Lebanon: Information on the residence rights or citizenship rights available to a Palestinian males born in Lebanon and who are married to a female Lebanese citizen
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 October 1995 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | LBN21971.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Lebanon: Information on the residence rights or citizenship rights available to a Palestinian males born in Lebanon and who are married to a female Lebanese citizen, 1 October 1995, LBN21971.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab784.html [accessed 20 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The following information was provided during a telephone interview on 11 October 1995 by a human rights lawyer practising in Beirut, Lebanon. In principle Palestinian males married to women who are Lebanese citizens would not have access to Lebanese citizenship (11 Oct. 1995).
The lawyer added that naturalization procedures are very complex in Lebanon. The issue is further complicated with regard to Palestinians, a politically sensitive question in Lebanon. The government, as well as certain community leaders, is worried about any movement towards granting any form of permanent status to the Palestinian community in Lebanon. This is a matter of demography and confessional equilibrium in Lebanon.
The source was unable to provide specific information on residence rights of Palestinian males. The source stated that residence rights for Palestinians are usually handled by the United Nations organization called United Nations Work and Relief Agency for the Palestinians (UNWRA).
According to an official at the embassy of Lebanon in Ottawa, Palestinian males married to women who are Lebanese citizen would not have access to Lebanese citizenship (11 Oct. 1995). In principle, a man married to a Lebanese woman might apply for permanent residence status, however, in practice, this procedure would be long and difficult (ibid.).
For additional information on marriage and citizenship, and naturalization procedures, please find the attached chapters from Etude sur la Nationalité Libanaise (Baz 1969, 107-118; 93-106), and from The Lebanese Legal System (1985, 267-320). For information on entry procedures in Lebanon for Palestinians who have recently been expelled from Libya, please consult the attached newspaper articles.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Embassy of the Republic of Lebanon, Ottawa. 11 October 1995. Telephone interview with an official.
Human Rights Lawyer, Beirut, Lebanon. 11 October 1995. Telephone interview.
Attachments
Agence France Presse. 18 September 1995. "Palestinians Urge Assad to Press for End to Lebanese Visas." (NEXIS)
Baz, Jean. 1969. Etude sur la Nationalité Libanaise. Jounieh: Imprimerie F. Biban & Co.
The Lebanese Legal System. 1985. Edited by Antoine El-Geymayel. Washington: The International Law Institute.
Reuters. 22 September 1995. "Lebanon Eases Entry Restrictions on Palestinians." (NEXIS)
