Beirut Travel Forum

Hello all,

I was just wondering if any Americans / Europeans have had problems entering Lebanon with an Israeli visa in their passport. I will be living in Israel for the summer and would more than anything love to visit my former Uni. and friends in Beirut, but not sure how feasable it will be... (I do have US & Polish passports but neither one seems to be preferrable when crossing Syria -and am highly questioning the switching passports between any borders...). I'd be most happy if anyone could advise! Thanks so much!

yes you may have problems. One way around it is to ask the Israeli custom agent not to stamp your passport, which I am told they understand and will respect (can another VT confirm this) but if you have need a visa stamped in your passport to live there thi summer, there is no much way aorund it and I would avoid going into Lebanon.

You will not be allowed into Lebanon if your passport has an Israeli stamp in it, period. Same goes for Syria. These guys are also skilled at deciphering passport stamps from places like Jordan, Egypt etc. to see whether you made a land border crossing from Israel--again, if they see this, you're not getting in.

When I went to Lebanon, with my 96-page US passport crammed full of stamps, no less than three separate border control agents flipped through every single page in the hopes of finding that Israeli evidence (which was not there in any case). This happened on the way in AND the way out of Lebanon. They are serious.

I have two US passports, one regular one and another 2-year temporary passport that is given out just for this reason (you have to ask the State Dept for it, but it's not a problem to get). My Israeli visits go in the little passport.

There should not be an issue for Lebanon whether you are American, Polish, or whatever--just use whatever passport you have that has no Israeli stamps in it (and of course do not let on that you are carrying multiple passports!).

Hi Luisa
Please check on yr private messages
Thanks
Myrna

Hi, you need to ask the passport guys in Israel NOT to stamp your passport. You will have problems entering Lebanon, you will be declined entry and I have also heard of some kind of blacklisting thing where they keep track of people who previously attempted to pass with Israeli stamps...therefore barring entry into Lebanon indefinately. I know people who have gone through Israel and asked them not to stamp the passport and this was not a problem at all. Hope this helps!

I am sure that there are people who were able to go into Lebanon and Syria after traveling through Isreal, but do you really want to take the risk of being turned away at the boarder or Airport and waste your time and money!!

Either visit Syria and Lebanon before or play the 2 passport game.

You will not be allowed into Lebanon

Well, I never was and never will be in Israel, but I know from people who went there, that they had a second passport, no arab contray allows people in, who have been in Israel!So get a second passport before being turned down at the border and waste money
Good luck