Lebanon visa photos and the General Directorate of General Security
Lebanese visas are issued by the General Directorate of General Security (Sûreté Générale) under the Ministry of Interior, with applications submitted abroad through Lebanese embassies and consulates coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants. There is no foreign-facing e-visa portal, so every paper visa file includes a physical photograph that the applicant supplies in person at the mission, by mail, or through the VFS Global visa application centre in the limited jurisdictions where it operates (notably India).
Because no single national photo standard is published, each Lebanese mission sets its own dimensions. The dominant consular size, used in London, Algiers, and Ottawa, is 43×35 mm; Washington D.C. and the New York Consulate require 2×2 inches; the Jakarta embassy uses 40×60 mm. Across every channel the photograph must be a recent, original colour capture on a pure white background, and it must show the full face clearly. Photos copied or cropped from another image are explicitly refused by the London and Algiers embassies.
A non-compliant photograph causes the application to be rejected at intake or returned with the file, which delays the visa and, for mail-in channels such as Washington and New York, means re-sending the entire package with a fresh prepaid return envelope. Applicants travelling under visa-on-arrival eligibility at Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport do not submit a photo, since General Security captures the image at the border.
What the General Directorate of General Security expects in your photo
Lebanese missions enforce a tight set of subject-side rules even though no single national photo standard exists. The points below apply across consular jurisdictions.
Expression & pose
- Neutral expressionHold a neutral expression with the mouth closed. VFS Global, the delegated visa application centre operator for Lebanon in India, makes this explicit, and Lebanese consular practice expects the same.
- Eyes open and visibleBoth eyes must be open and looking straight at the camera. Hair, lashes, or glare cannot obscure either eye.
- Square to cameraFace the camera full-frontal with the head upright. Both edges of the face must be visible and the head cannot be tilted or rotated.
- Original captureThe Embassies of Lebanon in London and Algiers explicitly prohibit photographs that are scans, crops, or copies of another photo. The image must be an original capture of the applicant.
Eyewear & lenses
- Tinted lensesTinted or sunglasses lenses are not accepted. Lenses must be clear so the eyes are fully visible.
- Frames and glareIf eyeglasses are worn, frames cannot cover any part of the eyes and lenses cannot produce reflections. Removing glasses before the shot is the safer option.
Hair & facial hair
- Hair off the faceHair must not fall across the eyes or hide the edges of the face. Bangs that cover the forehead are not acceptable.
- Facial features visibleThe full face from chin to forehead must be unobstructed so consular staff can verify identity against the application.
Headwear
- Everyday hatsHats, caps, and other non-religious head coverings are not permitted.
- Religious head coveringsReligious head coverings are accepted provided the full face, from the bottom of the chin to the top of the forehead and including both edges, remains clearly visible.
Clothing & accessories
- Everyday clothingOrdinary street clothing is expected. Uniforms are not specifically prohibited by Lebanese sources, but plain civilian dress is the safer choice.
- AccessoriesAccessories that interfere with a clear view of the face, including bulky jewellery near the jawline or large earrings that cast shadows, should be removed.
Photo quality
- Colour photographThe photo must be in colour. Black and white prints are not accepted by Lebanese embassies, including London and Algiers.
- Recent photographThe photograph must be recent. The Consulate General of Lebanon in New York requires it to be taken within the past three months, and VFS Global in India requires it within six months.
Dimensions, resolution & background.
Head position & camera distance.
- Head height, measured from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head, must be between 32 mm and 36 mm (roughly 72–79% of the photo height).
- Eyes must sit between 21 mm and 26 mm from the bottom of the photo.
- The head must be centered horizontally in the frame with a small symmetrical margin on each side.
- Both shoulders must be square to the camera and visible. Three-quarter angles or rotated torsos are not accepted.
- The full face from chin to crown must be inside the frame with proper top margin.
How recent the photo must be.
Your visa photo must have been taken within the last three months. A new photo is required sooner whenever your appearance has changed in a way that makes the old photo no longer recognizable.
You need a new photo if you’ve had…
- Facial surgery or a major change to facial structure
- A significant gain or loss of weight that visibly changes your face
- Large facial tattoos or piercings added or removed
- A gender transition that has changed your appearance
You do not need a new photo just because of…
- A new hair color
- Growing or removing a beard or moustache
- Ordinary, minor aging
- A new hairstyle that still leaves the face fully visible
Other things to know.
A few Lebanon-specific quirks sit outside the usual subject rules and are worth knowing before you submit.
Per-mission size variation
Lebanon publishes no central visa-photo spec. London, Algiers, and Ottawa require 43 × 35 mm. Washington D.C. and the New York Consulate require 2 × 2 inches. Jakarta requires 40 × 60 mm. Always match the size of the specific Lebanese mission processing your application.
No e-visa portal
Lebanon does not operate an online visa portal for foreign applicants. Applications are submitted in person or by mail to a Lebanese embassy or consulate, or through VFS Global in jurisdictions where it acts as the visa application centre (notably India).
Visa on arrival, no photo
Eligible nationalities receiving a visa on arrival at Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport are not required to supply a photograph. General Security captures the traveller’s image at the immigration counter.
Israeli stamps disqualify
Lebanon refuses any visa application on a passport that contains Israeli visas, stamps, or seals. An existing Lebanese visa is rendered invalid if such a stamp is later added. Applicants in this situation must obtain a new passport before applying.
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Print-quality requirements for in-person submissions.
When you submit a printed photo at a visa application centre, the paper, finish, and ink all matter. The points below cover the standards most consular missions accept.
- Print on photographic-quality paper at 300 DPI minimum.
- Use a matte or semi-gloss finish; high-gloss can produce reflections that confuse biometric scanners.
- Do not retouch, crop, or alter the photo after printing.
- Bring at least two identical prints when the submission channel calls for paper photos.