Can one visit Israel with a Lebanese passport only?
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Asking for a friend.
He does not hold any dual citizenship and only has a Lebanese passport. I am well aware of the diplomatic tensions these two countries hold but I was under the impression Israel did not have any restrictions on who could visit. However, I've seen contradictory answers online.
I suspect he might be questioned upon arrival. To makes things simpler, he's been living in Paris for years now and has no ties to anyone involved in politics in Lebanon.
Can he visit Israel with only a Lebanese passport? Also, even if he asks the Israel customs not to stamp his passport, can Lebanon find out he's been in Israel? Can he get in trouble when he decides to visit Lebanon?
israel war-zones lebanese-citizens lebanon
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up vote
22
down vote
favorite
Asking for a friend.
He does not hold any dual citizenship and only has a Lebanese passport. I am well aware of the diplomatic tensions these two countries hold but I was under the impression Israel did not have any restrictions on who could visit. However, I've seen contradictory answers online.
I suspect he might be questioned upon arrival. To makes things simpler, he's been living in Paris for years now and has no ties to anyone involved in politics in Lebanon.
Can he visit Israel with only a Lebanese passport? Also, even if he asks the Israel customs not to stamp his passport, can Lebanon find out he's been in Israel? Can he get in trouble when he decides to visit Lebanon?
israel war-zones lebanese-citizens lebanon
add a comment |Â
up vote
22
down vote
favorite
up vote
22
down vote
favorite
Asking for a friend.
He does not hold any dual citizenship and only has a Lebanese passport. I am well aware of the diplomatic tensions these two countries hold but I was under the impression Israel did not have any restrictions on who could visit. However, I've seen contradictory answers online.
I suspect he might be questioned upon arrival. To makes things simpler, he's been living in Paris for years now and has no ties to anyone involved in politics in Lebanon.
Can he visit Israel with only a Lebanese passport? Also, even if he asks the Israel customs not to stamp his passport, can Lebanon find out he's been in Israel? Can he get in trouble when he decides to visit Lebanon?
israel war-zones lebanese-citizens lebanon
Asking for a friend.
He does not hold any dual citizenship and only has a Lebanese passport. I am well aware of the diplomatic tensions these two countries hold but I was under the impression Israel did not have any restrictions on who could visit. However, I've seen contradictory answers online.
I suspect he might be questioned upon arrival. To makes things simpler, he's been living in Paris for years now and has no ties to anyone involved in politics in Lebanon.
Can he visit Israel with only a Lebanese passport? Also, even if he asks the Israel customs not to stamp his passport, can Lebanon find out he's been in Israel? Can he get in trouble when he decides to visit Lebanon?
israel war-zones lebanese-citizens lebanon
israel war-zones lebanese-citizens lebanon
asked Sep 9 at 5:58
solalito
26717
26717
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3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
up vote
19
down vote
accepted
He can apply for a visa.
Entering Israel, like any other state, requires permission in the form of a valid visa, unless it's for specific reasons by citizens of specific countries. As an enemy state, Lebanon is obviously not one of the countries exempt from a visa.
But, it's Israel's policy to allow everyone, including citizens of enemy states to apply for a visa. He should contact the Israeli representatives in France to start the process.
Again, he can start the visa process. It's not guaranteed that he will be approved for one.
Finally, regarding Lebanese authorities finding out, Israel doesn't stamp passports but gives slips of paper, so there is no problem there, but he must make sure to not enter from the land crossing from Egypt or Jordan as the Egyptian/Jordanian authorities will stamp the passport with a stamp from a border crossing with Israel. Also, usually visas are put in the passport; obviously an Israeli visa in the passport is a dead give away, so he would need to ask during the visa process if it's possible to not attach to the passport.
And, depending on his notoriety he would need to look out for public signs that he has been to Israel. For example, posting a picture from Tel Aviv as your FB profile picture is probably not a good idea.
+1, but for quite some time now, Israeli authorities have defaulted to stamping a piece of paper, not the passport, by default.
â jpatokal
Sep 9 at 13:22
5
Whilst it's true Israel does not stamp passports on entry/exit, when I checked into it last year for a college, they do still issue visas as a foil in the passport, with no option not to do so. This may have changed, but at that time it meant my college (Indian citizen, living in Dubai) was unable to visa Israel as there was no option to not get the visa in his passport.
â Doc
Sep 9 at 15:46
1
@jpatokal Technically they don't "stamp" anything. They issue a small piece of blue (entry) or pink (exit) paper with your details/photo/etc computer printed on it. But again, this is only on entry/exit, not for a pre-approved visa application.
