Can Americans buy property in Lebanon?

Also asked as: “Can Americans buy land in Lebanon?” · “Can US citizens buy property in Lebanon?” · “Can a Lebanese-American buy property in Lebanon?” · “Do Americans pay more to buy property in Lebanon?”

Why your passport decides the rules#

Lebanese law treats as a foreigner anyone who does not hold Lebanese nationality^[1]. A US citizen without Lebanese nationality follows the same rules as any other foreign buyer. We found no US-specific rule, treaty or extra check on property, but no source rules one out either. Ask the notary or the Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre whether any extra check applies to US citizens.

If you also hold Lebanese nationality, the picture is less clear. One agency, JSK Real Estate, says Lebanese expats with valid Lebanese nationality can buy without restrictions, but it does not deal with people who hold a second passport^[10]. No official source we read addresses dual nationals^[1]. Ask the notary (kateb adel) how you will be treated before you sign anything. More in buying as a dual national.

How much you can buy, and what counts#

The limit is a running total of everything you own in Lebanon, not an allowance per purchase^[1,2,3]. For that total, you, your spouse and your minor children count as one buyer^[1,2]. A second flat or a later plot is added to the first.

For land, the wording matters. IDAL and UN-Habitat describe the limit as land in aggregate, built property included. The law firms Choueh and Legal 500 (Bijjani) describe it as built property or property set for building^[1,7,8]. No source we read settles whether agricultural land is treated differently, so ask a Lebanese property lawyer before you buy a farm plot. See the 3,000 m² limit in detail.

Above the limit you need a Council of Ministers decree^[1,2,3]. The Council decides at its discretion and a refusal cannot be appealed. The licence lapses if the sale is not registered within one year. Land bought under a licence to build must be built on within five years, renewable once. Once a district reaches its cap, no further licences are granted for purchases from Lebanese sellers.

What it costs on top of the price#

As a non-Lebanese buyer you pay the higher rate: 3% of the value for Lebanese buyers, 5% for non-Lebanese^[4]. This is the rate in Law 10/2022, and budget laws up to 2026 were checked with no change found as of October 2026. Kallas Law Firm (May 2026) says the choice between the two rates turns on nationality only^[11], not on how the property is used. Ask the notary to confirm the figure on the day. More in registration fees.

The Land Registry lists LBP 31,500,000 for the foreign-ownership affidavit, plus a receipt for LBP 525,000 each for you, your spouse and each minor child. A Lebanese spouse is not charged unless named in the pledge. You pay by fiscal stamps, or by invoice at Ministry of Finance cash registers in Beirut governorate or at any bank in Lebanon^[9]. The page is undated and the amounts are in LBP, so check them when you file.

Signing from the United States#

If you cannot travel, someone can sign and register for you with a power of attorney. A POA signed before a US notary then goes through this chain: notary, county clerk where required, Secretary of State, then the Lebanese mission^[12,13]. US missions charge USD 50 special, USD 100 general^[12,13,14] per signature. Details in a Lebanese power of attorney from the USA.

Forged powers of attorney have been used to try to sell or mortgage property in Lebanon, including that of an owner living abroad^[15,16,17]. Keep a record of every POA you sign.