the management of the tourist refund mechanism is handed over to a private company, the customs administration will handle the VAT refund claims.

Who can ask for a tourist refund?

Every foreigner or Lebanese person residing abroad, and whose stay in Lebanon does not exceed three continuous months, is entitled to ask for a VAT refund.

Which purchases do not entitle the tourist to a VAT refund?

All kinds of services (hotels, telecommunications, car rentals, guided tours. All kinds of foods and beverages (restaurants, cafés, supermarkets. Fuel and tobacco.

What are the conditions required for a VAT refund?

The goods must be transported in the tourist's personal luggage.
The tourist must have bought the goods from a VAT registered retailer.
The total value for each invoice from each store must exceed 150,000 LBP per year.
The purchases should be exported from Lebanon within three months of the date of purchase i.e. the date of the invoice. The goods don't necessarily have to be transported upon the tourist's first departure from Lebanon as long as he is still within the time limit determined above.
The purchases should be new and not used in Lebanon (except used cars).


What should the tourist do in order to claim a VAT refund?

The tourist must ask the VAT registered retailer to issue, an invoice containing the retailer's VAT registration number, his name and address, the tourist's name and address, the description and value of the transaction, and the amount of VAT paid.The tourist must obtain a refund claim from the registered retailer (or at the airport when departing) and must fill it out.The tourist must present the customs administration at the point of departure with the goods, the VAT refund claim, and the invoices related to that refund.
It should be noted that the customs administration will keep the original invoices. Therefore, any tourist wishing to retain copies of these invoices must photocopy them in advance or ask the retailer to issue another copy upon purchase of the goods. The customs administration will inspect the goods for which a refund is claimed in order to ensure that they match the related invoices. It will also stamp the refund claim and all its attachments.


When is the decision of acceptance or refusal of the request issued?

The refund claims shall be handled by the unit that will be in charge of the management of the tourist refund. When the required conditions are met, the tax is refunded, either by check or credit card transfer, after deduction of the company's commission. If the refund claim is rejected, then the tourist is notified of the rejection of the claim, as well as the reason for the refusal.
For more info:
E-mail: vat@finance.gov.lb
Tel #: 01.398234

 

  Lebanese Cities Links


Achkout

Ainab

Ain-Ebel

Ain-El Delb

Ain-Zhalta

Akoura

Alma elChaaab

Amioun

Andaket

Anfeh

Baskinta

Batroun

Bazbina

Beit Chabab

Bickfaya

Bteghrine

Bybloscity

Chartoun

Chekka

Daraoun

Deir Mimas

Douma

Ehden

El Marj

Hadchit

Hadeth el Joubbeh

Hammana

Harissa Panorama

Hasroun1

Hasroun2

Jadra

Jbeil

Jdeidet Marjeyoun

Jeb Jannine

Jieh

Joun

Jounieh

Kadisha

Kaitouly

Kalamoun

Kfar Abida

Kfarhata

Kobayat

Machghara

Mashghara

Machmoucheh

Maghdoucheh

Marjeyoun

Mayfouq

Mazraat Yachouh

Menjez

Meziara 1

Meziara 2

Moukhtara

Rachaya

Rahbe

Rmeich

Saghbine

Sourat

Tannourine

Tripoli

Zahle

Zgharta.com

Zouk Mikael

Zouk Mosbeh

 

More Links >>

Special Links

¦ Tripoli-Lebanon.com

¦ Tripoli.tv

¦ Nasaco.net

Nasaco.net | Nasaco.info | Tripoli-Lebanon.com | 123Tripoli.com | LibanPhone.com | Tripoli.tv | OD5SK.com | Nouha.com
Satdx.com | Rawda.org | MEM.cc | ArabicFood.info | Khayat.org | Lubnan.info | Trablos.com | Arablink.info | Arabicnames.info
NASACO - A Step ahead in information Technology

copyright © 2003 - 2007 Lebanon.cd , Samir Saadi Khayat ,All rights reserved

Developed by: Nasaco.info