Published 4 November 2026 · 9 minute read
Lebanese families have been among the biggest buyers of second passports for years. The reasons are familiar to anyone who holds a Lebanese passport: visa queues for almost every trip, a banking crisis that has trapped savings since 2019, and a political situation that can shift overnight.
Here is where things stand in 2026, and what a second citizenship can and cannot fix.
The news: a UAE e-visa centre in Beirut
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on 28 September 2026 that it will open an electronic visa centre in Beirut. According to the state news agency WAM, it will let Lebanese applicants complete the whole UAE visa process without leaving Lebanon. The UAE says it will be one of a network of these centres worldwide, part of its push to digitise visa services.
It is a positive step after a difficult few years:
- In 2021, the UAE and other Gulf states withdrew diplomats from Beirut, and Lebanese visa access to the Gulf became much harder.
- Relations improved after President Joseph Aoun's election and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam's new government in early 2025.
- The UAE lifted its ban on Emiratis travelling to Lebanon in May 2025.
- In 2026, lists claiming that the UAE would tighten visas for several nationalities, including Lebanese, circulated online. No official UAE circular has confirmed them, but many Lebanese applicants still report a higher rate of rejection.
A faster process is welcome. But the Lebanese passport still needs a visa for the UAE, and for most of the places Lebanese families want to go.
The problem with the Lebanese passport
Depending on the index, the Lebanese passport gives visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to only about 40 to 45 destinations and sits in the mid-90s of global rankings.
| Destination | Lebanese passport | St Kitts and Nevis passport |
|---|---|---|
| UAE | Visa required | Easier access, check current rules |
| Schengen area | Visa required | Visa-free |
| United Kingdom | Visa required | Visa-free |
| United States | Visa required | Visa required |
| Visa-free or on arrival | About 40 to 45 | About 155 |
For a Lebanese professional in Dubai, that gap means visa applications for every business trip and family holiday, and a residence permit that is the only thing keeping them in the country they live in.
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Why Lebanese families buy second passports
When AFP looked at the trend in 2022, one Beirut consultancy reported its business growing by at least 40% in a year. Another adviser said Lebanese clients had grown fivefold and made up a quarter of its clients. One buyer described it simply: "It's a solution."
The common reasons:
- Travel without visa queues. Most of all to Europe and the UK.
- A Plan B. A second home country if Lebanon or the Gulf becomes unstable.
- Protecting a Gulf career. Less exposure if visa rules for Lebanese tighten again.
- The next generation. Citizenship by investment usually covers children, and in many programmes it passes to future generations. That matters in a country where nationality generally passes through the father.
The best options for Lebanese nationals
| Programme | From | Why Lebanese buyers choose it |
|---|---|---|
| St Kitts and Nevis | $250,000 | Strongest Caribbean passport, Schengen and UK visa-free |
| Grenada | $235,000 | Schengen and UK visa-free, US E-2 investor visa route |
| Antigua and Barbuda | $230,000 | Family of 4 for one price |
| Dominica | $200,000 | Lowest Caribbean price, Schengen visa-free |
| Turkey | $400,000 | Property you can sell after 3 years, close to home |
| Golden visas (Greece, Portugal, Cyprus) | About $325,000+ | EU residency for families who want to live in Europe |
Prices exclude government, due diligence and professional fees. All five Caribbean programmes face an EU request to close by 2028, so check the latest position before you commit. Compare them in detail in which Caribbean passport is best.
The paperwork traps for Lebanese applicants
These are the issues that slow down Lebanese files most often:
- Funds stuck in Lebanese banks. Due diligence wants money that can be moved and traced. Deposits frozen since 2019 usually cannot fund an application. Plan to use money held outside Lebanon.
- Source of funds. Cash-based businesses and transfers between family members need a clear paper trail. Start gathering bank statements, sale contracts and company records early.
- Police certificates. You need a Lebanese judicial record certificate as well as police clearance from the UAE and anywhere else you have lived for 6 months or more.
- Translations. Arabic documents need certified translation and, usually, legalisation.
- Passport validity. Make sure your Lebanese passport has plenty of validity left before you apply.
Our citizenship by investment document checklist covers everything else, with a free PDF.
Keep your Lebanese passport
Lebanon allows dual citizenship, so a second passport adds options without taking anything away. Many families use their Lebanese passport at home and the second passport everywhere else.
The bottom line
The UAE's e-visa centre in Beirut makes one journey easier. A second citizenship makes nearly every journey easier, and gives your family a permanent fallback that does not depend on any one government's visa policy.
Sources: WAM via Dubai Eye 103.8 (28 September 2026), L'Orient Today, AFP reporting on Lebanese demand for second citizenship.
Frequently asked questions
Can Lebanese citizens apply for citizenship by investment?
Yes. Lebanese nationals are eligible for the main Caribbean programmes, Vanuatu, São Tomé and Príncipe and Turkey, subject to the usual due diligence checks on background and source of funds.
Does Lebanon allow dual citizenship?
Yes. Lebanon allows its citizens to hold another nationality, so you can keep your Lebanese passport.
Can I use money held in a Lebanese bank?
Usually not directly. Programmes need funds that can be transferred internationally and traced to a legitimate source. Money locked in Lebanese banks since 2019 generally cannot be used until it can actually be moved.
Do Lebanese citizens need a visa for the UAE?
Yes. Lebanese passport holders need a visa for the UAE, and the UAE is opening an electronic visa centre in Beirut to speed up applications. Holders of some second passports have easier access to the UAE.
What is the best second passport for a Lebanese family?
It depends on your goals. St Kitts and Nevis and Grenada offer the strongest travel access among the Caribbean options, Grenada adds a US E-2 route, and Antigua covers a family of four for one price.
This guide is general information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Programme rules change often, so confirm the current position before you act.