Can a foreigner or Lebanese abroad rent an apartment in Lebanon, and what documents are needed?

Also asked as: “Can a foreigner rent an apartment in Lebanon?” · “What documents do I need to rent a flat in Lebanon?” · “Can I rent in Lebanon from abroad?” · “Do I need residency to rent in Lebanon?”

Who can rent, and who counts as foreign#

Choueh Law Firm and Jaber Law Firm both say the tenant can be Lebanese or a foreigner, renting any kind of property, if they meet the normal conditions of any contract: an adult who is able to contract^[1,2]. Their pages use near-identical wording, so they may not be two independent opinions. We found no law firm or official source that says otherwise.

Living abroad does not make you a foreigner. For property ownership, the law treats as foreign anyone who does not hold Lebanese nationality^[10]. No source we found says how dual nationals are treated, so if it matters for a long lease, ask a notary (kateb adel).

One limit applies to foreigners. IDAL says a foreigner holding a normal lease right for more than 10 years needs a Council of Ministers decree, as for buying above the licence-free limit^[5]. No source explains what "normal lease" means. More in leases over 10 years for foreigners.

What documents you will be asked for#

We found no law or official page that lists the documents a landlord may ask a foreign tenant for. The sources also do not say whether a residency permit is needed, or whether General Security must be told about a foreign tenant. Jaber Law Firm advises landlords to check the tenant's identity before signing^[2]. So expect to show an identity document, though which one is up to the landlord. Ask before you travel or pay.

The one published document list we found is for registering the lease at the municipality, on an undated page of the Dahye municipalities union. It asks for the lease and its annexes in two copies. For a new contract it also wants a real-estate statement (ifadeh aqariyeh) from the Land Registry, under three months old. For a property registered for the first time it asks for a copy of the ID^[11]. Other municipalities may ask for more, so ask the municipality where the flat is.

What to get in writing#

Adala Law Firm says oral and written leases both bind the parties. Writing serves only as proof, and a lease can also be proved by receipts and witnesses^[3]. When you live abroad, that proof is what protects you. ExpatLife.ai, a commercial expat guide (August 2026), advises insisting on a written lease that states the rent, the deposit terms and the notice period^[7].

For municipal registration, the Dahye union says a lease must state several points^[11]:

• the property number and location (area, street, floor)
• a description of the premises
• the parties' names and the owner's full address
• the rent written in Lebanese currency
• the term
• any services the owner provides and their price
• the intended use

The property number lets you check on paper that the flat in the lease is the one you are renting. Choueh Law Firm says you must use the place exactly as the lease states, for example as a home, or the lease may be ended^[1].

On the term, Jaber Law Firm cites Art. 543 of the Code of Obligations and Contracts and Adala Law Firm cites Law 159/92. Both say a post-1992 residential lease runs at least three years, even if a shorter term is written. Art. 543 may have been amended or repealed, and we did not read the law text itself^[2,3,4], so confirm with a lawyer or notary. See the three-year minimum for new leases.

Money up front#

ExpatLife.ai (August 2026) says deposits are typically 2 to 3 months' rent, paid in USD cash. It advises budgeting 4 to 5 months' rent in cash up front: first month, last month, a 2-month deposit and a 1-month agent commission^[7]. These figures come from one commercial guide and are not rules. Jaber and Choueh law firms say Lebanon has no specific law protecting tenants' deposits^[1,2].

Khatt30 reported in April 2026 that the agency commission is not refunded and a deposit may be refunded. Advance months are deducted from rent, with no guarantee that prepaid rent comes back if you leave early^[12]. Write the refund terms into the lease. More in deposits and advance rent.

No source we found covers paying rent by transfer from abroad, or how to avoid advance-rent scams. Do not send money for a flat you have not seen, through someone whose link to the owner you have not checked. Get a signed receipt for every payment. See how to avoid rental scams.