How to Import Goods into Lebanon: A Complete Guide

What does importing into Lebanon involve?

Importing goods into Lebanon is a structured process governed by Lebanese Customs (the Direction Générale des Douanes) and, depending on the commodity, several other regulatory bodies. At its core, importation involves four stages: pre-shipment preparation, freight transport to Lebanon, customs clearance and duty payment, and inland delivery. Getting each stage right, especially the documentation, determines whether your goods clear smoothly in a few days or sit at the port for weeks.

GHO Express has been handling Lebanese import and export clearances since 1971, with a dedicated office at the Rafic Hariri International Airport Cargo Village and extensive relationships at Beirut port. What follows is a practical guide to the process.

Step-by-step: how to import goods into Lebanon

Step 1, Classify your goods and check restrictions

Before anything moves, identify the correct HS tariff code for your commodity. The code determines the duty rate, any applicable excise or additional taxes, and whether the goods are subject to import restrictions, bans, or ministry authorisations (for example, the Ministry of Public Health for foodstuffs and pharmaceuticals, the Ministry of Agriculture for plants and animals, or the Ministry of Economy for certain industrial goods).

Goods that are prohibited or restricted without prior approval will be held at customs, classify first, ship second.

Step 2, Obtain and prepare all required documents

The Lebanese customs authority requires the following for a standard commercial import:

• Commercial invoice, must state the seller, buyer, description of goods, quantity, unit price, and CIF or FOB value.
• Packing list, itemised list of contents, weights, and dimensions per package.
• Bill of lading (sea) or air waybill (air), the transport document issued by the carrier.
• Certificate of origin, typically required and, for some preferential tariff treatments, must be legalised.
• Import declaration, prepared and filed by the licensed customs broker.
• Commodity-specific certificates, phytosanitary, health, conformity, or test certificates depending on the product.
• Prior import authorisation, where required by the relevant ministry.

Your customs clearance broker should review your document set before the vessel or aircraft departs from origin to avoid any gaps that would stall the clearance.

Step 3, Choose your mode of transport and Incoterm

The mode (sea, air, or land) affects cost, transit time, and the point at which you become responsible for the shipment:

• Sea freight, lowest cost per kilogram for large or heavy shipments; typical transit from Europe is 10-21 days, from the Gulf 3-7 days. Goods arrive at Port of Beirut or Tripoli.
• Air freight, fastest option, suited to urgent, high-value, or perishable cargo; transit from Europe 1-3 days, from the Gulf same-day or next-day. Goods arrive at Rafic Hariri Airport Cargo Village.
• Land freight, cost-effective for regional trade (Turkey, Jordan, GCC via Syria); transit varies with road conditions and border crossing times.

Your Incoterm (EXW, FOB, CIF, DAP, DDP, etc.) determines exactly where the seller’s responsibility ends and yours begins. Under CIF or DAP, the supplier pays freight to Beirut; under EXW or FOB, you control and pay for the main leg. See our Incoterms guide for a full breakdown.

Step 4, Arrange customs clearance in Beirut

Once the shipment arrives at the port or airport, your licensed customs broker files the import declaration (called a déclaration en détail) with Lebanese Customs. The sequence is:

1. Pre-arrival notification, the broker registers the bill of lading or airway bill in the customs system.
2. Declaration filing, the broker submits the import declaration with the full document set.
3. Customs assessment, the Customs Directorate reviews the declaration and assigns a channel: green (immediate release), orange (document check), or red (physical inspection).
4. Duty and VAT calculation, duties are assessed on the CIF value using the applicable HS tariff rate. VAT at 11% is applied on CIF value plus duties.
5. Payment, duties and VAT are paid before release. We can arrange payment on your behalf and invoice you.
6. Release, once payment is confirmed and any inspection is complete, the customs authority releases the goods.

For certain regulated commodities, the relevant ministry must also issue a clearance note before the goods are released.

Step 5, Inland delivery

After customs release, your goods are moved from the port or airport to your final destination within Lebanon. GHO Express handles this through our warehousing & distribution network, delivering to warehouses, retail sites, construction projects, or residential addresses across the country.

If your goods need temporary storage while you arrange onward distribution, our Beirut warehouse facility can hold them securely.

Understanding Lebanese customs duties and VAT

Lebanese import duties are levied as a percentage of the CIF value (cost of goods + international insurance + freight to the Lebanese port or airport). The rate depends entirely on the HS tariff code:

• 0%, essential goods such as certain foods, medicines, raw materials
• 5%-15%, most manufactured goods, machinery, equipment
• 30%-70%, luxury goods, alcohol, certain protected categories

On top of customs duty, VAT at 11% applies to the sum of CIF value plus duty. Some goods also carry additional taxes (excise, municipality levy). A duty estimate requires the full HS code and the CIF value, our team can model this before you commit to the purchase.

Common reasons for customs delays, and how to avoid them

Cause	Prevention
Missing or inconsistent documents	Have your broker review the full document set before shipment
Wrong or absent HS code	Classify goods with your broker before booking freight
Value understatement	Declare the genuine CIF value; customs can verify with market data
Restricted goods without authorisation	Check ministry requirements at point of purchase, not on arrival
Physical inspection	No complete prevention, but accurate declarations reduce the chance

Why use a freight forwarder for Lebanese imports?

A licensed freight forwarder and customs broker manages every link in the chain: booking freight at competitive rates, tracking cargo, preparing and checking documents, filing declarations, and arranging delivery. You avoid the administrative burden, reduce the risk of costly delays, and gain a single point of contact who knows Lebanese customs practice from the inside.

GHO Express has been that single point of contact for importers into Lebanon since 1971. As a FIDI member, we apply international quality and compliance standards to every shipment we handle, from a small parcel to a full container load. Our team at Beirut Airport’s Cargo Village and our Beirut HQ at St. Charles City Center, Mina El Hosn, are ready to advise you before your goods leave the origin country.

Related services

• Customs Clearance, licensed import and export brokerage in Lebanon
• Sea Freight, FCL and LCL ocean shipments to Beirut
• Air Freight, express air cargo through Rafic Hariri Airport
• Land Freight, road transport across the region
• Warehousing & Distribution, post-clearance storage and delivery in Lebanon

Contact our import team with your commodity, origin country, and estimated volume, and we will provide a full import cost estimate, freight, duties, VAT, and delivery, before you place your order.