Henley and Partners (H&P), a global legal firm that deals with immigration, has compiled a list of passports that provide entry to countries without the need for visas and unsurprisingly, holders of Arab passports have limited access to visit countries without queuing at embassies:
A global list of countries, ranked according to the visa restrictions imposed on their citizens, revealed that the number of countries Arabs do not need visas to enter is quite limited…
According to the information, Lebanese passport holders have visa-free access to 32 countries and territories, up 5 from last year. Nevertheless, Lebanon features at the bottom of the Arab list just ahead of Iraq. Among the Arab passports “to have”, Kuwait would be your best with 71 countries.
HENLEY & PARTNERS VISA RESTRICTIONS INDEX: Top Arab Countries on the list:
- Kuwait -71
- Bahrain – 67
- Qatar – 66
- UAE – 64
- Oman – 61
- Saudi Arabia – 57
- Egypt – 43
- Jordan – 39
- Syria – 39
- Yemen – 38
- Iran – 34
- Lebanon – 32
- Iraq – 27
As for the worldwide view, British passports rank at the top with 166 countries and territories.
HENLEY & PARTNERS VISA RESTRICTIONS INDEX: Top 5 Countries on the list:
- United Kingdom – 166
- Denmark – 164
- Sweden – 163
- Finland – 162
- Luxembourg – 162
It would seem that Lebanese preference for US, Canadian and Australian passports may need to shift towards Scandinavian countries if they really want to freely travel the world.
Lebanese passport holders are free from visa in 32 countries and territories.
Here’s a list of countries where Lebanese can visit without the need for a pre-approved visa:
- Africa
- Cape Verde
- Comoros
- Djibouti
- Madagascar
- Mozambique
- Seychelles
- Togo
- Uganda
- Americas
- Bolivia
- Dominica
- Ecuador
- Haiti
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Asia
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bangladesh
- Cambodia
- Georgia
- Jordan
- Laos
- Macau
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Nepal
- Oman
- Syria
- Timor-Leste
- Europe
- Kosovo
- Turkey
- Oceania
- Cook Islands
- Federal States of Micronesia
- Niue
- Palau
- Samoa
- Tuvalu
Diplomatic passport holders can additionally visit Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela and Yemen. Though according to this list, there are 35, not 32 countries Lebanese can freely visit.
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Mariam
August 29, 2010 at 10:22 AM (UTC 4) Link to this comment
The Lebanese passport 3a ras el-kil.. wli 3ajabo 3ajabo.. wli ma 3ajbo bil na2is.
Lebanon <3
Jad Aoun
August 29, 2010 at 10:56 AM (UTC 4) Link to this comment
I love my Lebanese passport though some Lebanese see passports as accessories rather than allegiance and identity towards a sovereign country. Proud of my nationality; wouldn’t change it for the world.
Someone
August 30, 2010 at 12:42 PM (UTC 4) Link to this comment
“Pride should be reserved for something you attain on your own. Not something that happened by accident of birth” – George Carlin
Jad Aoun
August 30, 2010 at 1:30 PM (UTC 4) Link to this comment
Yeah well, I’m still proud of who I am and what I’ve done. A quote by an entertainer won’t change that.
Someone
August 30, 2010 at 7:43 PM (UTC 4) Link to this comment
Jad, exactly – you are proud of what you have done yourself, not of what your parents made you (i.e., Lebanese). George Carlin is not only an “entertainer” (a good way of degrading his image vis-à-vis the readers, mind you) he is also a renowned social critic.
Jad Aoun
August 30, 2010 at 8:50 PM (UTC 4) Link to this comment
Everyone is (and should be) a social critic and there’s nothing degrading with being an “entertainer”. Especially one who’s won 5 Grammy Awards and two American Comedy Awards plus a Life Time Achievement Award. And he absolutely rocked in Bill and Ted’s and I’ll never forget his role as Cardinal Glick in Dogma – absolutely priceless.
My point was that I feel proud to be born a Lebanese – that’s how I feel, whether its right or wrong to feel that way, that is how I feel.
oussama
October 3, 2010 at 11:34 PM (UTC 4) Link to this comment
akeed el lebanes passport 3a ras el kel ya mariam le ma 3ajbo can jump 3an sakhret elrowshe lol add me ana kamen lebanes sin_4gotten@hotmail.com
khalil
December 3, 2010 at 1:28 AM (UTC 4) Link to this comment
i am sure eno you have a passport gheir el passport el libneni.
aw eno u have a passport in lebanon w kebiti bil jarour.
you only use it when you need to show ur id min doun ta2iftik
. gheir heik, it doesnt mean anything. y? iza badik trou7i 3al yaman aw soudan badik visa ….
