Udlændinge- og Integrationsudvalget 2019-20
UUI Alm.del Bilag 111
Offentligt
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COUNTRY REPORT
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN REPORT (COI)
May 2020
Lebanon
Access to Lebanon for Syrians
Entitled to Courtesy Residence
in Lebanon
Report based on a Fact Finding Mission to
Beirut, Lebanon, in January and February
2020
 UUI, Alm.del - 2019-20 - Bilag 111: Ny landerapport om muligheden for syriske statsborgeres indrejse i Libanon, fra udlændinge- og integrationsministeren
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© 2020 The Danish Immigration Service
The Danish Immigration Service
Ryesgade 53
2100 Copenhagen
Denmark
Phone: +45 35 36 66 00
newtodenmark.dk
May 2020
All rights reserved to the Danish Immigration Service.
The publication can be downloaded for free at newtodenmark.dk
The Danish Immigration Service’s publications can be quoted with clear source
reference.
Front page map:
Lebanon, no. 4282 Rev. January 2010,
https://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/lebanon.pdf
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Content
Disclaimer .............................................................................................................................................. 2
Introduction and methodology ............................................................................................................... 3
Executive summary ................................................................................................................................ 5
Minutes from meetings with the GDGS, Beirut, 9 January and 24 February 2020...................................... 6
1. Access to Lebanon for rejected Syrian asylum seekers from third countries entitled to courtesy
residence ....................................................................................................................................................... 6
1.1.
1.2.
1.3.
1.4.
2.
Access for Syrians without a Syrian passport ................................................................................ 6
Access for Syrians with a Syrian passport...................................................................................... 6
Access for Syrians with a laissez-passer ........................................................................................ 7
Impact of previous residency in Lebanon...................................................................................... 7
Re-entry ban .......................................................................................................................................... 7
Appendix 1: Terms of Reference ............................................................................................................. 8
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Disclaimer
This brief report is written according to the EASO COI Report Methodology.
1
The report consists of minutes
from meetings with the Lebanon’s General Directorate of General Security (GDGS).
This report is not and does not purport to be a detailed or comprehensive survey of all aspects of the issues
addressed in the report and should be weighed against other available country of origin information on
access to Lebanon for rejected Syrian asylum seekers from third countries that are entitled to courtesy
residence in Lebanon.
The report at hand does not include any policy recommendations or analysis. The information in the report
does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Danish Immigration Service (DIS).
Furthermore, this report is not conclusive as to the determination or merit of any particular claim to
refugee status or asylum. Terminology used should not be regarded as indicative of a particular legal
position.
European Union: European Asylum Support Office (EASO),
EASO Country of Origin Information report methodology,
June 2019,
url
1
2
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Introduction and methodology
This brief report focuses on Syrian asylum seekers, who are rejected from third countries, and who are
entitled to courtesy residence in Lebanon. The report specifically addresses the possibility to gain access to
Lebanon for this group of rejected Syrian asylum seekers.
The report at hand
contains information on the possibility to access Lebanon for rejected Syrian asylum
seekers from third countries that are in possession of a Syrian passport and those who are not.
The report is the product of two meetings with the General Directorate of General Security (GDGS) during
fact finding missions conducted by the Country of Origin Information (COI) Division of the Danish Immigration
Service (DIS) to Beirut, Lebanon. The meetings with the GDGS took place on 9 January and 24 February 2020.
The delegation had to meet with the GDGS twice as the information obtained during the first meeting turned
out to be incomplete with regard to answering the questions of the terms of reference (ToR).
The purpose of the meetings with the GDGS was to collect updated information on recurring issues
identified in cases pertaining to rejected Syrian asylum seekers who are entitled to courtesy residence in
Lebanon. Taking this into account, the ToR was written by DIS in consultation with the Secretariat of the
Refugee Appeals Board. An advisory group on COI (‘Referencegruppen’) was also informed about the
mission and the ToR before the first departure in January 2020.
