Check the fee at your own mission before anything else, because the differences are large. The embassy in Washington publishes $200 for five years and $334 for ten; one honorary consulate publishes $300 for five years and $600 for ten. Same passport, different counters.
Quick facts
The document everything rests on is the ikhraj qayd, the extract of the civil register — and the individual version must have been issued within the last ten years. An older one, however genuine, will not support a passport application.
Fees breakdown
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Passport, five years (embassy) | $200 | Cashier’s check to that mission |
| Passport, ten years (embassy) | $334 | Biometric only |
| Passport at an honorary consulate | $60 to $600 | By validity; check the local list |
| Courier service | $91 to $143 | Cuts the wait to 2–3 weeks |
| Laissez-passer | Published tariff | Three months, to return to Lebanon |
Applications travel to Lebanon by diplomatic pouch and back, which is the six-to-eight-week route. Paying for the courier service instead cuts it to two or three weeks, and for many people that is worth the money.
How to apply
- Check your jurisdiction: the embassy in Washington and the consulates general in Los Angeles, Detroit and New York each cover assigned states.
- Make sure your ikhraj qayd is less than ten years old, and order a new one if not.
- Complete the form, which several posts require to be filled in at the office.
- Bring two colour photographs measuring 4.3 by 3.5 cm on a white background.
- Pay by money order or cashier’s check made out to that specific mission.
- Include the stamped self-addressed envelopes the post asks for.
Required documents
- Lebanese identity card, or an individual extract of civil status issued within ten years.
- Previous Lebanese passport, plus a copy of its first two pages.
- Evidence of your lawful status in the United States: visa, residence card or U.S. passport.
- Two colour photographs, 4.3 by 3.5 cm, not copied from another photo.
- Both parents present for applicants under 18.
- Money order or cashier’s check; personal checks are refused.
Where to apply
At the embassy in Washington or the consulates general in Los Angeles, Detroit and New York, with honorary consulates handling some services elsewhere.
Consulate General of Lebanon
View details →Los AngelesConsulate General of Lebanon
View details →New YorkConsulate General of Lebanon
View details →Parma HeightsHonorary Consulate of Lebanon, Cleveland, Ohio
View details →PhoenixHonorary Consulate of Lebanon in Arizona
View details →SouthfieldConsulate General of Lebanon in Detroit
View details →WashingtonEmbassy of Lebanon
View details →Additional notes
Keep a copy before you post the original
The missions advise copying the first two pages of the passport before mailing the original, which is sound advice given how far the document travels.
Travel documents for Palestinians
The online system offers a separate route for travel documents for Palestinians registered in Lebanon, distinct from Lebanese passports. Choose the correct option at the first menu or the application will be wrong from the start.
If the passport is damaged or lost
A laissez-passer valid for three months is issued for the sole purpose of returning to Lebanon. It needs a police report, a letter explaining the circumstances and personal attendance.
Adults get ten years, minors five
Some posts issue only the ten-year book to adults and the five-year one to under-18s, while others list several durations. Confirm what your mission offers.