â Doc
Sep 9 at 15:47
@Doc: Technically, this blue piece of paper is a visa (that's what it says, anyway). But re: visas you get not at the border, every one I've seen was attached to the passport. OTOH, they were A-2 visas, it may be different for a B-2 visa.
â tomasz
Sep 10 at 22:29
add a comment |Â
up vote
10
down vote
According to this table in the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) site, Lebanese citizens can apply for a visa, but it "requires MFA confirmation" (a comment in common to many Muslim states, as well as North Korea).
I can't tell what requirements does the MFA have for this confirmation, and it's probably not public information. I would guess it involves providing a good reason and/or strong evidence of lack of negative intentions.
This thread discusses the similar case of an Iraqi citizen. According to one answer, These countries are in a different and restrictive category, and the best advice is that entry will not be easy and will require special circumstances and justification
.
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
As other answers indicate, your friend can apply for a visa. However, s/he risks the possibility of interrogation by the Israeli security services upon entry - as we have recently seen in the media even for people from the US. If your friend is active in politics or otherwise related to significant people in the public sphere, this chance increases.
Also there might be similar repercussions on the Lebanese side, I'm not sure.
I don't suggest that your friend not try this, but I do suggest caution and possibly "lawyering up" to some extent if s/he gets the visa - in case your friend is detained on entry and not released (which is perhaps not very likely but possible).
I'm not sure how lawyering up would help. A lawyer won't be present if he's interrogated on entry. On the Lebanese side, it's much better not to let them know.
â ugoren
Sep 11 at 10:33
@ugoren: See edit.
â einpoklum
Sep 11 at 15:24
add a comment |Â
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
19
down vote
accepted
He can apply for a visa.
Entering Israel, like any other state, requires permission in the form of a valid visa, unless it's for specific reasons by citizens of specific countries. As an enemy state, Lebanon is obviously not one of the countries exempt from a visa.
But, it's Israel's policy to allow everyone, including citizens of enemy states to apply for a visa. He should contact the Israeli representatives in France to start the process.
Again, he can start the visa process. It's not guaranteed that he will be approved for one.
Finally, regarding Lebanese authorities finding out, Israel doesn't stamp passports but gives slips of paper, so there is no problem there, but he must make sure to not enter from the land crossing from Egypt or Jordan as the Egyptian/Jordanian authorities will stamp the passport with a stamp from a border crossing with Israel. Also, usually visas are put in the passport; obviously an Israeli visa in the passport is a dead give away, so he would need to ask during the visa process if it's possible to not attach to the passport.
And, depending on his notoriety he would need to look out for public signs that he has been to Israel. For example, posting a picture from Tel Aviv as your FB profile picture is probably not a good idea.
+1, but for quite some time now, Israeli authorities have defaulted to stamping a piece of paper, not the passport, by default.
â jpatokal
Sep 9 at 13:22
5
Whilst it's true Israel does not stamp passports on entry/exit, when I checked into it last year for a college, they do still issue visas as a foil in the passport, with no option not to do so. This may have changed, but at that time it meant my college (Indian citizen, living in Dubai) was unable to visa Israel as there was no option to not get the visa in his passport.
â Doc
Sep 9 at 15:46
1
@jpatokal Technically they don't "stamp" anything. They issue a small piece of blue (entry) or pink (exit) paper with your details/photo/etc computer printed on it. But again, this is only on entry/exit, not for a pre-approved visa application.
â Doc
Sep 9 at 15:47
@Doc: Technically, this blue piece of paper is a visa (that's what it says, anyway). But re: visas you get not at the border, every one I've seen was attached to the passport. OTOH, they were A-2 visas, it may be different for a B-2 visa.
â tomasz
Sep 10 at 22:29
add a comment |Â
up vote
19
down vote
accepted
He can apply for a visa.
Entering Israel, like any other state, requires permission in the form of a valid visa, unless it's for specific reasons by citizens of specific countries. As an enemy state, Lebanon is obviously not one of the countries exempt from a visa.
But, it's Israel's policy to allow everyone, including citizens of enemy states to apply for a visa. He should contact the Israeli representatives in France to start the process.
Again, he can start the visa process. It's not guaranteed that he will be approved for one.
Finally, regarding Lebanese authorities finding out, Israel doesn't stamp passports but gives slips of paper, so there is no problem there, but he must make sure to not enter from the land crossing from Egypt or Jordan as the Egyptian/Jordanian authorities will stamp the passport with a stamp from a border crossing with Israel. Also, usually visas are put in the passport; obviously an Israeli visa in the passport is a dead give away, so he would need to ask during the visa process if it's possible to not attach to the passport.
