What do I need for travelling outside Lebanon?

Well, I am no experienced traveler, but I have done my fair share of travels.
First things first traveling to all countries is almost the same they don't have very different requirements. To travel from Lebanon you need 2 things a passport with a visa and an airplane ticket.

For the passport,
You'll need 2 recent photos "صورتين شمسية" and be sure to tell the photographer that they are for a passport so he can print them to the right size and if you wear glasses the photos must be taken WITHOUT your glasses or they won't be accepted.You will also need a "إخرج قيد فردي" which you can get from your "مختار" and once you do get it photocopy it at a library black and white for 500LL and take have the original and the copy with you. And if you are under 18 you will need a signed "إذن سفر" from your parents whom 1 of them must be present all throughout the process.
Now with all these documents head to "الأمن العام" facing the USJ and present them on the first floor after you get the necessary papers at the doors to let you in and out. Your passport should be ready in 3 to 4 business days.
Make sure to go over all these steps with your "مختار" to verify if they are all correct and if there are any additional steps needed.

For the visa, you'll need to visit the respective country's embassy and apply for a visa keeping in mind that you don't need a visa for Syria, Jordan, Turkey and Iran. This must be done AFTER you get your passport since the visa is placed on your passport.

For the airplane ticket, head to http://www.travelocity.com and book a flight online. (You'll need a credit card.)

And, that's just about it. The whole thing excluding the visa and airplane ticket should cost about 30,000LL or so. Visas and tickets vary greatly from one country to the other.

P.S. The "مختار" is the one who knows most about all these stuff make sure to ask him about everything from the photos to the visas and he should have an answer for you.

P.S.S. The ones you see in movies don't need visas most of the time since they have diplomatic relations with many other countries so they don't require them to get visas, like us and the aforementioned countries.

Hey, to apply for a passport, you need "talab jawaz safar" from el mokhtar, he needs to sign it and everything. You need 2 recent photo passport as port80 said and you need to go to any "amen 3am" not only near USJ as far as I know, there is one in Jounieh and in Jdeideh and in Beirut, there are many more across Lebanon. You can ask for the passport for 1 year or 5 years, it will cost you 60,000LBP or 300,000LBP respectively.

For the VISA you need to check what documents the embassy needs. The VISA fees differ from each country to another and even for different types of VISAs in the same country (example tourist VISA, business VISA etc...). The one for egypt costs 50,000LBP and for the tourist VISA in the US it will cost you 240,000LBP.

The documents you need for a VISA are usually the passport, proof that you can pay and photos in the required format they ask for (each country is different). If you are going on something related to business you should show a proof that you are invited there. Usually for a tourist VISA you don''t get it for more than 3 months (i think), or else you would have to apply for an immigrant VISA.

For the plane tickets, you can buy them at any travel agency or on some websites, expedia.com is a good one.

When applying for a passport, make sure to get the "talab jawaz safar" from the moukhtar of the area where you live, and not "any" moukhtar, because the new regulations dictate that. As for the general security office, you shouldn't go to the one facing "قصر العدل", because that's only for "urgent passports" (not sure about the terminology), and it's more expensive than getting it from any other general security office.

Also note that there are many countries you can travel to without a VISA using your Lebanese passport. Check the website for the list of those countries. They are also mentioned on the passport.

Good luck.

AVOlio wrote About your Friend, Can you ask him about the Visa thing, how did he get it,what did he do etc etc, with pricetags :)

It would not apply... she is French and was coming from Europe... any other question, I'd be glad to ask!
Ask the embassy, if nobody else can help you. Ask the embassy anyway, they are the authority on that matter.

Sorry I got the price wrong and forgot about the "talab jawaz safar" part but its because I already have an old passport and that's what I do every time I renew it since renewing is cheaper and doesn't require that document.

In case you need a visa to go somewhere, you have to search for the embassy's Lebanese website. They usually have all the information there. Even some have the application process on their website.

If they don't, you'll find their phone number on the website, and you can just call and ask.

Note: If you are going to Europe, keep in mind that all EU countries require a schengen visa, rather than a visa to the country itself. A Schengen visa grants you access to all EU countries. To apply for it, you need to apply at the embassy of the country you will first arrive to. Let's say you were going to Paris, France, you go apply at the French embassy for the Schengen visa. This process will cost you money, I am not sure how much, but I remember it was something over a 100$.

I have personally only been to Jordan, Turkey and the US. Jordan and Turkey did not require a VISA, they just stamp on your passport once you arrive. Generally, you are granted a 6 months stay each time you enter.

For the US Visa, I had to apply through their website, which was not an easy process as they ask a lot of specific questions that sometimes demand some research. A good thing about it is that you can save it, and proceed with it later.