Jad Aoun
December 3, 2010 at 3:19 PM (UTC 4) Link to this comment
Not true – I hold a single passport and that’s my Lebanese passport. I’ve traveled across the Middle East and have visited countries in Asia and Europe with it.
As a UAE resident, it is my primary form of identification. My passport has been given to me by a country I care dearly for. I wouldn’t want a passport from any other country because I know that I wouldn’t care for those country as I care for my own. I believe strongly in this principle and would not back down from it for any reason.
khalil
December 4, 2010 at 6:51 AM (UTC 4) Link to this comment
hi Jad,
my reply was dedicated to Mariam..
anyway i am speaking from a point of view eno u need a visa w titsha7shat 3ala bweb el safarat because u have a Lebanese Passport.
2nd point: lesh badna nisma7 lal kil yiji 3a lebnen w yekhod visa 3al matar w na7na la2
3- i think that u love the arzeh on the lebanese passport not the the lebanese passport itself bas hal arzeh ma7rou2 sillefa….
ali roumieh
June 17, 2012 at 6:59 PM (UTC 4) Link to this comment
Absolutely right dear
nabz
August 6, 2012 at 12:12 AM (UTC 4) Link to this comment
LOL you can’t even get naturalized in the UAE…that’s probably why you still have your passport……end of subject.Full stop,next topic please
Jad Aoun
August 6, 2012 at 10:34 PM (UTC 4) Link to this comment
Actually you can. If you want to be an Emirati, you can contact me by email and I’ll provide you with the procedures.
bijih o
January 11, 2011 at 3:10 AM (UTC 4) Link to this comment
ana ma 3ajbinih 2il passpor lool me no like lebaies passport
Edited by administrator
Tarek
August 29, 2010 at 2:01 PM (UTC 4) Link to this comment
I CAN GO TO MOZAMBIQUE WITHOUT A VISA???? FINALLY!!!!
Fadi
August 29, 2010 at 2:36 PM (UTC 4) Link to this comment
the list of countries we can get into is pretty embarassing, mostly the 5th world countries
Jad Aoun
August 29, 2010 at 4:58 PM (UTC 4) Link to this comment
Tarek, how about a party down in Kosovo this new year?
Fadi, well it may not be the places you want to go to but let’s look at reciprocal treatment – how many countries does Lebanon open its doors to and yet we don’t get the same treatment? If we weren’t so desperate for tourists, I would push for reciprocal treatment rather than bowing down to the West.
Dr Wael
September 14, 2010 at 12:26 AM (UTC 4) Link to this comment
Hey guys I am a Syrian passport holder too mine the same like Lebanese (Arab Passport)can not go only to Mozambique or Saint kitts and Nevis along Arab states and we are not proud of our governments agreement with other countries to allow us to communicate directly(visit each other) Also thanks to the European discrimination policy and their racial attitude toward us we the Arabs,imagine they spent a great ammount of time and money to create a so caled system of the Schingen which they want you to have it as a dream to get the Schingen approval to trvel to any EU country.
Soon Lebanon will get a free visa to Egypt and let go to SHARM AL SHEIKH or PETRA in Jordan,
Gamma Pro
November 30, 2010 at 9:16 PM (UTC 4) Link to this comment
Dear Dr Wael, i have to tell u that being a Lebanese is much more than being an arab… i’m proud to be an arab… but being a Lebanese is being in the “TOP OF THIS RACE”… don’t be angry at me but this is the truth… what the Lebanese are doing is always the best even if the arabs are doing more but if we calculate the potentiels between people… the Lebanese are doing the best while the arabs are doing the lowest that they can do… that’s why every lebanese is proud… not just because he’s an arab or not because in fact this identity is not verified as it should be… and maybe the Lebanese and a part of Syrians and palestinians are phoenicians… (we should work on that) because our identity must be clear once for all
Dr Wael
September 14, 2010 at 12:28 AM (UTC 4) Link to this comment
Meet me in FACEBOOK Wael Hallaj to creat a a revolution for our Arab Passports
Jad Aoun
September 14, 2010 at 10:18 PM (UTC 4) Link to this comment
As the list shows, we Arabs are all in the same boat – what exactly do you have in mind? I believe the only viable option is too take reciprocity to its true meaning. Just like India does. The Indians are commendable because they wont let a foreigner in without a visa unless an Indian national gets the same privilege. US/UK/Canadian passport? You wait in line at the embassies like everyone else. I really admire that about them.