And, depending on his notoriety he would need to look out for public signs that he has been to Israel. For example, posting a picture from Tel Aviv as your FB profile picture is probably not a good idea.
+1, but for quite some time now, Israeli authorities have defaulted to stamping a piece of paper, not the passport, by default.
â jpatokal
Sep 9 at 13:22
5
Whilst it's true Israel does not stamp passports on entry/exit, when I checked into it last year for a college, they do still issue visas as a foil in the passport, with no option not to do so. This may have changed, but at that time it meant my college (Indian citizen, living in Dubai) was unable to visa Israel as there was no option to not get the visa in his passport.
â Doc
Sep 9 at 15:46
1
@jpatokal Technically they don't "stamp" anything. They issue a small piece of blue (entry) or pink (exit) paper with your details/photo/etc computer printed on it. But again, this is only on entry/exit, not for a pre-approved visa application.
â Doc
Sep 9 at 15:47
@Doc: Technically, this blue piece of paper is a visa (that's what it says, anyway). But re: visas you get not at the border, every one I've seen was attached to the passport. OTOH, they were A-2 visas, it may be different for a B-2 visa.
â tomasz
Sep 10 at 22:29
add a comment |Â
up vote
19
down vote
accepted
up vote
19
down vote
accepted
He can apply for a visa.
Entering Israel, like any other state, requires permission in the form of a valid visa, unless it's for specific reasons by citizens of specific countries. As an enemy state, Lebanon is obviously not one of the countries exempt from a visa.
But, it's Israel's policy to allow everyone, including citizens of enemy states to apply for a visa. He should contact the Israeli representatives in France to start the process.
Again, he can start the visa process. It's not guaranteed that he will be approved for one.
Finally, regarding Lebanese authorities finding out, Israel doesn't stamp passports but gives slips of paper, so there is no problem there, but he must make sure to not enter from the land crossing from Egypt or Jordan as the Egyptian/Jordanian authorities will stamp the passport with a stamp from a border crossing with Israel. Also, usually visas are put in the passport; obviously an Israeli visa in the passport is a dead give away, so he would need to ask during the visa process if it's possible to not attach to the passport.
And, depending on his notoriety he would need to look out for public signs that he has been to Israel. For example, posting a picture from Tel Aviv as your FB profile picture is probably not a good idea.
He can apply for a visa.
Entering Israel, like any other state, requires permission in the form of a valid visa, unless it's for specific reasons by citizens of specific countries. As an enemy state, Lebanon is obviously not one of the countries exempt from a visa.
But, it's Israel's policy to allow everyone, including citizens of enemy states to apply for a visa. He should contact the Israeli representatives in France to start the process.
Again, he can start the visa process. It's not guaranteed that he will be approved for one.
Finally, regarding Lebanese authorities finding out, Israel doesn't stamp passports but gives slips of paper, so there is no problem there, but he must make sure to not enter from the land crossing from Egypt or Jordan as the Egyptian/Jordanian authorities will stamp the passport with a stamp from a border crossing with Israel. Also, usually visas are put in the passport; obviously an Israeli visa in the passport is a dead give away, so he would need to ask during the visa process if it's possible to not attach to the passport.
And, depending on his notoriety he would need to look out for public signs that he has been to Israel. For example, posting a picture from Tel Aviv as your FB profile picture is probably not a good idea.
edited Sep 10 at 12:52
Lightness Races in Orbit
949611
949611
answered Sep 9 at 9:07
SIMEL
2,77211426
2,77211426
+1, but for quite some time now, Israeli authorities have defaulted to stamping a piece of paper, not the passport, by default.
â jpatokal
Sep 9 at 13:22
5
Whilst it's true Israel does not stamp passports on entry/exit, when I checked into it last year for a college, they do still issue visas as a foil in the passport, with no option not to do so. This may have changed, but at that time it meant my college (Indian citizen, living in Dubai) was unable to visa Israel as there was no option to not get the visa in his passport.
â Doc
Sep 9 at 15:46
1
@jpatokal Technically they don't "stamp" anything. They issue a small piece of blue (entry) or pink (exit) paper with your details/photo/etc computer printed on it. But again, this is only on entry/exit, not for a pre-approved visa application.
â Doc
Sep 9 at 15:47
@Doc: Technically, this blue piece of paper is a visa (that's what it says, anyway). But re: visas you get not at the border, every one I've seen was attached to the passport. OTOH, they were A-2 visas, it may be different for a B-2 visa.
