Can Lebanese living abroad get a BDH housing loan?

Also asked as: “Can an expat Lebanese living abroad get a BDH housing loan?” · “BDH loan for Lebanese abroad” · “How do expats prove income for a Banque de l'Habitat loan?” · “Housing bank loan for the Lebanese diaspora”

Who qualifies from abroad#

Banque de l'Habitat (BDH) names expatriates next to residents on its purchase-loan page^[1,2,3]. Living abroad does not exclude you. You must have held Lebanese citizenship for at least 10 years and have full legal capacity, so foreigners and Lebanese naturalised less than 10 years ago cannot borrow^[1,2]. If you are not Lebanese, see whether a foreigner can get a housing loan. BDH's published conditions do not mention dual nationals, so ask the bank directly how it treats you.

The rest of BDH's published conditions do not distinguish between residents and expatriates. You need a clean judicial record and credit history, with no blacklisting in the past 10 years^[1,2]. You must be able to work until the loan is repaid: employees to 64, self-employed to 70. The home must be used only as your family's home, which rules out a holiday or rental flat. If you already own an apartment, the new one must be at least 25 km from the home you own.

How you prove income earned abroad#

BDH asks for at least two years in the labour market and regular income. You show it with an official employment certificate and regular bank statements in fresh US dollars, or any other proof of income^[1,2]. For the USD 100,000 loan, your family's net monthly income must fall between USD 2,500 and USD 5,000, and BDH publishes no income bands for smaller loans^[1,2,3]. More on this in what income you need for a BDH loan.

One rule applies only to non-residents: BDH counts the rent you pay where you live among your monthly charges^[1,2]. Your instalment may not exceed 33% of your net income, and all your monthly obligations together may not exceed 45%. Your rent abroad sits inside that 45%, so it lowers how much you can borrow.

BDH does not publish several things that matter to someone abroad:

• which foreign payslips, tax returns or bank statements it accepts;
• whether foreign documents must be legalised or translated;
• whether you can sign the loan through a power of attorney;
• how you can repay from abroad.

Put these questions to BDH in writing before you collect documents. BDH says it does not work through intermediaries or brokers and serves customers directly^[1,6]. Anyone who asks you for a fee to "get" you a BDH loan is not acting for the bank.

The money side: down payment, the seller, repayment#

BDH lends at most 80% of its guarantee. Your down payment must be at least 20% of the home's value as set by the bank's own technical valuation, not the agreed price. If the bank values the home below the price, you pay the difference in cash^[1,2]. The home may be 150 m² at most^[1,2,3].

BDH pays the seller directly, and only once ownership is registered in your name and the bank holds the original new title deed and the first-degree mortgage certificate^[1,2]. BDH does not explain how buyer and seller bridge the gap before that payment. Agree it in writing with the seller, with help from a lawyer or the notary.

As of October 2026, BDH gives its rate as 5.75% a year (APR 6.33%)^[1,4,5] and says it is subject to amendment. It cut the rate from 6% to 5.75% on 1 July 2026, and its February 2026 Key Fact Statement fixes the rate for the first year only. Repayment is in fresh US dollars in cash only^[1,2,3]. No source says whether instalments can be paid by transfer from a bank abroad, so ask BDH, and see repaying a BDH loan in fresh dollars.

You also pay life insurance monthly and home insurance yearly, both in fresh dollars, through insurers the bank accredits^[1,2]. BDH's own worked example in that February 2026 statement, at the old 6% rate, is a USD 100,000 loan over 20 years on a USD 125,000 price. It gives USD 724 a month (USD 785 if the rate rises 1 point)^[2], plus a USD 6 management fee and USD 13 life insurance each month.