Lebanon

Scope

Maritime affairs in Lebanon are handled by the Directorate General of Land and Maritime Transport in the Ministry of Public Works and Transport and by individual port authorities. Customs, General Security border/immigration authorities, and agricultural/health quarantine authorities each handle matters within their remit. Official port and border-control lists do not establish that foreign private yachts can complete all entry formalities at every location. Confirm whether the intended port receives yachts and can process customs, immigration and quarantine.

Ports of entry and departure

The Directorate General of Land and Maritime Transport lists port authorities for Beirut, Tripoli, Chekka, Batroun, Byblos, Jounieh, Saida and Tyre, among others. General Security separately lists seaport border-control centres and contact details for Beirut, Jounieh, Tripoli, Sour, Saida and Jiyeh, among others. These lists do not confirm whether foreign private yachts may enter at each location or complete customs, immigration and quarantine there. Check each intended port and the relevant border-control centre directly.

Pre-arrival notification

Lebanon's Customs Law requires the master/agent to prepare manifests according to vessel type. On entering port, the master must declare ship's stores not shown on the manifest and present the manifest as customs requires. Article 75 requires cargo, stores/crew-effects and passenger lists, among other documents, no later than 36 hours after arrival and before unloading; the manifest is required even if the vessel carries no cargo. Article 76 sets requirements for non-scheduled vessels, vessels without a local agent and sailing vessels to obtain customs certification of the manifest at the port of loading. Confirm forms and electronic submission procedures for private pleasure craft with the destination port.

Crew and passenger entry

Lebanese visa requirements vary by passport nationality and purpose of visit. General Security lists visa-free and facilitated-entry categories for some nationalities; others must apply through an embassy/consulate or obtain prior approval as required. The authority publishes seaport border-control centres and phone numbers, but this does not confirm that private-yacht crew can obtain visas onboard or at the port, or that crew are automatically permitted ashore. Check eligibility for each person and contact the border-control centre at the intended port before arrival to confirm entry by sea and shore-leave procedures.

Vessel customs

Lebanon's Customs Law authorizes customs inspections of vessels and requires declarations of manifests, ship's stores and relevant passenger/crew lists. Sailing vessels and some non-scheduled vessels or vessels without a local agent must submit manifests certified by customs at the port of loading as required. Before departure, manifests and release formalities must also be completed under customs rules. Public regulations do not specify a simplified process, temporary-import period or guarantee for foreign private yachts. Confirm with customs or an agent at the intended port.

Quarantine and biosecurity

The Ministry of Agriculture is responsible for agricultural quarantine. Plants and plant products are subject to quarantine and phytosanitary certificate requirements; pet and animal imports are governed by separate official decisions and veterinary health-document rules. Available rules mainly concern cargo or animal imports and do not confirm a specific declaration process for food, pets, plants, catch or waste aboard private yachts. Before carrying pets or related products, obtain written confirmation from the Ministry of Agriculture and customs at the port of entry about permits, certificates, inspection location and handling of onboard items.

Restricted items

Lebanon Customs' traveller guide lists weapons, ammunition, drugs and antiquities/ancient coins as prohibited items to bring into or take out of the country. Cash or negotiable financial instruments with a total value above USD 15,000 (or the equivalent in another currency) must be declared to customs. The traveller guide does not say whether firearms aboard may be sealed and kept on the vessel or whether private yachts have a special exemption. Do not assume that keeping an item aboard makes it permissible. Before departure, confirm legality, permits and declaration procedures for the specific items with customs.

Port procedures

Before sailing, contact the intended port authority and General Security seaport border-control centre to confirm yacht reception permission, ETA notification method, anchoring/berthing instructions, customs and immigration documents, quarantine arrangements and office hours. The Customs Law sets declaration and onboard-list requirements, but no uniform VHF channel or sequence of authority visits applicable to all yachts nationwide was found. Cruiser reports such as ATCL mention VHF 16/11 and procedures using “Oscar Charlie”; official confirmation was not found. Reported, not verified. Follow written instructions for the specific port and arrival.

Fees and departure

Published fee schedules for Tripoli Port and Beirut Port list berth/anchorage, pilotage and other port services. The Tripoli schedule has a special provision for foreign tourist yachts that varies according to whether they berth at a marina, but it is older and its current validity and application to this vessel have not been confirmed. ATCL has referred to a USD 100 entry tax per yacht, but no official basis for this charge was found. Reported, not verified. Request a current written tariff from the intended port before arrival. Before departure, confirm customs release and settle port-service and agent charges.