Example: They asked for a picture, so I had to go to a photographer, and ask him to take a picture for the US visa. You have to mention which VISA, because each Visa application differs in its required dimensions of the picture. For the US Visa, you are not allowed to smile in your picture, no glasses, your ears should be visible, and it has specific dimensions. I got it digitally, and uploaded the picture to my application.

Later on, I had to go to Credit Libanais and pay around a 120$ if I remember correctly. They give you an appointment for an interview. If you have a good excuse, you can call the embassy, and ask for an earlier appointment.

I have recently heard that this process changed, and that you get to pick your appointment after finishing the application process.

Later on, you go to your interview. Do NOT forget your documents, and especially the receipt that proves that you paid for your interview. I forgot my receipt, and had to drive back home to get it.

After you are done with your interview, you either get the VISA or you don't. If you do, they give you a date on when you should come back to pick up your passport. When you pick up your passport, you'll find out the details of your VISA (either 3 months, or 1 year, or 5 years, single entry or multiple entries etc.)

Once that is out of the way, it's time to buy your ticket.

I usually check these websites out, in incognito/private browsing mode (because some of them save your cookies and raise the prices next time you go in).

www.expedia.com
www.cheapoair.com
www.kayak.com
www.travelocity.com

Once you find some flights, check out their airlines' websites for the prices and compare. Let's say you found a flight with Air France, check their website and compare.

Some airlines are not listed on these websites, so it would be good to do some research for airlines that don't show up. They are usually cheaper.
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Usually, if you can avoid flying in high season (Near any holidays like Christmas, New Year's, Easter or at the beginning or end of Summer), you would be able to find cheaper flights. Also, buying your ticket early, means a cheaper price, as the cheaper prices tend to go fast.

While buying your seats, you'd want to either get a window seat or an aisle seat. Depending on what your preference is. If it is a long flight and you use the restrooms frequently, then get an aisle seat. If you want to be one of the first people out of the plane, also get an aisle seat. If you get cold, an aisle seat is for you. A window seat is a bit cooler than an aisle seat, in terms of temperature as you're closer to the window. If you do not want to be bothered by people getting up to go use the restrooms or stretch or socialise, take the window seat. If you want to sleep better, the window seat works great as well, as you can lean on the side of the window. Window seats are cozy as well.

I recommend you check out what type of plane you'll be in, and scout the seats that are available there to see which ones fit you best. Seats with no seats in front of them, means more legroom.

If you can manage to fly on an Airbus A380, I recommend it. It's a beautiful plane.

If you do not find good seats, as in you get middle seats, it's okay.

24 hours before your flight, call the airlines you are going to be flying with, and tell them you want to change your seats to either an aisle seat or window seat because you are fat, and you will be a bother in the middle. They will be really sweet and accommodating about it. Or make up some other logical excuse. That's guaranteed to work.

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I recommend you take some gum with you for the take off and landing. They are usually uncomfortable for the ears. I also recommend getting some entertainment for the flight. Try to wear comfortable clothing on the flight as well.

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I got a little carried away, but here are my 2 cents. I hope this helps.

AVOlio wrote Hey just got a curious question.
What do you talk about in the Interview, what do they ask you, and for how long?

Also,there will be interviews for generally every Visa i apply to, or its based to US only?

In the interview they basically ask you what you are going to do, they ask you where you will stay, how long do you plan to stay there, what do you do in your life etc.

In my case, I was going to present a research paper at a conference, so they asked me about the paper, what it's about, and asked a lot of details to make sure I was not making up the paper (even thought I provided an invitation paper from the association hosting the conference). They get really thorough with their questions. What they are concerned about is illegal immigration. So as long as you have proof that you will be coming back (e.g a job where you could get proof that you have signed on a contract and can't leave the job, or proof that you are signed up for courses at a university/school).

You should also provide proof that you have enough money for your visit through a bank statement.

You should leave all your electronics and most of your stuff out of the US embassy for less complications.

The interview is around 10-15 mins, depending on how many questions they have for you.

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I think other visas require interviews. But don't be too worried about them. They won't be as hard on you as the US interviews.

Good luck

The interview is mainly to make sure you plan on returning to Lebanon. Tourist visas are usually easy to get, so they're afraid people might use them to sneak into the country and start looking for work and settle there.

Don't worry too much about the interview. "My whole family lives here", "I'm still at school, I'm applying to uni here", "I'm just going to stay at this hotel/my friend's house", these are the kind of answers they want to hear. Anything that reassures them that you're just planning on visiting as tourist.

AVOlio wrote What is that supposed to mean?
What if Im flat broke, they wont let me travel? xD
Plus i dont have an account in any bank what so ever, neither credit cards or nothing. (Just an Internet card which im sure it does not count).

I dont understand why they need a statement of my financial "status". :/

In that case you need a person with a bank account and a steady balance to vouch for you