MARONITE MAGAZINE

Foreigners buying properties in Lebanon
Q: Can a foreigner buy a property in Lebanon?
A: Foreign ownership of real estate property is allowed in Lebanon. Foreigners can acquire up to 3,000 square meters (sq.
m ) o f l a n d . A n y b i g g e r t h a n t h i s , a p r i o r d e c r e e f r o m t h e C o u n c i l o f M i n i s t e r s i s n e e d e d . F o r e i g n e r s c a n o n l y o w n u p t o
3 % o f t h e
total land area of Lebanon. In the case of Beirut, foreigners can acquire up to 10% of the total area of the city.
Q :What are the documents needed for South Africans to buy a property in Lebanon ?
A: Buyers must first of all:
1- Making sure that the property has no outstanding mortgages.
2- Getting clearances from the related deed office that the property has no liens or any restrictions of any kind.
3- Making sure that the property offered is really the one offered for sale.
4- Obtain the Map of the property from the related deed office.
5- Obtain Zoning Information about the Property from the seller
6- Prepare all the legal documents necessary for purchase.
Q: What are the legal documents necessary for purchase a property in Lebanon?
A: The legal documents necessary for foreigners desire to buy a property in Lebanon are:
1 - A n a g r e e m e n t o f p u r c h a s e b e t w e e n t h e b u y e r a n d t h e s e l l e r s i g n e d b e f o r e t h e n o t a r y a n d c e r t i f i e d b y h i m .
2 - A c e r t i f i c a t e i s s u e d i n t h e n a m e o f t h e b u y e r f r o m t h e d e e d o f f i c e i n B e i r u t w h i c h i s a s p e c i a l d e p a r t m e n t w h o g i v e s
clearance in issuing a certificate for foreigners prior to the registration of the property of the new buy. The certificate
a l l o w s t h e b u y e r t o b u y t h e p r o p e r t y i n c o n c e r n . To a c q u i r e t h i s c e r t i f i c a t e t h e b u y e r m u s t :
2 . 1 - S u b m i t a C o p y o f h i s p a s s p o r t t r a n s l a t e d i n A r a b i c b y a s w o r n t r a n s l a t o r i n L e b a n o n ( i f t h e b u y e r i s i n L e b a n o n ) , a n d
i f t h e b u y e r i s n o t i n L e b a n o n t h e c o p y o f p a s s p o r t m u s t b e t r a n s l a t e d a n d c e r t i f i e d b y t h e L e b a n e s e E m b a s s y i n t h e
residing country
2 . 2 S u b m i t a N o t o r i a l d r a f t o f a f a m i l y r e c o r d t h a t s h o w s a l l t h e f a m i l y m e m b e r s o f t h e b u y e r c e r t i f i e d b y t h e c o u r t j u s t i c e
t r a n s l a t e d i n t o A r a b i c a n d c e r t i f i e d b y t h e L e b a n e s e E m b a s s y i n t h e r e s i d i n g c o u n t r y
2 . 3 - S u b m i t a l e t t e r o f u n d e r t a k i n g i n A r a b i c s i g n e d b y h i m s t i p u l a t i n g t h a t h e d o n o t o w n a n y o t h e r p r o p e r t i e s i n L e b a n o n
o r o w n s s u c h a r e a o f s q m i f s o . I f t h e b u y e r i s n o t i n L e b a n o n , t h e l e t t e r m u s t b e c e r t i f i e d f r o m t h e L e b a n e s e E m b a s s y i n
the residing country. (The letter must be drafted from a Lebanese lawyer due to its legal terminology of the context).
2 . 4 - S u b m i t a r e a l e s t a t e E r f n u m b e r c e r t i f i c a t e f o r t h e p r o p e r t y i n t e n d e d t o b u y f r o m t h e r e l a t e d d e e d o f f i c e .
3 - A S p e c i a l P o w e r o f A t t o r n e y g i v e n t o t h e l a w y e r d r a f t e d i n A r a b i c s i g n e d b y t h e b u y e r a n d c e r t i f i e d b e f o r e t h e
n o t a r y p u b l i c . I f t h e b u y e r i s n o t i n L e b a n o n t h e n t h e p o w e r o f a t t o r n e y w i l l b e s i g n e d b y t h e b u y e r b e f o r e t h e
consul in the Lebanese Embassy in the residing country