2
The ToR is included in Appendix 1 at the
end of the report.
The only source of information in this report is the GDGS, which is an intelligence agency under the Ministry
of Interior. Prior to the mission, the GDGS was identified as the main source for the researched topic on the
basis of the ToR and the GDGS’ role as the authority responsible for, among other things, issuing visas,
entry permits and residence permits.
During the mission in January 2020, the delegation consulted one additional interlocutor in connection with
the topic addressed in this report. This was an international organisation working with Syrian refugees in
Lebanon. Since the international organisation did not have much accurate information on the topic
addressed in this report, the information from the source was used as background information and no
minutes from the meeting with this source are included in the report. In addition, the delegation asked two
diplomatic sources consulted during the same mission whether they had information on courtesy residence
and the possibility to enter Lebanon for Syrian asylum seekers rejected by a third country. None of these
diplomatic sources had any information on the topic and they both referred to the GDGS as the sole
authority who may have accurate information on the topic.
As regards written sources, the delegation did not find open source information on the topic of courtesy
residence in Lebanon other than the limited information on the GDGS’ website about the requirements for
obtaining such residence permit.
2
The group consists of the Danish Refugee Council, Amnesty International in Denmark, the Danish Institute for Human
Rights, Dignity, representatives of two Christian organisations (“Europa Missionen” and “Åbne Døre”), the National
Commissioner of Police and the Danish Bar and Law Society (representing asylum lawyers).
3
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Against this background, the report at hand is exclusively based on the information provided by the GDGS
in the meetings with DIS. Since the minutes from the meetings with the GDGS are a summary of the GDGS’
statements, the report is solely a complete version of the minutes from the meetings with the source.
When meeting with the GDGS, the source was briefed about the purpose of the mission and informed that
its statements would be included in a publicly available report in accordance with their preferred
referencing. Moreover, the GDGS was offered the opportunity to review and approve its statements.
However, the source did not find it necessary to do so.
The Danish Embassy in Beirut provided valuable assistance in the planning and execution phases of the
mission.
The research and editing of this report was finalised on 23 April 2020.
The report can be accessed from the website of DIS at nyidanmark.dk and is thus available to all
stakeholders in the refugee status determination process as well as to the general public.
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Executive summary
Syrians entitled to a courtesy residence in Lebanon can only apply for a courtesy residence permit if they
are present in Lebanon.
The Lebanese authorities will not facilitate travelling of rejected Syrian asylum seekers to Lebanon from
third countries even if they are entitled to a courtesy residence.
Syrians with a valid Syrian passport, who are entitled to residence permit in Lebanon, can apply for an
entry-Visa to Lebanon at a Lebanese embassy abroad.
Syrians, who have previously stayed in Lebanon, can be issued a ban to reenter Lebanon if they have
applied for asylum in another country, overstayed on their visa in Lebanon or have previously entered or
exited Lebanon illegally. However, re-entry bans are always issued on a case-by-case basis by Lebanese
authorities.
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Minutes from meetings with the GDGS, Beirut, 9 January
and 24 February 2020
In Lebanon, courtesy residence is a temporary residence permit that is granted to Arab and foreign
immigrants for free.
3
On its website, the GDGS list seven categories of beneficiaries entitled to courtesy
residence in Lebanon. Among those categories relevant for this report are: Arab immigrant that has a
Lebanese mother and does not work; the husband of a Lebanese woman if their marriage is dated to more
than one year; the wife of Lebanese man that does not work.
4
1. Access to Lebanon for rejected Syrian asylum seekers from third
countries entitled to courtesy residence
For Syrians without legal residence in a European country who are not in possession of a passport, the
following applies:
Syrians entitled to a courtesy residence in Lebanon can only apply for a courtesy residence permit if they
are present in Lebanon. In order to enter Lebanon, a Syrian must obtain an entry visa. The entry visa is only
issued on a valid passport. This is also the case for Syrians entitled to a courtesy residence in Lebanon.
