Lebanese Dual Citizenship in the U.S. — 2026 Guide

Lebanon permits dual nationality, and there is currently a route back for those who lost it: applications for the reacquisition of Lebanese citizenship are open. But there is a structural feature of Lebanese nationality law that families need to understand first, because it decides who has a claim at all.

Quick facts

Lebanese nationality is transmitted through the father. A Lebanese woman married to a foreigner does not pass her nationality to her children or her husband in the ordinary way, while a foreign woman married to a Lebanese man can apply for citizenship. It has been debated for decades and it remains the law.

The routes

A citizenship application by a foreign wife needs a notarised petition including the husband’s approval, a certificate of cohabitation issued by an official or religious authority, her birth certificate and passport showing the change of surname, the husband’s Lebanese passport and the Lebanese marriage certificate.

How to apply

1. Check the jurisdiction guidelines before starting: Washington, Los Angeles, Detroit and New York each cover assigned states.
2. Establish which route applies to your family.
3. Gather the Lebanese documents of the relative in the chain, including their identity card or extract.
4. Have foreign documents notarised and authenticated by the Secretary of State.
5. Submit by mail or in person as the mission allows.
6. Obtain a current ikhraj qayd once the file is complete, then apply for the passport.

Required documents

• Lebanese father’s identity card or extract of civil status.
• Your birth certificate, translated if not in English or French.
• Marriage certificate where citizenship is claimed through marriage.
• Certificate of cohabitation for spousal applications.
• Copies of the relevant passports.
• Payment in the form that mission accepts.

Where to apply

At the embassy in Washington or the consulate general covering your state, after checking the published jurisdiction guidelines.

Additional notes

Check jurisdiction before you start

The embassy asks applicants to verify which mission covers their state before beginning a citizenship or renunciation file. Starting with the wrong one wastes months.

Descent through the mother

Families in this position should take specific legal advice rather than relying on general guidance. It is a long-standing and contested area.

Reacquisition is open now

If you or a parent lost Lebanese citizenship, this is the moment to look at it, since these windows have not always been available.

Renunciation needs a stated reason

The file includes a letter from the U.S. authorities or organisation stating why the renunciation is required.