Lebanon · Temporary worker

Domestic Worker — entry visa, work permit and residence

Domestic Worker — entry visa, work permit and residence is issued by General Directorate of General Security (Lebanon). VisaAI tracks 30 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

  • People who do not work may have a guarantor provide these documentsThe guarantor then also carries the costs, by an undertaking before a notary.
    When it comes to individuals that do not work, the above-mentioned documents can be provided by the guarantor, in virtue of his engagement established via a notary. He is also then responsible for the costs that are associated with the above-mentioned service.
  • Copies must be clear and certified, carrying the employer’s name and signatureA procedural rule that decides whether a file is accepted.
    - The copies must be clear, and certified, the name and signature of the employer must also be on these documents.
  • General Security refuses the visa if anyone charged fees beyond the listThe consequence, stated by the authority, and it falls on the worker's visa rather than on the party that overcharged.
    The general security refuses to grant a visa to workers in domestic services, if the employment bureau, embassies or consulates have charged extra fees other than the above-mentioned.

Official forms

  • Stage 3: a work contract signed before a notaryExecuted by the sponsoring party.
    A work contract done and signed by the interested party via a notary

Documents you must provide

  • Stage 1: a certified copy of the worker’s passportFiled with the Ministry of Labour.
    A certified copy of the foreigner’s passport
  • Stage 1: a certified copy of the sponsoring party’s identity cardThe authority calls this party "the interested party" throughout.
    A certified copy of the identity card held by the interested party
  • Stage 1: a bank guaranteeStated without an amount on this page.
    A bank guarantee.
  • Stage 2: the authorisation issued by General SecurityThe output of stage 1 becomes an input to stage 2.
    The authorization delivered by the general security
  • Stage 2: a guarantee to General Security executed before a notaryDistinct from the stage-1 bank guarantee.
    A guarantee to the general security done via a notary
  • Stage 2: an attestation of the sponsor’s profession, such as a salary attestationThe authority gives the salary attestation as its own example.
    An attestation that underlines the profession of the interested party: a salary attestation for instance
  • Stage 3: insurance for the foreigner through an insurance companyListed at the labour-permit stage, not at the visa stage.
    An insurance for foreigners via an insurance company
  • Stage 3: medical laboratory testsRequired of the worker.
    Medical laboratory tests to which the foreigner is submitted
  • Stage 4: the work permit, valid at least 6 months, plus a copyThe remaining-validity floor is the requirement.
    The work permit as well as a copy of the latter (valid for 6 months at least)
  • Stage 4: a certified copy of the work contract, with the authority’s named exceptionsForeign employers, representatives of foreign enterprises and press correspondents without a Lebanese branch are excepted, and the exception travels with the requirement.
    A certified copy of the work contract (with the exception of a foreign employer, or the representative of a foreign enterprise, or press correspondents of an agency that has no branches in lebanon)
  • Stage 4: the guarantor’s family civil registry extract, issued within the last 3 years, and 3 ID photosThe recency limit and the photo count share the authority’s line and are kept together.
    An extract of family civil registry of the guarantor, as well as a copy of the latter (it must be emitted 3 years ago at the most) - 3 ID photos
  • Stage 5: the previous residence permit, as the ORIGINAL documentNot a copy.
    The previous residency permit (original document)
  • Stage 5: the worker’s passport, valid at least a year, plus a copyA different validity floor from the six-month work permit.
    The foreigner’s passport as well as a copy of the latter (it has to be valid for a year at least)
  • Stage 5: a renewed work permit valid at least 6 months, plus a copyMeasured at the time of the renewal application.
    A work permit (renewed) valid for 6 months at least, as well as a copy of the latter.
  • Stage 5: three ID photos of the workerQuantity stated by the authority.
    An ID photo of the worker (3 copies)
  • Applicant’s standing: a blocked account of at least LBP 150,000,000, held 3 months, bank-signedLBP 150,000,000 · LBP 3 minimum age monthsThree conditions in one sentence — the amount, the age of the account and the bank's signature.
    A bank statement that points out a blocked account of an amount that is at least equal to 150 000 000 L.B.P, at any Lebanese banks, that goes back to 3months at the least. This statement must be signed by the concerned bank.
  • Applicant’s standing: a lease or title deed, and investment contractsAn alternative basis to the blocked account.
    A leasing contract or a title deed, as well as investment contracts
  • Applicant’s standing: professional licence or accreditation, for ministers, judges, ambassadors and MPsThe authority names those offices itself.
    A copy of the professional license and any valid accreditation for public personalities such as ministers, or judges, ambassadors or members of the parliament
  • Applicant’s standing: a bank-certified salary attestation with a housing conditionRent or ownership must be evidenced alongside the salary.
    A salary attestation that points out a monthly salary ceritfied by the bank, condition (rent or ownership statement).
  • Applicant’s standing: a commercial register extract for enterprise ownersWith a title deed or other evidence of the company's investments.
    An extract of the commercial register for enterprise owners, as well as a copy of the title deed, or any other document that underlines investments held by this company

Government fees

  • Stage 4: residence permit fee — LBP 18,000,000 (women) / LBP 24,000,000 (men)LBP 24,000,000 amount male · LBP 18,000,000 amount femaleThe authority prices this by gender and both figures are on one line.
    The fees related to the residency permit: 18.000.000 L.B.P for women and 24.000.000 L.B.P for men
  • No fee beyond the published list may be chargedAddressed to citizens, employment bureaux and workers alike.
    Citizens and all intermediary employment bureaus as well as domestic workers, are advised not to pay any supplementary fee other than the following:
  • Ministry of Labour — prior authorisation: LBP 2,000,000LBP 2,000,000Quoted with the heading that says whose fee it is, because the amount alone does not say.
    1- The fees of the ministry of labor ... - Previous authorization: 2.000.000 L.B.P
  • Ministry of Labour — working permit: LBP 6,000,000LBP 6,000,000From the same published list.
    - Working permit: 6.000.000 L.B.P
  • General Security — residence permit, female worker: LBP 18,000,000LBP 18,000,000Quoted with the General Security heading above it.
    3- The fees of a residency permit at the general security ... - For one worker in domestic services: 18.000.000 L.B.P (female)
  • General Security — residence permit, male worker: LBP 24,000,000LBP 24,000,000Six million more than the female fee, on the authority's own list.
    3- The fees of a residency permit at the general security ... - For one worker in domestic services: 24.000.000 L.B.P (male)

Official sources

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