â tomasz
Sep 10 at 22:29
add a comment |Â
+1, but for quite some time now, Israeli authorities have defaulted to stamping a piece of paper, not the passport, by default.
â jpatokal
Sep 9 at 13:22
5
Whilst it's true Israel does not stamp passports on entry/exit, when I checked into it last year for a college, they do still issue visas as a foil in the passport, with no option not to do so. This may have changed, but at that time it meant my college (Indian citizen, living in Dubai) was unable to visa Israel as there was no option to not get the visa in his passport.
â Doc
Sep 9 at 15:46
1
@jpatokal Technically they don't "stamp" anything. They issue a small piece of blue (entry) or pink (exit) paper with your details/photo/etc computer printed on it. But again, this is only on entry/exit, not for a pre-approved visa application.
â Doc
Sep 9 at 15:47
@Doc: Technically, this blue piece of paper is a visa (that's what it says, anyway). But re: visas you get not at the border, every one I've seen was attached to the passport. OTOH, they were A-2 visas, it may be different for a B-2 visa.
â tomasz
Sep 10 at 22:29
+1, but for quite some time now, Israeli authorities have defaulted to stamping a piece of paper, not the passport, by default.
â jpatokal
Sep 9 at 13:22
+1, but for quite some time now, Israeli authorities have defaulted to stamping a piece of paper, not the passport, by default.
â jpatokal
Sep 9 at 13:22
5
5
Whilst it's true Israel does not stamp passports on entry/exit, when I checked into it last year for a college, they do still issue visas as a foil in the passport, with no option not to do so. This may have changed, but at that time it meant my college (Indian citizen, living in Dubai) was unable to visa Israel as there was no option to not get the visa in his passport.
â Doc
Sep 9 at 15:46
Whilst it's true Israel does not stamp passports on entry/exit, when I checked into it last year for a college, they do still issue visas as a foil in the passport, with no option not to do so. This may have changed, but at that time it meant my college (Indian citizen, living in Dubai) was unable to visa Israel as there was no option to not get the visa in his passport.
â Doc
Sep 9 at 15:46
1
1
@jpatokal Technically they don't "stamp" anything. They issue a small piece of blue (entry) or pink (exit) paper with your details/photo/etc computer printed on it. But again, this is only on entry/exit, not for a pre-approved visa application.
â Doc
Sep 9 at 15:47
@jpatokal Technically they don't "stamp" anything. They issue a small piece of blue (entry) or pink (exit) paper with your details/photo/etc computer printed on it. But again, this is only on entry/exit, not for a pre-approved visa application.
â Doc
Sep 9 at 15:47
@Doc: Technically, this blue piece of paper is a visa (that's what it says, anyway). But re: visas you get not at the border, every one I've seen was attached to the passport. OTOH, they were A-2 visas, it may be different for a B-2 visa.
â tomasz
Sep 10 at 22:29
@Doc: Technically, this blue piece of paper is a visa (that's what it says, anyway). But re: visas you get not at the border, every one I've seen was attached to the passport. OTOH, they were A-2 visas, it may be different for a B-2 visa.
â tomasz
Sep 10 at 22:29
add a comment |Â
up vote
10
down vote
According to this table in the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) site, Lebanese citizens can apply for a visa, but it "requires MFA confirmation" (a comment in common to many Muslim states, as well as North Korea).
I can't tell what requirements does the MFA have for this confirmation, and it's probably not public information. I would guess it involves providing a good reason and/or strong evidence of lack of negative intentions.
This thread discusses the similar case of an Iraqi citizen. According to one answer, These countries are in a different and restrictive category, and the best advice is that entry will not be easy and will require special circumstances and justification
.
add a comment |Â
up vote
10
down vote
According to this table in the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) site, Lebanese citizens can apply for a visa, but it "requires MFA confirmation" (a comment in common to many Muslim states, as well as North Korea).
I can't tell what requirements does the MFA have for this confirmation, and it's probably not public information. I would guess it involves providing a good reason and/or strong evidence of lack of negative intentions.
This thread discusses the similar case of an Iraqi citizen. According to one answer, These countries are in a different and restrictive category, and the best advice is that entry will not be easy and will require special circumstances and justification
.
add a comment |Â
up vote
10
down vote
up vote
10
down vote
According to this table in the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) site, Lebanese citizens can apply for a visa, but it "requires MFA confirmation" (a comment in common to many Muslim states, as well as North Korea).
I can't tell what requirements does the MFA have for this confirmation, and it's probably not public information. I would guess it involves providing a good reason and/or strong evidence of lack of negative intentions.
