Lebanon: Information on the status of a person holding a "Private ID for Palestinian Refugees" issued by the Regional Department for Palestinian Refugee Affairs in 1980, and whether the person would have the right to return to and work in Lebanon
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 May 1994 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | LBN17466.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Lebanon: Information on the status of a person holding a "Private ID for Palestinian Refugees" issued by the Regional Department for Palestinian Refugee Affairs in 1980, and whether the person would have the right to return to and work in Lebanon, 1 May 1994, LBN17466.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aaba70.html [accessed 21 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. |
Palestinian identity cards are issued by the Lebanese Ministry of the Interior to Palestinian refugees, and their descendants, who arrived in the country in 1948 (24 May 1994). The identity card states the holder's name, his or her father's name, religion, address and initial city of registration (ibid.). The document includes the holder's photograph and is bound in a small blue booklet (ibid.).
According to a representative of Human Rights Watch in New York, the official position of the Lebanese government is that Palestinians with valid Palestinian identity cards as well as valid Laissez-Passer are entitled to return and work in Lebanon (17 May 1994). The representative stated that a person who has a valid Palestinian identification card but does not have a current Laissez-Passer would experience difficulties in re-entering the country (ibid.).
According to a consular officer at the Embassy of the Lebanese Republic in Ottawa, Palestinian identity cards do not have an expiry date and remain valid indefinitely unless the holder becomes a citizen of another country (13 May 1994). A representative of the British Refugee Council in London corroborated this information (17 May 1994). The official at the embassy stated that a holder of an identity card issued in 1980 would have the right of return, the right to reside and the right to work in Lebanon (13 May 1994).
The First Secretary at the Lebanese embassy added that, in order to return to the country, Palestinians must also possess a valid Lebanese Laissez-Passer (17 May 1994). He added that Laissez-Passer must be renewed on a regular basis by officials in Beirut if the holder is outside the country (ibid.). He said that this could be done through Lebanese missions abroad (ibid.).
According to a representative of the Refugee Studies Program at Oxford University, Palestinian identity cards may also be invalidated if the holder becomes the permanent resident of another country (17 May 1994). The representative also stated that having a valid Palestinian identity card does not automatically give a Palestinian the right to work in Lebanon (ibid.). He stated that the card only gives the holder the right to apply for a work permit (ibid.). He added that Palestinians have little access to government services and that the government actually issues very few work permits (ibid.).
A professor of political science at McGill University with expertise in Palestinian affairs in Lebanon stated that, to the best of his knowledge, no law technically requires Palestinian refugees to renew their identity cards on a regular basis (17 May 1994). However, he stated that there is anecdotal evidence that some Palestinians have been asked to apply for replacement identity cards and have later had their requests denied (ibid.).
For additional information on the status of Palestinians in Lebanon, please refer to the attached document.
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
British Refugee Council, London. 17 May 1994. Telephone interview with representative
Embassy of the Lebanese Republic, Ottawa. 13 May 1994. Telephone interview with official.
. 17 May 1994. Telephone interview with official.
Human Rights Watch, Middle East Bureau, New York. 17 May 1994. Telephone interview with representative.
Professor of international relations, with an expertise in Palestinian affairs, St. Anthony's College, Oxford University. 24 May 1994. Telephone interview.
Professor of political science, with expertise in Palestinian affairs, McGill University, Montreal. 17 May 1994. Telephone interview.
Refugee Studies Program, Oxford University. 17 May 1994. Telephone interview with faculty member.
Attachment
Middle East International [London]. 13 May 1994. No. 475. "Rosemary Sayigh. "An Uncertain Future For the Palestinians in Lebanon."
