Frequently asked questions about the situation in Lebanon

• The colour code of the travel advice for the entire country is red. This means that you should not travel to Lebanon, whatever your situation. It is too dangerous there. If you are in Lebanon, we advise you to leave the country as soon as possible while there are still commercial travel options available.
• Following recent developments in the region, tensions between Hezbollah/Lebanon and Israel have risen further. In border regions between Lebanon and Israel in particular there are regular rocket attacks and exchanges of fire. It cannot be predicted whether the conflict will spread to other parts of Lebanon.
• Read the current travel advice for Lebanon (information in Dutch).

• We hope that you are somewhere safe. Check the local news and follow the local authorities’ instructions.
• Leave the country if you can do so safely. Take advantage of commercial flights that are still running. Bear in mind that various airlines have suspended flights to and from Lebanon. And those flights still running can sell out quickly. Do not assume that the Dutch government will be able to help you leave the country.
• It is your own responsibility to decide whether to stay or go. Consider your options carefully. Don’t wait until it is too late. 
• Check the travel advice for Lebanon (information in Dutch) for updates and register your presence with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Information Service (information in Dutch). The ministry can then contact you if necessary.
• If you are in Lebanon, let your family/friends know how you are in the event of an emergency. Always follow the local authorities’ instructions. You can contact the Dutch embassy in Beirut 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through the NetherlandsWorldwide contact centre by calling  +31 247 247 247 or sending a WhatsApp message to+31 6 82 38 80 55.

Various airlines have stopped flying to and from Lebanon for the time being. But there are some airlines that still fly there. Find out how you can travel to a safe country as soon as possible. Keep in mind that flights can sell out quickly. And that you may need to transfer to one or more connecting flights. There may also be extra costs.

• No, the Dutch government is not carrying out any evacuations (information in Dutch). The Dutch government therefore advises leaving while commercial flights are still running. 
• It is your own responsibility to decide whether to stay or go. Do not assume that the Dutch government will be able to help you leave the country.

• We hope that your family members or friends are somewhere safe. Urge your family members/friends to leave as soon as possible. And it is important that they are registered with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs Information Service (information in Dutch). If they haven’t yet registered, ask them to do so as soon as possible. You can also do this on their behalf and register as your Dutch family members’ or friends’ contact person. Make sure that information provided is up to date and complete.
• If your family members/friends are registered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Information Service, the ministry can contact them whenever there is any important new information.
• Keep in mind that communication channels such as internet and phone services may be disrupted. If this happens, we can only advise you to continue trying to get in touch with your family/friends.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not have information about the exact number of Dutch nationals in Lebanon. This is because Dutch nationals are not required to register when they are abroad. However, in recent weeks we have seen that people are updating their registration with the Information Service. For example, by indicating that they have left Lebanon. It is important for the ministry to know this.

• Yes, the embassy is open to provide regular consular services. Find out what you can arrange at the embassy in Beirut and how to make an appointment.
• You can contact the Dutch embassy in Beirut 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through the NetherlandsWorldwide contact centre by calling +31 247 247 247, or sending a WhatsApp message to +31 6 82 38 77 96.

If you are a Dutch national in Lebanon and you wish to travel to the Netherlands with your immediate family members, you can apply for an emergency visa if you have a ticket or flight reservation for sometime within the next 15 days. To request an appointment, email the Dutch embassy in Beirut at bei-ca@minbuza.nl.

If you are not travelling within the next 15 days, make an appointment directly with VFS Global in Beirut.

The immediate family members of Dutch nationals who are eligible for an emergency visa are:

• a spouse
• a registered partner
• a partner with whom an unmarried Dutch national has a notarial cohabitation agreement or has a joint household
• dependent children (including adopted children and stepchildren) up to, in most cases, the age of 18
• a parent caring for a Dutch child under the age of 18.

You can make an appointment to collect your MVV with the embassy in Beirut.

The embassy in Beirut is currently receiving a large number of requests for appointments. Appointments are being planned based on the order of approval by the IND.

A positive notification for an MVV for the family member of a refugee is valid for six months. If this period has passed, you must contact the IND for a new positive notification.

No, this is not possible. If you asked the IND to change the collection location to another country, you must collect your MVV in that country.

You can take the civic integration examination in Beirut. To make an appointment email the Dutch embassy in Beirut at bei-ca@minbuza.nl.