This thread discusses the similar case of an Iraqi citizen. According to one answer, These countries are in a different and restrictive category, and the best advice is that entry will not be easy and will require special circumstances and justification
.
According to this table in the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) site, Lebanese citizens can apply for a visa, but it "requires MFA confirmation" (a comment in common to many Muslim states, as well as North Korea).
I can't tell what requirements does the MFA have for this confirmation, and it's probably not public information. I would guess it involves providing a good reason and/or strong evidence of lack of negative intentions.
This thread discusses the similar case of an Iraqi citizen. According to one answer, These countries are in a different and restrictive category, and the best advice is that entry will not be easy and will require special circumstances and justification
.
answered Sep 9 at 14:12
ugoren
2,364621
2,364621
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
As other answers indicate, your friend can apply for a visa. However, s/he risks the possibility of interrogation by the Israeli security services upon entry - as we have recently seen in the media even for people from the US. If your friend is active in politics or otherwise related to significant people in the public sphere, this chance increases.
Also there might be similar repercussions on the Lebanese side, I'm not sure.
I don't suggest that your friend not try this, but I do suggest caution and possibly "lawyering up" to some extent if s/he gets the visa - in case your friend is detained on entry and not released (which is perhaps not very likely but possible).
I'm not sure how lawyering up would help. A lawyer won't be present if he's interrogated on entry. On the Lebanese side, it's much better not to let them know.
â ugoren
Sep 11 at 10:33
@ugoren: See edit.
â einpoklum
Sep 11 at 15:24
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
As other answers indicate, your friend can apply for a visa. However, s/he risks the possibility of interrogation by the Israeli security services upon entry - as we have recently seen in the media even for people from the US. If your friend is active in politics or otherwise related to significant people in the public sphere, this chance increases.
Also there might be similar repercussions on the Lebanese side, I'm not sure.
I don't suggest that your friend not try this, but I do suggest caution and possibly "lawyering up" to some extent if s/he gets the visa - in case your friend is detained on entry and not released (which is perhaps not very likely but possible).
I'm not sure how lawyering up would help. A lawyer won't be present if he's interrogated on entry. On the Lebanese side, it's much better not to let them know.
â ugoren
Sep 11 at 10:33
@ugoren: See edit.
â einpoklum
Sep 11 at 15:24
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
As other answers indicate, your friend can apply for a visa. However, s/he risks the possibility of interrogation by the Israeli security services upon entry - as we have recently seen in the media even for people from the US. If your friend is active in politics or otherwise related to significant people in the public sphere, this chance increases.
Also there might be similar repercussions on the Lebanese side, I'm not sure.
I don't suggest that your friend not try this, but I do suggest caution and possibly "lawyering up" to some extent if s/he gets the visa - in case your friend is detained on entry and not released (which is perhaps not very likely but possible).
As other answers indicate, your friend can apply for a visa. However, s/he risks the possibility of interrogation by the Israeli security services upon entry - as we have recently seen in the media even for people from the US. If your friend is active in politics or otherwise related to significant people in the public sphere, this chance increases.
Also there might be similar repercussions on the Lebanese side, I'm not sure.
I don't suggest that your friend not try this, but I do suggest caution and possibly "lawyering up" to some extent if s/he gets the visa - in case your friend is detained on entry and not released (which is perhaps not very likely but possible).
edited Sep 11 at 15:24
answered Sep 10 at 13:20
einpoklum
2,05511532
2,05511532
I'm not sure how lawyering up would help. A lawyer won't be present if he's interrogated on entry. On the Lebanese side, it's much better not to let them know.
â ugoren
Sep 11 at 10:33
@ugoren: See edit.
â einpoklum
Sep 11 at 15:24
add a comment |Â
I'm not sure how lawyering up would help. A lawyer won't be present if he's interrogated on entry. On the Lebanese side, it's much better not to let them know.
â ugoren
Sep 11 at 10:33
@ugoren: See edit.
â einpoklum
Sep 11 at 15:24
I'm not sure how lawyering up would help. A lawyer won't be present if he's interrogated on entry. On the Lebanese side, it's much better not to let them know.
â ugoren
Sep 11 at 10:33
I'm not sure how lawyering up would help. A lawyer won't be present if he's interrogated on entry. On the Lebanese side, it's much better not to let them know.
â ugoren
Sep 11 at 10:33
@ugoren: See edit.
â einpoklum
Sep 11 at 15:24
@ugoren: See edit.
â einpoklum
Sep 11 at 15:24
add a comment |Â
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