The Finance and Budget Committee of the Lebanese Parliament has approved a draft law on launching a Golden Visa for investments starting at $500,000.
Elena Ruda explains what is known about the new residence permit for foreigners.
Context
The draft law on the so-called Golden Residence was prepared by the Lebanese Ministry of Finance. Politicians first included the draft in the agenda of the Council of Ministers meeting on February 26th, 2026[1]Source: Agenda of the Ministry of Finance meeting on the Lebanese Government website.
The Finance and Budget Committee of the Lebanese Parliament approved the draft law on June 22nd, 2026[2]Source: Announcement of the draft law approval on the Lebanese Government website. Next, members of parliament must approve the draft law at a plenary session.
Investors will be able to apply for residence permits after the law is officially published.
Requirements for applicants for Lebanese residence by investment
The minimum investment amount is $500,000. The money must be transferred from abroad to one of three sectors of the economy. The official list of these sectors has not yet been published.
The sources of investment funds will undergo Due Diligence. The review time is not yet known.
Elena Ruda,
Co-Founder & Managing Partner
Close relatives of the investor will also be able to obtain Lebanese residence, but an additional $50,000 per year will need to be paid for each of them. The range of close relatives, as well as their age and degree of financial dependence, have not yet been defined.
Why the Lebanon Golden Visa is being discussed as tax residence
Ibrahim Kanaan, Chair of the Finance and Budget Committee, explained that the new residence permit would suit foreigners who want to become tax residents of Lebanon.
Official documents have not yet disclosed the full list of tax benefits. The draft law proposes amending the following provisions[3]Source: Tax legislation database on the Lebanese University website:
- Article 77 of the Income Tax Law.
- Clause 5 of Article 73 of the Income Tax Law.
- Article 3 of the Law on Property Transfer Tax.
All the articles relate to taxation of income from movable property, including income from Lebanese and foreign shares and bonds.
The draft law amends the article on taxes on property transactions. Currently, tax is levied on property in Lebanon, and the rule applies to Lebanese citizens and foreign residents of the country.
Where investors can access tax resident privileges
Foreigners obtain residence in Malta and a special tax status under the Malta Global Residence Programme. Tax benefits apply to foreign income remitted to Malta. Such income is taxed at a fixed rate of 15%. The minimum annual tax is €15,000 per family.
Income from sources in Malta is taxed at a rate of 35%.
To apply, one needs to buy or rent real estate in Malta and pay an administrative fee:
- minimum rental cost is €8,750 per year for a property in the south of Malta or on Gozo, and €9,600 per year in other regions;
- minimum purchase price is €220,000 for a property in the south of Malta or on Gozo, and €275,000 in other regions;
- administrative fee for renting or buying real estate is €6,000, while buying property in the south of Malta or on Gozo requires a fee of €5,500.
The application can include a spouse, children under 25, siblings, parents, and grandparents.
Immigrant Invest lawyers will help obtain residence and tax resident status abroad. Upon request, we will also arrange consultations with a specialist who knows the nuances of taxation in the chosen jurisdiction.
