Lebanon has imposed fees on people entering its territory through the Syria-Lebanon border, according to local social media pages and Syrian media.
Local newspapers reported that the Lebanese General Security Authority imposed fees, without official announcement, on Syrians and e-visa holders coming to Lebanon to visit the embassy. The amount was 4.9 million Lebanese pounds, or approximately US$54.8 based on black market exchange rates.
Syrian newspaper Arwatan On February 7, the Lebanese General Security Authority announced that it had imposed a $60 fee on people entering Lebanon who have an appointment at some embassies or hold an electronic visa.
Inab Baladi contacted four offices specializing in transporting Syrians from Syria to Lebanon and were informed that this decision is not new. Lebanese border points charge approximately $60 for those wishing to enter the country for an embassy appointment.
However, the decision does not include Syrians whose names are listed at the Lebanese border, as some embassies send names of individuals with reservations to border security to allow free entry. do not have.
If no name is listed, the appointed individual must issue a telegram, which costs 4.9 million Lebanese pounds plus a photo fee of 5.1 million, or approximately US$57.
Embassy to send name
Most embassies in Syria have been closed since 2012, and some have been relocated to Lebanon, the main destination for Syrians to attend appointments with foreign and Arab embassies. It becomes.
Since the German embassy in Damascus was closed, Syrian residents have been sent to Jordan, Baghdad, Beirut, Riyadh, Kuwait, Tehran, and also to the consulates in Jeddah, Erbil and Istanbul.
The same applies to other embassies, where Syrians must go for immigration clearance or to obtain travel visas to visit relatives living outside Syria.
The embassies of Germany, Turkey and Austria send the names of Syrians with embassy appointments to Lebanese border points, allowing them to enter Lebanese territory without paying fees or issuing telegrams.
For other foreign and Arab embassies, such as Egypt, UAE, USA, and embassies making appointments through “TLS”, “BLS” or “VFS” offices, send any name to the Lebanese border point please do not. People wishing to enter Lebanon will pay 4.9 million Lebanese pounds as an official “regular procedure”.
“TLS” is an external agency that accepts visa application procedures for those who wish to travel to France, “BLS” is for those who wish to travel to Spain, and “VFS” is for those who wish to travel to Canada. This is the visa application reception desk.
local newspaper Arwatan Reports from employees at the Lebanese border stressed that the appointment confirmation process requires communications and working staff, and the purpose of the fee is to compensate for losses caused by these communications and paperwork.
Inab Baladi When I contacted the General Directorate of Security in Beirut as a Syrian national, one of the officials said that the embassy should not charge a fee for the entry of Syrians, regardless of whether they send the individual's name on the appointment letter.
He added that the entry of Syrians whose names are not listed at the border point depends on their “luck,” with some officials allowing them to enter the country, while others say the embassy is not listed at the border point. It added that permission would not be granted unless the names of the appointees were sent to the government.
Inab Baladi We also contacted the Directorate General via email to obtain official information regarding the imposition of fees, but had not received a response at the time of publication of this report.
lebanon law
Through its website, the Lebanese General Directorate of Security has issued a letter to Syrians wishing to enter Lebanese territory to visit foreign embassies with a certificate of exit, provided they have a valid passport and proof of commitment. Grants entry permission for 48 hours.
Entry is limited to names received by the Directorate General from foreign embassies, circulated at land border points, and restricted from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Directorate also stated that Syrians wishing to enter Lebanon to visit the Saudi embassy with a valid passport and proof that they have the necessary documents can only do so through the Masna and Al-Abdiyeh border centers. Grant one week's entry permit with exit certificate.
