Customs Clearance & Brokerage in Lebanon

What is customs clearance in Lebanon?

Customs clearance is the mandatory government process every international shipment must pass through before goods can legally cross a Lebanese border, whether arriving at the Port of Beirut, Rafic Hariri International Airport, or a land border crossing. It involves lodging a customs declaration (Single Administrative Document), paying applicable duties and VAT, presenting supporting documents, and receiving the release order from the Lebanese Customs Authority (Direction Générale des Douanes). Only a licensed customs broker may submit declarations on behalf of an importer or exporter, and GHO Express has held that licence and practised this work since 1971.

Our brokers combine a thorough knowledge of Lebanese customs law, tariff classifications, and ministry-specific product regulations with direct working relationships built over five decades of daily presence at Beirut’s ports, airport, and free zone.

Import clearance, step by step

1. Pre-arrival document review. We receive the commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or air waybill, and certificate of origin. We verify HS codes, declared values, and required permits before the vessel or aircraft arrives.
2. Declaration lodgement. We submit the customs declaration electronically via the Lebanese Customs’ ASYCUDA World system, applying the correct tariff classification and valuation method.
3. Duty and VAT assessment. Customs calculates the amount due (duties + 11 % VAT on CIF value + duties). We review the assessment for accuracy and advise you of the total before payment.
4. Payment and release. Once duties and VAT are settled, customs issues the release order. We coordinate with the port terminal or airline handler to arrange physical release of the cargo.
5. Delivery. We arrange inland transport to your warehouse, distribution centre, or directly to the consignee. See our warehousing & distribution service if you need storage.

Export customs clearance

Exporting from Lebanon also requires a formal customs declaration. Our brokers prepare the export entry, apply for any required export permits or certificates, and oversee cargo examination where requested. A clean export declaration is the first step for every air freight, sea freight, or land freight shipment we handle.

Documents checklist

The following documents are typically required. The exact list varies by commodity, origin, and destination country:

Import

• Bill of lading (sea) or air waybill (air) or CMR waybill (land)
• Commercial invoice (showing supplier, buyer, price, currency, Incoterm)
• Packing list (packages, weights, dimensions)
• Certificate of origin (for preferential duty rates or import controls)
• Import licence or product-specific permits (food, pharma, chemicals, electronics, etc.)
• Conformity / quality certificates where mandated by Lebanese ministries

Export

• Commercial invoice
• Packing list
• Certificate of origin (often required by the destination country)
• Export licence (for controlled goods)
• Phytosanitary or health certificates (for perishables and food products)
• Dangerous-goods declarations (if applicable)

We confirm the complete checklist for your specific commodity and trade lane before the shipment moves.

Duties, VAT, and tariff classification

Lebanon uses the Harmonised System (HS) tariff nomenclature. Customs duties are assessed as a percentage of the CIF value (cost of goods + insurance + freight to the Lebanese port of entry). The applicable rate depends on the HS code, rates range from 0 % for essential goods to higher rates for luxury or protected products. VAT at 11 % is levied on top of the CIF value plus any customs duty.

Correct HS classification is critical. An error can mean overpaying duties, triggering a hold for physical inspection, or facing penalties. Our brokers classify every shipment using the current Lebanese Customs Tariff and cross-reference against any applicable bilateral or multilateral free-trade agreements, including GAFTA (Greater Arab Free Trade Area) and other preferential arrangements Lebanon participates in, to ensure you pay only what is legally due.

Beirut Free Zone and bonded warehousing

The Beirut Free Zone, located adjacent to the Port of Beirut, allows goods to be stored, re-exported, or processed without paying Lebanese import duties until they formally enter Lebanese territory. This is particularly useful for:

• Regional distribution hubs, goods transiting onward to other Middle East markets.
• Deferred duty payment, delaying duty liability until a buyer is confirmed.
• Re-export operations, goods that will ultimately leave Lebanon without ever being consumed locally.

GHO Express manages admissions, storage coordination, and releases from the Beirut Free Zone as part of our clearance offering. For bonded storage within customs control, see also our warehousing & distribution service.

Coverage

Our customs brokerage operations are physically based in Lebanon, at our Beirut headquarters (St. Charles City Center, 5th floor, Mina El Hosn) and our airport cargo office (LAT Building, Cargo Village, Rafic Hariri International Airport). We clear goods at the Port of Beirut, Beirut Airport, and land border points. For import or export legs that pass through ports abroad, we coordinate with our global partner and agent network, but the Lebanese customs leg is handled by our own licensed brokers on the ground.

Why GHO Express for customs clearance in Lebanon

• Since 1971, over 50 years of daily practice at Lebanese customs points.
• Licensed brokers, we hold the required Lebanese Customs brokerage licence.
• On-site at Beirut Airport, our Cargo Village office enables same-day responses to customs queries.
• FIDI member, international quality standards applied to every file.
• Full-service integration, clearance is built into every freight shipment we handle, so there is one point of contact for the entire supply chain.

A customs delay costs money in demurrage, storage fees, and lost sales. Contact our clearance team with your commodity, HS code (if known), and port of entry, we will give you a document checklist, duty estimate, and realistic clearance timeline before your goods leave the origin.