Lebanon · Performer

Artist Entry Visa and Residency

Artist Entry Visa and Residency is issued by General Directorate of General Security (Lebanon). VisaAI tracks 26 official requirements for it, each traced to the government page that states it.

Last verified against the official source on .

VisaAI is not a government body and does not issue visas. It cannot decide, predict or guarantee the outcome of an application, and this page is not legal or immigration advice.

Requirements change. Confirm every item on General Directorate of General Security (Lebanon)’s own page before you apply.

Each requirement below is written in plain English by VisaAI. The indented text beneath it is quoted from General Directorate of General Security (Lebanon)’s own page, so you can check what we say against what they say. Where a quotation shows “ ... ”, text has been left out.

Conditions you must meet

  • Issued under the 2008 law on the regulation of artistic professions, article 16The authority cites its own instrument.
    Based on Law No. /56/ dated 27/12/2008 (Law on the Regulation of Artistic Professions), particularly Article /16/ thereof,
  • And under decree 3705/2016 as amended by decree 13043/2024The amending decree is recent and is quoted with its date.
    and based on Decree No. /3705/ dated 22/06/2016 as amended by Decree No. /13043/ dated 29/04/2024,
  • Non-compliance means rejection and legal actionAddressed to all individuals or companies recruiting Arab and foreign artists.
    all individuals or companies recruiting Arab and foreign artists are required to strictly comply with the following procedures, under penalty of having their applications rejected and facing legal action:
  • Six-month residency, for artists who do NOT work in nightclubsThe exclusion is the eligibility test.
    First: Foreign artists, who do not work in Nightclubs, can obtain temporary residency for a period of six months at once, on the condition that:

Official forms

  • A filled-out applicationFirst of the artist-visa document list.
    A filled out application.

Documents you must provide

  • THIRD: what the entry-visa application must includeThe two items below are the authority's own list.
    Applications for entry visas submitted to the competent General Security departments must include:
  • A copy of the original contract stamped by the Unified Mutual FundThe output of step one becomes an input to the visa.
    • A copy of the original contract stamped by the Unified Mutual Fund for Artists.
  • A copy of the Ministry of Finance receipt for the 10% feeThe output of step two becomes an input to the visa.
    • A copy of the receipt of payment of the 10% fee issued by the Ministry of Finance.
  • An engagement of guaranteeFrom the artist-visa document list.
    An engagement of guarantee.
  • A work contract stating the dates, the duration of the shows and the artist’s remunerationSigned and dated by both parties; the three stated terms are what make it acceptable.
    A work contract dated and signed by the 2 interested parties, in which the date and the duration of the shows are mentioned as well as the remuneration granted to the artist.
  • An agreement between the convener and the owner of the venueFrom the artist-visa document list.
    An agreement between convener and the owner of the location where the show is held.
  • A financial guarantee for EACH artistPer artist, not per engagement.
    A financial guarantee for each artist.
  • An investment permit and the enterprise’s financial and commercial registerFrom the artist-visa document list.
    An investment permit, a financial and commercial register of the concerned enterprise.
  • A certified copy of the convener’s ID, and of any representative and proxy usedFrom the artist-visa document list.
    A certified copy of the ID card held by convener (as well as a copy of the ID card held by the representative and the proxy used).
  • A certified copy of the artist’s passport, in 3 clear copiesQuantity stated by the authority.
    A certified copy of the passport held by the artist in 3 clear copies.
  • Two 4×4 photosDimensions are part of the requirement.
    2 photos 4x4.
  • A receipt for the 10% artists’ mutual fund fee, with the exceptions namedModelling, massage and nightclub workers are excepted, and the exception travels with the requirement.
    A receipt showing that a 10% fee has been paid to the Artists’ Mutual Fund, as well as a certified copy of the work contract approved by the ministry of finance (except for the workers employed in modeling, massaging, and nightclubs).
  • Six-month residency: an employment contract valid for the whole residenceFirst of three conditions.
    • Possession of a valid employment contract for the duration of residence.

Steps in the process

  • FIRST: the contract must be endorsed by the Unified Mutual Fund before any other stepThe original signed contract must carry the Fund's official stamp before anything else proceeds.
    The original contract signed with the foreign artist must be presented in advance to the Unified Mutual Fund for Artists, and the official endorsement stamp of the Fund must be obtained on the contract before proceeding with any other procedures.
  • A financial register must be delivered to General Security before the artist departsAn exit obligation, published as a note on the entry requirements.
    NB: Before the departure of the artist, a financial register has to be delivered to the general security.

Government fees

  • SECOND: 10% of the contract value paid to the Ministry of FinanceIn favour of the Unified Mutual Fund for Artists, with an official receipt.
    A fee of 10% of the contract value must be paid to the Ministry of Finance in favor of the Unified Mutual Fund for Artists, and an official receipt proving payment must be obtained according to the proper procedures.
  • Four fiscal stamps of LBP 20,000LBP 4 quantity · LBP 20,000 amount eachQuoted as the authority writes it (`l.l`).
    4 fiscal stamps of 20,000 L.L.
  • LBP 15,000,000 per month per artist — class B venue (1 or 2 stars)LBP 15,000,000Per artist per month, and the venue class is what sets it.
    15.000.000 L.B.P – every month for each artist if the location of the show is class B (1 or 2 stars).
  • LBP 30,000,000 per month per artist — class A venue (3 stars or more)LBP 30,000,000Double the class B fee, quoted separately so the two cannot merge.
    30.000.000 L.B.P – every month for each artist if the location of the show is class A (3 stars or more).
  • Six-month residency: payment of the fees under the rulesNo amount is stated on this page and none is invented.
    • Payment of the fees in accordance with the rules.
  • Six-month residency: DOUBLE fees for the serviceStated by the authority as a doubling rather than as an amount.
    • Payment of double fees for the service.

Official sources

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Artist Entry Visa and Residency — Lebanon | VisaAI