Syrians, who are entitled to a courtesy residence in Lebanon, are thus not able to enter Lebanon if they do
not have a valid passport.
In order to obtain a passport, Syrians who reside in a third country must apply at a Syrian embassy or
consulate.
The Lebanese authorities will under no circumstances facilitate travelling of rejected Syrian asylum seekers
to Lebanon from third countries, even if they are entitled to a courtesy residence. This also applies to
Syrians, who cannot obtain a new passport because they cannot (or will not) visit a Syrian embassy or
consulate out of fear of being subjected to questioning or punishment by the Syrian authorities,
Regarding Syrians without a legal residence in a European country, who are in possession of a Syrian
passport, the following applies:
All Syrians, who have a valid passport, can apply for an entry visa and travel to Lebanon, regardless of
whether they have legal residency in a European country, as long as they meet the conditions for residency
in Lebanon, e.g. courtesy residence
A Syrian, entitled to a courtesy residence, must have a document that proves that his/her mother, his/her
spouse is Lebanese.
5
This document can be a valid family book, a wedding certificate or a civil registration
extract (which can be issued in Lebanon).
1.1.
Access for Syrians without a Syrian passport
1.2.
Access for Syrians with a Syrian passport
General Directorate of General Security,
Courtesy Residence,
accessed 23 April 2020, url
General Directorate of General Security,
Courtesy Residence,
accessed 23 April 2020, url
5
For more information on the required documents in order to obtain courtesy residence, see: General Directorate of
General Security,
Courtesy Residence,
accessed 23 April 2020, url
3
4
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By presenting these documents, the Syrian is eligible to apply for a visa at a Lebanese embassy which would
allow him/her to travel to Lebanon and apply for a courtesy residence. The visa issued will be valid for one
month. Once in Lebanon, the Syrian can apply for an additional six month visa, which will provide a
sufficient time frame for the Syrian to apply for courtesy residence.
When asked if Lebanon would issue a laissez-passer to a Syrian national, entitled to a courtesy residence, in
order for the individual to travel to Lebanon, the GDGS said that Lebanon would not issue a laissez-passer
to a Syrian entitled to a courtesy residence.
Even if a third country (e.g. Denmark) has issued a laissez-passer to a Syrian entitled to courtesy residence,
and who has documentation that his mother or spouse is Lebanese, the Lebanese authorities will reject his
entry visa application and prevent the individual from entering Lebanon. However, such applications are
handled on a case-by-case basis by the GDGS.
Previous residence in Lebanon does not have an impact on whether a rejected Syrian asylum seeker from a
European country, who is entitled to a courtesy residence, will be granted a courtesy residence in Lebanon.
1.3.
Access for Syrians with a laissez-passer
1.4.
Impact of previous residency in Lebanon
Re-entry travel bans issued by the Lebanese authorities can also be issued to Syrians entitled to a courtesy
residence. The ban can be issued for a number of reasons, such as:
-
-
-
If an individual has overstayed on his visa.
If the individual has applied for asylum in a foreign country.
If the individual has previously entered or exited Lebanon illegally.
2. Re-entry ban
A re-entry can be valid for one year, three years or be issued as a life time ban. A Syrian, who has
overstayed his visa, can be issued a re-entry ban for one year. The ban will be absolved after one year and
once all the fines for the violation of overstaying the visa has been payed. A Syrian, who does not pay the
fines, will receive a life time ban regardless of whether he has overstayed one, two, five or 10 years.
However, re-entry bans are always issued on a case-by-case basis. Decisions in all exceptional cases are
taken by the General Director of the GDGS.
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Appendix 1: Terms of Reference
Access to Lebanon for rejected Syrian asylum seekers from third countries
who are entitled to obtain a courtesy residence permit in Lebanon
1.1. Possibility to obtain visa at Beirut International Airport
1.2. Possibility to apply for and obtain a residence permit within the period the visa applies
1.3. Impact of previous residency in Lebanon
8