Setting up an emergency hotline: 28/3/2020
The Embassy of Lebanon in Canberra- Australia announces that, due to the exceptional circumstances experienced by the world as a result of the spread of the Coronavirus and in order to facilitate communication with the Lebanese community in Australia and New Zealand, it has launched a hotline service on the number 0415122118 that is also available on whatsapp service. Therefore, anyone needing assistance should call this number or send a text message and we will contact him/her and endeavour to help within the available resources.
Note that the Embassy can always be contacted via its e-mail address: canberra.leb@gmail.com
Extending the closure of Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut due to CORONAVIRUS - 27/3/2020
The Embassy of Lebanon in Canberra-Australia announces that, in accordance to Decree No. 6209 dated 26 March 2020 issued by the Lebanese Cabinet, which extended the declaration of the state of general mobilization to combat the spread of the Coronavirus, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation in Lebanon issued a circular note requesting all Airlines operating at Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut extend the suspension of all commercial and private flights to and from Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut until Sunday, April 12, 2020 inclusive, except for military aircraft, air ambulances, aircraft transiting the Lebanese air space, Lebanese cargo planes, aircraft transporting members of accredited diplomatic missions in Lebanon, international organizations, UNIFIL forces and persons working for companies associated with drilling operations in Block 4.
“Stay Home” campaign to fight the corona virus COVID-19 pandemic
As part of the national and international “Stay Home” campaign to fight the corona virus COVID-19 pandemic, the Lebanese Ministry of Culture - Directorate General of Antiquities invites you to enjoy a virtual tour of the Lebanese National Museum and of Archaeological Sites across Lebanon while taking all necessary measures to protect yourself by staying home. 1- Virtual tours of the Lebanese National Museum https://goo.gl/maps/c3tCxDaUqjmgjBHK8 Applications: Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ourjouwan.BeirutMuseum&hl=en Apple https://apps.apple.com/lb/app/beirut-museum/id897108903 2- Virtual tours of some Archaeological Sites in Lebanon Baalbek - UNESCO World Heritage Site https://goo.gl/maps/F1qUhSDHYbtNTZVA8 Beaufort Crusader Castle https://goo.gl/maps/zrE5iXdf6DHrsAdf6 Byblos - UNESCO World Heritage Site https://goo.gl/maps/23x3rir7NXgoR5Q96 Mseilha Castle https://goo.gl/maps/GgNporvcG1NLsMoK6 Saida Sea Castle https://goo.gl/maps/ZyXPrqdVi9DyZzPS8 Tyre City Site - UNESCO World Heritage Site https://goo.gl/maps/jFM3B9nVW3xwQ6EPA Tyre Al Bass - UNESCO World Heritage Site https://goo.gl/maps/vTFzSxhtCrFgQBzS9
Donations to support the health sector in Lebanon to counter the Corona virus - 19/3/2020
The Embassy of Lebanon in Canberra-Australia announces that the Lebanese health sector is in need of urgent medical and financial assistance in order to combat coronavirus and the difficulties resulting from it. Therefore, those willing to help can provide any of the following medical equipments which are exempt from customs fees:
Donations in kind: The High Relief Council (HRC) at its address: Starco Building, Beirut Commercial City Centre, Block C, 8th floor, Telephone number: +961 3/953103 – +961 70/244004 – +961 1/363052 – +961 1/373202. The Council will coordinate tasks to exempt donated equipment from customs duties.
Financial and cash donations, account opened at the Central Bank of Lebanon (Banque du Liban):
Account Name: Ministry of Finance - Anti-Corona Donation Account IBAN:
Donations to Rafik Hariri University Hospital (hospital and staff) on the following account opened at the Central Bank of Lebanon (Banque du Liban):
IBAN – ليرة لبنانية LB40 0999 0000 0001 0017 1904 1200
Account Name: Current No. 719041190 / Donations for Employees working in The Corona Section (IBAN):
The mechanism for receiving social assistance to be allocated to support families affected by procedures taken to combat the Virus is as follows:
Account Name: Ministry of Finance - Social Aid Donation Account (IBAN):
Closure of Rafik Hariri International Airport due to CORONA virus -17/3/2020
The Embassy of Lebanon in Canberra-Australia announces that the Lebanese Cabinet, which was convened on 15 March 2020, has declared a state of general mobilization due to the new and accelerating health conditions as a result of the spread of the coronavirus, and has taken the following decisions:
Closing Rafik Hariri International Airport and all air, sea and land ports (land and sea ports only for travellers) and stopping all commercial and private flights to and from the airport from midnight on Wednesday, 18 March 2020 until midnight on Sunday, 29 March 2020, excluding military aircrafts, air ambulances, aircrafts transiting Lebanese airspace, cargo planes, aircrafts transporting members of UNIFIL forces, accredited diplomatic missions in Lebanon, international organizations and personnel working for companies associated with drilling in Block 4, where these categories are, as usual, subject to prior permissions through diplomatic channels.
Permitting Lebanese citizens and their family members who do not have a Lebanese identity or residence cards, and those with residence cards to return to Lebanon up until 18 March 2020 inclusive. This permission excludes passengers from the following countries where travel has already been bannedfrom and to: France, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Germany, Spain, The United Kingdom, Italy, Iran, China (Hong Kong, Macao, ChineseTaiwan) and South Korea.
