Lebanon
Location: West Asia
Broadcast Regulators
Visas & Permits
Visas & Work Permits
Most nationalities can obtain visas on arrival, allowing stays for a period of up to a month.
Please note that crew members holding passports, containing visas or entry/exit stamps for Israel, will likely be refused entry into the country.
Visiting crews aren’t required to have work permits.
Please contact a local embassy, consulate or representative for more information. Alternatively, there are specialist companies that provide visa and immigration support to the media industry who may be able to assist.
Film Location Permits
Lebanon is one of the most liberal countries in the Middle East.
Permits are generally a quick and easy process. B-roll shoots around Beirut require permits from the army and government. These permits generally take about a week to process. More complicated shoots, involving traffic control or large set-ups, require more time and consultation with the police.
Shoots involving drones require at least two weeks to permit.
Journalists heading to film in Beirut’s southern suburbs will need permission from Hezbollah’s media office and an accompanying escort.
Customs
For productions looking to bring in film equipment, Lebanon is an ATA carnet country.
When to Film
When to Film
Lebanon’s summers (June to September) are hot and dry. Winters (December to March) are cold and wet, with snowfall common in mountainous areas. Spring (April to May) through to autumn (October to November) are the best months to film.
Lebanon is a religiously diverse country, with the majority of the population being Sunni and Shia Muslims. Ramadan is observed although, unlike much of the Middle East during this time, Lebanon remains open for business. There is also a community of Maronite, Orthodox and Melkite Christians, as well as a Druze minority.
Public Holidays
Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in Lebanon.
Costs & VAT
Lebanon has one of the least expensive shoot day costs in the Middle East.
The standard VAT rate in Lebanon at the time of writing is set at 11%.
Funding & Tax Incentives
Incentives
At the time of writing, this country does not have any filming incentives. However, up to date information on global filming incentives may be found on the Entertainment Partners' Production Incentives Map.
Treaty Documents