Dr Wael
October 5, 2010 at 2:18 PM (UTC 4) Link to this comment
That is the RIGHT thing that our gov/nts have to do, and see what the reaction of the Europeans in particular will be?
Roger
October 3, 2010 at 2:39 PM (UTC 4) Link to this comment
hi guys
i was checking visa to CapeVerde online and it shows that Leb passport holder require visa prior traveling
any assistance on this level? or what is ur search record for those 32 countries
Jad Aoun
October 3, 2010 at 3:44 PM (UTC 4) Link to this comment
Hi Roger,
The information was gathered from Wikipedia. According to IATA, Lebanese passport holders must apply for a visa to Cape Verde at arrival at a cost of 25EUR. With all visa regulations, its always best to contact officials as requirements can change without notice.
I hope this helps.
Nadine
October 5, 2010 at 10:19 PM (UTC 4) Link to this comment
Lebanese passports do need a pre-approved visa to Georgia. I just got mine and it took over 3 weeks to process. The closest embassy is in Amman.
Jad Aoun
October 6, 2010 at 8:19 AM (UTC 4) Link to this comment
Visa regulations are notorious for changing over-night which is why its important to always check with the country’s representative office. I’ve checked IATA and it reports that Lebanese passport holders travelling to Georgia from Lebanon can either apply for a visa beforehand or
Governments are usually slow to report to IATA any changes in their visa regulations.
Safi Kerdi
January 21, 2011 at 11:39 AM (UTC 4) Link to this comment
i’m proud because i’m a lebanese , thanks god there is some countries we can visit without having a visa , but i have one complain on the lebanese authority (haida iza can fi authority aw houkoumehhhhhhhhhhh Haha) why the father and mother’s names are not writing in english on the new passport we are having some dificulities .
thank you
Elias
January 28, 2011 at 6:56 PM (UTC 4) Link to this comment
Jad I couldn’t agree more with what you said about reciprocity. I’m currently doing an internship in Europe, and I am proud to be Lebanese. However, I hate the idea of having to wait metlel hableh in front of embassy doors while citizens of EU/Canada/US get to enter freely our country by paying a visa upon their arrival. I was so pleased to learn that it was not the case in India. Besides, yes, having tourists is good, but we also should not appear to be desperate AND 3a kell el 2a7wel people who want to visit Lebanon must be courageous enough to 1st)decide to come to Lebanon with all the dangers it presents to foreigners 2)if they want to come, I’m sure obtaining a visa beforehand will not discourage them from coming. So I am completely FOR THE IDEA THAT FOREIGNERS SHOULD PASS BY A LEBANESE EMBASSY ABROAD and get the same treatment a Lebanese national would get at their embassy + pay a higher visa fee. 35 dollars is nothing…compared to the 85 euros the UK asks for a visa application… I really hope that the Lebanese government would feel more pride as to allow the enforcement of such a system.
mehdi
March 7, 2011 at 12:36 AM (UTC 4) Link to this comment
mar7aba
3amahlkon ya shabeb , 2ad ma ykun bidallu l passport l lebneni refe3 rasna , li2annu fee kteer 3alam btetmana ykun ma3a haida l passport . bas kamena enno tkhini shway ye3ni enno sa7i7 ne7na mneb2a 3ala bweb l safarat , basss …..
shu badna na3mol ye3ni 7asab kil wa7ad w ta2efto enno ye3ni 7atta l safarat sarit ta2ifeyyi , ye3ni l shi3a ma bya3tuhun visa 3ala saudia bi suhul , and the same as to sunni’s ma bya3towen Visa 3ala Iran , yalla ya s7abi l 2essa kella feyti bi ba3da , fa ahamma shi enno ne7na ma ne2bal l lebneni yeb2a 7attino bil 2ard , ye3ni ma3leishi l s3udi deghri byeji 3ala lebnen , bas ta3a ya lebneni ru7 3ala saudia , hawn l meshkli . 3ala kel 7al ma twekhzuna eza az3ajnekon , and ahamma shi l mo3ahadet l doweleyyi la7etteli tsahhelna 2murna la7etteli nen3eti2 min hal bled ba2a . w nru7 nshuf 7ayetna , 3ashr wled 3endu khayye wayneyyi l dawliii .:D good bye with all my respect
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