Acting Director of General Security, Gen. Elias Baïssari, during an inspection tour of the counters at Beirut international airport. (Credit: NNA)
Lebanese General Security has announced new rates for residence permits for foreign nationals, in line with the new exchange rate of the Lebanese lira against the US dollar, which has been stable for several months at around LL89,500 to the dollar.
The new annual residence permit rates are as follows:
- For foreigners holding a first-category work permit and their family members, the fee rises from LL1,800,000 to LL82 million, or $916. This represents a 45.5-fold increase. Before the crisis, this residence permit cost the equivalent of $1,200 at the former official rate of LL1,507.5 to the dollar.
- For second-category work permit holders and their family members, the rate rises from LL1,200,000 to LL55 million ($614).
- For holders of a third-category work permit, the cost rises from LL400,000 to LL18 million ($201).
- For holders of a fourth-category work permit, which includes laborers and domestic workers, the fee is LL13 million ($145). Before the increase, it was differentiated according to the number of people employed, and ranged from LL300,000 to LL1,200,000.
- For Egyptian nationals, the rate rises from LL23,000 to LL1 million ($11).
- For students, the set amount rises from LL250,000 to LL10 million ($111).
- For nationals of Lebanese origin who hold another nationality, the cost of the residency document has been increased from LL250,000 to LL10 million ($111).
- For people whose file is being examined to determine the type of residence permit required, the rate varies from LL300,000 to LL6 million ($67).
- For all other categories of claimants, the amount rises from LL300,000 to LL13 million ($145).
- The "provisional" residence permit, valid for one year and reserved for Syrian nationals, has increased in cost from LL300,000 to LL13 million ($145).
The following fees may be added to the rates for each request:
- Applicants' guarantor transfers, in the event of a change of employer, will now cost LL2 million ($22), compared with LL50,000 previously.
- An additional fee of LL4,900,000 ($55) will be charged for any emergency procedure.
Work permits for "artists and musicians," which are granted for six months:
In the first category, the rate rises from LL500,000 to LL23 million ($257).
- In the second category, it climbs from 250,000 to LL11.5 million ($128.5).