Should I pay cash or by bank transfer when buying property in Lebanon?

Also asked as: “Pay cash buying property in Lebanon” · “Can I pay for a Lebanese apartment by wire transfer?” · “Is it safe to pay a property seller in cash in Lebanon?” · “Cash or transfer for a house in Lebanon”

How property is paid for in Lebanon now#

With no bank loans, buyers pay the price themselves. As of autumn 2026, the press reports that Lebanese commercial banks still do not write home mortgages^[5,6]. In 2025 and 2026 the market ran largely on cash, and the buyers were mostly Lebanese abroad, some local investors and people holding cash^[6,7]. JSK Real Estate, a broker, says purchases in 2025 were paid in full, in cash or by a bank transfer of the whole amount, mostly in USD^[1,2].

Assukna is a property venture with its own projects to sell. In April 2026 it said most purchases are funded with USD moved through exchange houses or trusted couriers, and only occasionally by international wire, without going through Lebanese bank accounts. Assukna also advises planning and documenting the payment method with a lawyer^[8]. Sellers often ask for "fresh dollars", which JSK uses to mean cash banknotes or a bank-to-bank transfer outside Lebanon^[9].

The seller often makes the choice. In 2023 JSK described a mismatch that runs both ways: some sellers want payment to an account outside Lebanon while the buyer holds cash in Lebanon, and others want the reverse. JSK said a seller who accepts either method is much more likely to close a sale^[9].

Paying in cash: what the law asks#

Law 42 of 2015 covers cash carried across the border. You must declare in writing to customs any cash or negotiable instruments you carry into or out of Lebanon above USD 15,000^[3]. Customs can search travellers and baggage. If a declaration is false or missing, they can hold the cash and notify the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation, who must decide within two days whether to keep or release it. Some sources give a different threshold, so follow the law and confirm the current procedure with Lebanese Customs before you travel. Details are in how much cash you can bring into Lebanon.

Cash also costs money at the seller's end. In 2023 JSK said sellers who withdrew a full sale price in cash from a Lebanese fresh-dollar account paid very high commissions^[9]. No current figure is published, so the seller should ask their bank for its fee schedule. A seller who later takes the cash out of Lebanon also falls under Law 42, though for cash leaving the country, disclosure on request may be enough instead of a written declaration^[3].

Paying by transfer: what changes#

A transfer can go to the seller's account abroad or in Lebanon, depending on what the seller accepts^[9]. We found no source on transfer fees or bank documents for property payments. Ask your bank and the seller's bank before you send anything.

Remittance apps are built for small sums. As of October 2026, Taptap Send allows USD 5,000 per transfer and per month^[10] for transfers to Lebanon through Whish, and USD 9,900 per transfer for MTM cash pickup. A Whish recipient who needs more than the monthly limit may have to justify the transfer, for example with a sales invoice. For the wider options, see sending money to Lebanon for a property.

Either way: money-laundering checks and proof#

Law 44 of 2015 applies however you pay. Brokers must keep records and carry out due diligence, and notaries, lawyers and certified accountants must apply the same duties when they handle property sales for clients^[3]. The law does not list which documents a buyer must show, and practice varies by notary and bank. Ask the notary early what they will want to see, and read about proof of the source of funds.

Using illicit funds to buy property in order to hide where they came from is money laundering. It is punishable by 3 to 7 years in prison^[3] and a fine of up to twice the amount. The Special Investigation Commission can place a note on a property register saying an asset is under verification, and can ask for it to be frozen. Such a note would show on the Land Registry extract^[4,11].

Money paid before the sale is registered gives you only a personal claim against the seller, and you do not yet own the property^[4,12]. That makes proof most important when you pay cash. Get a signed receipt for every payment that names the property, the amount and the date. More in proof when you pay a seller in cash.