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Message for U.S. Citizens: Beirut International Airport Closure
(March 16, 2020)
5 MINUTE READ
March 16, 2020

Location:  U.S. Embassy Beirut Lebanon

According to the local civil aviation authority, Rafic Hariri International Airport will close at 23:59 on March 18.  Commercial flight service from Rafic Hariri International Airport will be suspended until the airport reopens.

All routine consular operations remain suspended.  The U.S. Embassy will send out an alert when routine consular operations resume, and will post this information on our embassy website.

This guidance is in addition to our Health Alert on March 12, 2020 and our Message for U.S. Citizens on March 13, 2020.

The  State Department currently recommends U.S. citizens reconsider international travel. See CDC information regarding high-risk traveler categories.

On March 11, the U.S. Government issued a proclamation that suspends the entry of immigrants or nonimmigrants who were physically present within the Schengen Area during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States.  The proclamation does not apply to U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, spouses of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, diplomatic and official travelers, air and sea crew members, members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their spouses and children, and certain other categories of travelers.

However, Lebanon’s instruction to airlines to stop all flights to and from Italy, and not to transport passengers from or transiting France, Egypt, Germany, Iraq, Syria, Spain, and the United Kingdom, is expected to interrupt flight routes between the U.S. and Lebanon.

The Consular Section is also suspending non-emergency visa operations.  More information on non-immigrant visa services is available at www.ustraveldocs.com.

Assistance:

U.S. Embassy Beirut, Lebanon
+961-4-542600 or +961-4-543600
BeirutACS@state.gov
https://lb.usembassy.gov/

U.S. Department of State – Consular Affairs
+1-888-407-4747 or +1-202-501-4444

For further detailed information regarding travel and security in Lebanon: