Lebanon
Last update 04 August 2023Diplomatic missions
Risk index
Level 3: Increased level of risk (recommendation not to travel in certain areas of the country unless necessary)
3
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Republic of Lebanon
Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in the Republic of Lebanon
Address: BP 11 65 44 Beyrout, Hazmieh, Mar Takla, secteur 6, rue 44
Telephone: +961 5 452 883; +961 5 453 658
Out-of-hours hotline:
+961 5452883; +961 71266985
Fax: +961 5 452 892
Working hours: Mon – Fri, 08:30 to 15:30.
Opening hours of the Consular Office: Mon, Tue, Thu and Fri, 09:00 – 12:00
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.mfa.bg/embassies/lebanon
Embassy of the Republic of Lebanon in Sofia
Address: 1113 Sofia, Frederic Joliot-Curie, bl. 155, apt. 13
Telephone: +359 2 971 27 34; +359 2 971 27 23; +359 2 971 13 14
Fax: +359 2 971 34 97
Working hours: 09:00 – 15:30
E-mail: [email protected]
General information
Security level:
The security situation in Lebanon is fragile due to the deteriorating economic situation and the ongoing protests. As a result of the demonstrations across the country, major roadways to and in major cities are likely to be blocked. New roadblocks may appear on the roads leading to the Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport.
The nature of the demonstrations and protest actions in Lebanon is spontaneous and at this stage mostly peaceful, but the Bulgarian embassy in Lebanon warns that an escalation of the situation is possible.
Healthcare:
Currently, there are no declared outbreaks and no risk of contagion in Lebanon.
Specifics of the local legislation:
It is necessary to strictly observe the authorised period of stay in the country. In case of default, persons pay a high fine for each day of delay and may be detained by the Lebanese border and migration authorities to clarify the reasons for the violation.
Customs requirements:
Each traveller may import and export up to 2 litres of hard liquor for personal use. There are no restrictions on tobacco products. No declaration of currency is required when entering or leaving the country. Customs requirements for Lebanon can be downloaded from HERE.
Road traffic:
If you are travelling by car, you should know that:
— no diesel vehicles are allowed to enter Lebanon;
— upon entry, a mandatory customs fee of USD 10 and a mandatory civil liability fee of USD 50 are payable at the border; — international driving licences issued by the Union of Bulgarian Motorists (SBA) are valid in Lebanon, but not Bulgarian driving licenses.
Practical advice:
Lebanon is a country with a well-developed tourist network. There are many sites of tourist interest. Admission ticket prices for visits to various historical ruins, museums and natural attractions range from USD 5 to USD 20.
It is advisable to avoid, if possible, travel to the southern suburbs of Beirut; the volatile areas in northern Lebanon, especially the border areas with Syria, the Palestinian refugee camps, which have a special crossing regime, the Akkar and Miniyeh-Danniyeh districts, and any other areas where there is public evidence of tension. During your stay in Lebanon, it is advisable to provide the Embassy with a contact telephone/address in case of emergency. It is recommended to avoid: presence in the vicinity of public places, during demonstrations and other forms of protest diversion from main roads, and visiting the following areas: the Palestinian camps, where the Lebanese authorities have limited control; the areas south of the Litani river, where there are still unexploded mines and cluster bombs left over from the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel in the summer of 2006; the Beqaa Valley area and the border areas with Syria. It is advisable to obtain international medical insurance in advance for the duration of your stay in Lebanon, as medical care in the country is relatively expensive. Despite the secular nature of life in Lebanon, local religious customs and traditions should be strictly observed and respected, especially in areas with a predominantly Muslim population.
Recommendations to Bulgarian citizens
We advise Bulgarian citizens in Lebanon to limit their movements on the main thoroughfares in the major cities and beyond, to plan any travel carefully, seeking local advice and being prepared to change their plans at short notice.
The Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Lebanon recommends that Bulgarian citizens travelling to Lebanon have sufficient cash and a mobile phone with a charge paid for making calls. When travelling to or from the airport, be sure to check the status of your flight. If you cannot leave the airport, wait there until the authorities confirm that the roads are open. If you need urgent consular assistance, call the Bulgarian Embassy in Beirut: 00961 5 452 883 and 00961 5 453 658.We advise the Bulgarian citizens on the territory of Lebanon to be vigilant, to avoid all protests, demonstrations and large political gatherings and to follow the current developments in the country.