Further instructions on Coronavirus - 16/3/2020
The Embassy of Lebanon in Canberra-Australia announces that further to the preventive measures taken by the Lebanese government to counter the threat of the spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19), the Committee for the Follow-up of Preventive Measures for the coronavirus issued the following recommendations on March 11, 2020:
1- All trips (air, land and sea) to and from the following countries: Italy, South Korea, Iran and China (Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan) are suspended for one week from the date of the decision.
2- Entry prevention (by air, land or sea) for all persons from countries where the new Coronavirus is spreading, particularly France, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom and other countries to be specified in turn, with the exception of Lebanese citizens, families of Lebanese who are yet to obtain Lebanese citizenship or residency in Lebanon, holders of valid residences in Lebanon, members of diplomatic missions accredited in Lebanon, international organizations and members of UNIFIL forces, and grant them 4 days to return to Lebanon, from 12:00 Thursday night of 12 March 2020 until 12:00 Monday night of March 16, 2020.
3- After the four-day deadline has expired, all flights from the countries mentioned in section"2" will be suspended for one week and Lebanese wishing to return must get in contact with Lebanese Embassies in the above-mentioned countries in order to take appropriate action in coordination with the General Directorate For civil aviation. Transit passengers are excluded from this procedure. Lebanese and foreigners returning to Lebanon from the above-mentioned countries who have not shown symptoms of the disease must commit to home isolation for 14 days and communicate with the Ministry of Public Health in the case of developing any symptoms.
Coronavirus prevention measures 10/3/2020
The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) have circulated preventive measures regarding the coronavirus in addition to launching an awareness campaign to maintain hygiene and prevention while travelling. The Ministry of Public Health has advised not to travel to infected countries except when necessary and to take all preventive health measures and avoid gatherings and contact with pets and people with symptoms similar to those of the virus. Following is a publication in Arabic and English on prevention methods while travelling: Corona.pdf
The possibility of renewing the Lebanese passport for three years: 5/3/2020
The Embassy of Lebanon in Canberra-Australia announces that a new three year option has been added to the other options for issuance and renewal of Lebanese passports, with a fee of A$208.50. So the possibility of issuing and renewing Lebanese passports and fees are now as follows:
- One year: A$62.50
- Three-years: A$208.50
- Five-years: A$312.50
- 10 years: A$521
However, the option of issuing and renewing the passport for three years and 10 years is only applicable to holders of biometric passports issued in Lebanon.
Announcement from the Embassy of Lebanon in Canberra and Lebanese Consulates in Sydney and Melbourne concerning the correction of the Electoral Lists 2020-2021 - 5/3/2020
Pursuant to Articles 32, 33 and 34 of Election Law No. 44 dated 17 June 2017, the Directorate General of Civil Status in the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities in Lebanon has published the preliminary electoral lists and invited resident and non-resident voters to view them on the official website of the Directorate General of Civil Status: https://www.dgcs.gov.lb/arabic/voters-list
Voters whose names are not on the published electoral lists or have been wrongly registered are required to apply for correction before March 10, 2020, including either to the registration committee directly for residents or to the Embassy or Consulate concerned for non-residents.
Note that the application forms for correction of electoral lists for non-residents are available on the following link: https://www.dgcs.gov.lb/arabic/forms-files
The Directorate General of Civil Status has issued a CD containing the preliminary electoral lists and anyone is entitled to obtain copies at a cost equal to 35,000 Lebanese pounds per copy.
Signing of the book: Lebanese in Australia: A Changing Mosaic 28/11/2019
On 24 November 2019, a book by Trevor and Andrew Batrouney entitled: LEBANESE IN AUSTRALIA: A CHANGING MOSAIC was signed at the Northcote Town Hall with the participation of some members of the Lebanese Community.
The book contains important information about the waves of Lebanese migration to Australia from the 1880s to today, and how they integrated and contributed to Australian society in all its fields, as well as some old photographs and documents of this migration.
The book can be viewed on the publisher's website:
https://www.connorcourtpublishing.com.au/Lebanese-in-Australia-A-Changing-Mosaic--Trevor-Batrouney-and-Andrew-Batrouney_p_324.html
Parliamentary by-elections in the small district in Tyre on 15 September 2019
The by-elections in the Small District in Tyre will be held on 15 September 2019 in accordance to the Majority System, and since the voting process will not take place abroad, Lebanese Citizens residing abroad and whose names are on the voters' lists in this district can exercise their right to vote at the selected election polls in the Small District in Tyre.
Article 29 of the General Budget Act and Subsequent Budgets of 2019 - Section 3 –that was issued on 31/7/2019, states: "Exceptionally, and contrary to any other provision, owners of properties on which the Palestinian camps are located are exempt from transfer fees of property and real estate settlement upon their transfer to immediate inheritors until the 31st of March 2020."
Accordingly, the Consulate General in Melbourne calls upon the owners of these properties in the Lebanese community to take advantage of this law before the deadline.
Melbourne, 8/8/2019