Can a foreigner or non-resident open a bank account in Lebanon, and do I need one to buy property?

Also asked as: “Can a foreigner open a bank account in Lebanon?” · “Can I open a bank account online in Lebanon?” · “Open a bank account in Lebanon as a non-resident” · “Do I need a Lebanese bank account to buy property?”

What we know about opening an account#

We found no current source, from Banque du Liban or from any bank, on whether Lebanese banks open accounts for foreigners or people living abroad. We also found nothing on which documents they ask for, or whether you can open an account online. Only the bank can tell you, so ask each bank you are considering and get the answer in writing.

The law does set one thing. Law 44/2015 requires banks and other covered institutions to identify and verify each customer and the beneficial owner from reliable documents, and to keep copies for at least five years after the transaction or the end of the relationship^[5]. Expect identity checks. The exact list of papers a bank wants from a non-resident is not published.

For the law, a foreigner is anyone who does not hold Lebanese nationality^[4]. No source we read says how dual nationals are treated, so ask the notary or the bank, and see buying with a Lebanese and a foreign passport.

Accounts opened before the 2019 crisis are a separate matter. AGBI reported in October 2023 that holders of these "lollar" dollar accounts could withdraw only small amounts, often at a haircut that at its peak cut about 80% of the face value^[10]. JSK Real Estate, a broker, uses "fresh dollars" to mean cash banknotes or a bank-to-bank transfer outside Lebanon^[11]. More in paying in lollars or fresh dollars.

Do you need a Lebanese account to buy?#

No source we read says you do. A purchase runs from a recent Land Registry extract, through an optional promise of sale and a notarial deed, to inscription at the Land Registry, and ownership passes on inscription^[1]. Kallas Law Firm explains that the notarial deed, not a private agreement, is what goes to the registry for inscription. As these sources describe the steps, none of them includes a Lebanese bank account.

How the money moves is agreed between buyer and seller. JSK Real Estate says that in 2025, with no loans available, purchases were paid in full in cash or by bank transfer of the full amount, mostly in USD^[2,3]. Assukna, a property venture, said in April 2026 that most purchases are funded with USD moved through exchange houses, trusted couriers or occasionally international wires, rather than through Lebanese bank accounts^[12]. Both have a commercial interest, so read these as their view of the market. JSK also wrote in 2023 that some sellers want payment to an account outside Lebanon^[11]. For the trade-offs, see cash or bank transfer when buying.

A loan will not change this for a foreigner. As of autumn 2026, the press reports that commercial banks are still not writing home mortgages^[6,7]. Banque de l'Habitat lends only to people with Lebanese citizenship for at least 10 years^[8,9]. See housing loans for foreigners.

If you pay without a Lebanese account#

If you carry cash into Lebanon, you must declare it in writing to customs when it is above USD 15,000^[5]. Not declaring can bring a customs fine of up to LBP 10 million, a figure set in 2015 that has lost most of its value since 2019, and criminal prosecution under the anti-money-laundering law is not excluded. Confirm the current threshold and penalty with Lebanese Customs before you travel. For other routes, see sending money to Lebanon for a property.

The notary applies anti-money-laundering due-diligence duties to the sale, and so do brokers and lawyers who handle it^[5]. The law does not list which documents a buyer must show, and practice varies by notary. Money paid before the sale is registered gives you only a personal claim against the seller, not ownership^[1,13]. Get written proof of every payment and keep it.