Local currency:
The local currency is the Lebanese pound. In retail outlets, you can pay directly in US dollars.
Climatic characteristics:
The climate of Lebanon is subtropical with dry summers and wet winters. Along the coast, the average January temperature is 13 °C, the average July temperature 28 °C, and at an altitude of about 2000 m 6 °C and 22° C respectively. Annual rainfall along the coast is 750—1000 mm (mainly from October to April), in the mountains over 1000 mm (from December to May, with snow cover on the peaks), in the Beqaa valley and on the western slopes of the Anti-Lebanon Mountains: 400—800 mm. In summer, especially in the foothills, rainfall is extremely scarce. The country’s rivers are small, with the largest being the El Litani (140 km, flowing entirely through Lebanese territory, mainly through the Beqaa Valley), and the El Hasbani 252 km and the El Asi with its upper currents. In summer, most of them dry up, and their waters are widely used for irrigation.
Travel papers and visas
A valid passport is required. A visa for Lebanon is required for Bulgarian citizens with regular passports. Bulgarian citizens can obtain a short-stay visa at the Embassy of Lebanon in Sofia, as well as at any Lebanese embassy in another country where they have permanent resident status.
Bulgarian citizens can obtain a free one-month tourist visa at Beirut airport or at Lebanon's land borders, with the possibility of extending it for two months, provided they present a purchased return ticket, hotel reservation or accommodation address.
An invitation is required for visiting guests. The visa period can be extended in Lebanon for up to one month by submitting a reasoned application to the Lebanese migration authorities (General Security, Ministry of Interior). Work visa
A work visa can only be obtained through the embassies of Lebanon. In order to apply for a work visa, the applicant must have a prior contract with an employer in Lebanon. More information on the conditions and requirements for entry and stay in Lebanon can be found HERE. There are no mandatory immunisations when entering the country.
Attention! Passport holders with Israeli visas are not allowed into the country, regardless of the status of the traveller.
Competitive service
Issuance of Bulgarian identity documents:
The Embassy in Beirut has been equipped with the biometric data equipment — fingerprints and photo — for the issuance of new passports, identity cards and driving licences.
Certifications and legalizations:
The Republic of Bulgaria has signed a bilateral legal assistance agreement with the Republic of Lebanon, under which documents issued by the competent authorities in each of the two countries, parties to the agreement, do not require further legalization by the other country. They must bear the original stamp and be translated into English or Bulgarian for Bulgaria, and into Arabic, English or French for Lebanon, and the translation must be certified by the relevant Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Civil status:
Birth of a child of a Bulgarian national
When a child is born on the territory of Lebanon and one or both parents are Bulgarian citizens, they must notify the Consular Office of the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Beirut. Within six months the parents of a new-born child shall be provided with a birth certificate, which shall be first certified with a signature and a stamp by the Consular Department of the Ministry of Interior of Lebanon and then by the Consular Office with the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Beirut. It should be then provided with a translation into Bulgarian, certified by the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Beirut or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria, and sent to the municipality of the permanent address of the mother or of the parent who is a Bulgarian citizen.
Conclusion of marriage
Marriage can be concluded in the Bulgarian Embassy in Beirut. Marriage to a foreign national may be concluded before the consular officer if the native law of the foreign citizen so permits, and this is attested by an official document. Every Bulgarian citizen, before planning to get married at the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Beirut, must apply to the Consular Office for a date and time of the marriage ceremony by submitting the following documents: medical certificates; birth certificates; identity documents of the future spouses and witnesses; certificate of marital status issued by the municipality of residence in the Republic of Bulgaria; declarations to be completed by the persons before the marriage ceremony. For foreign nationals, all documents need to be translated and legalized.
Marriages concluded in accredited embassies or in local churches registered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lebanon shall only be recognised if performed between persons of a different nationality and religion other than Lebanese, upon presentation of a duly certified and legalized certificate. The certificate should be registered in the municipality of the husband's permanent address, and if he is not a Bulgarian citizen – in the municipality of the wife's permanent address.
Death of a Bulgarian citizen
In the event of the death of a Bulgarian citizen on the territory of Lebanon, the Consular Office must be notified in a timely manner. The death certificate should be duly certified and legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lebanon, the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Beirut, provided with an officially certified translation into Bulgarian by translation companies or translators authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria. The document is sent or filed in Bulgaria to the municipality of the person's permanent address. The Consular Office with the Embassy is ready to render assistance on matters related to the death of Bulgarian citizens.