How do I get a land registry extract in Lebanon and what does it cost?

Also asked as: “How do I get an ifada aqariya in Lebanon?” · “How much does a Lebanese property certificate cost?” · “Where do I get a land registry extract for my plot?” · “Can I get a Lebanese land registry certificate from abroad?”

What the extract shows#

The extract, called the ifadeh aqariyeh (Land Registry extract), is a copy of the property's real folio. It shows the owner, mortgages, charges and restrictions on the plot^[8,9]. The register is kept by property, not by owner, so each plot has its own folio under its survey number^[8].

The full certificate describes the plot and its total and cadastral area. It lists the owners, the source of their right and the shares each one holds, along with mortgages, pledges, provisional and executive seizures, other charges and pending court actions^[1,5]. Ownership is counted in 2,400 shares^[1,10,11], which together make up the whole property, so a seller who holds fewer shares owns only part of it.

Every charge on the folio passes to the buyer unless it is cleared before the purchase^[9]. A person who acquires a right by relying on the registry also keeps it, unless they knew of a defect beforehand^[8]. That is why the extract counts for more than the seller's own papers. More in how to check a title deed before buying.

The numbers you need first#

The office finds a property by its numbers. An address or a description will not do. You give governorate, district, real estate zone, property number, section and block^[1,3], with the section and block only where they apply. The title deed is a copy of the property's folio under its survey number^[8], so the numbers are on it. Ask the seller for a copy of the deed before anything else; a seller who will not share the numbers is a warning sign.

In a building that has been divided into units, each flat gets its own number added to the plot number, with its own folio. Private units are numbered from 4^[12]. This is probably the "section" or unit the office asks for, but no source we read says so outright, so ask the office or the notary (kateb adel). Here is how to find your property's number, zone and section.

If you know only the owner's name, the registry can be searched by name. You need the person's full name, birth year and mother's name^[5,13]. Kallas Law Firm gave about 10 days for this search in October 2025^[5].

The numbers on paper do not show you the ground. Where the cadastral plan and the boundaries on the ground differ, the plan prevails^[8,10]. The Cadastre supervises the sworn surveyors it treats as its affiliates^[7], but we found no published procedure or price for ordering a plan from them. See how to get a cadastral map or survey for a plot.

Official certificate or unofficial copy#

Any real estate transaction needs an official title register. Copies obtained online or through OMT are unofficial, and one law firm says courts need the physical certificate^[1,3,4,5]. The fee figures come from a single law firm page dated June 2025. By law, state fees and service charges are collected in Lebanese pounds^[14,15], so the office may ask for the lira equivalent.

Since 13 October 2020, OMT outlets have let you view a property's title register and take away an unofficial hard copy, with a digital copy by SMS and by email on request^[3,4]. OMT asks for the same property numbers plus your mobile number and email address^[1,3]. It publishes no fee, and a similar service through Whish is not confirmed. More on getting a copy online or through OMT.

In April 2026 the Finance Minister said the registry's automated database covers all surveyed and numbered properties and allows ifadas to be issued electronically^[13]. He did not say whether or how the public can request one, and we could not reach the Land Registry's website (lrc.gov.lb) to check. Do not rely on an electronic copy for a sale until the office or your notary confirms it is official.

Getting one when you live abroad#

The official certificate is requested in person^[1], so someone in Lebanon has to go to the office. According to Legalmondo, certificates are public and anyone may ask for one without showing a legal interest, so a lawyer or notary you choose yourself can ask for it. The sources do not say whether the office will want a power of attorney from them, so have them check first. Pick someone who does not work for the seller or the agent, ask for a full scan of the certificate, and keep the original.

Some offices work only on set days. In April 2025 Baabda took new transactions only on certain Thursdays, and Aley worked and issued ifadas from Tuesday to Thursday^[16]. As of late April 2026, the Bint Jbeil and Ain Ebel offices could not be reached, while Nabatieh and Marjayoun kept minimum work^[13]. Check which registry office handles your property and whether it is open.

If you are signing a power of attorney for the purchase, missions ask for a copy of the deed or an extract along with it^[17,18,19].