12 November GSO and MoL Decisions on Work Permits/File Closure

• In November 2025, GSO announced that Syrians working in a formal sector need to obtain a legal residency based on sponsorship or work permit, effective immediately. At the moment, the ability to regularize only applies for Syrians who originally entered Lebanon through an official crossing point (even if their residency has now expired). UNHCR continues to advocate with authorities to identify solutions for those who entered Lebanon irregularly.
• If your employer is a company or a business entity: you must obtain:
  • A work permit from Ministry of Labor, and then
  • Legal residency based on the work permit from GSO.
• If your employer is an individual: you may continue to renew your residency based on sponsorship. You do not need to obtain a work permit.
• Syrians holding residency based on UNHCR certificates who are employed must:
  • Change residency to sponsorship or work permit status and
  • Confirm their UNHCR file has been closed by signing an undertaking at GSO to close their UNHCR file (see below question on how to close your file for more information).
  • Late fees will apply starting from the expiration date of their last UNHCR based residency.
• Transfers between employers/sponsors is allowed, except for transfers from companies to individual employers.

You must first obtain a work permit from MoL. Once the work permit is issued, you must approach GSO to apply for residency.

To apply for a work permit at MoL and then to apply for residency at GSO, you will need:

• Employment contract signed at the notary between the employee and employer
• Entry card to Lebanon or residency permit (even if expired)
• Copy of identification documents (ID or passport)
• Medical test results
• Health insurance coverage
• Company/business registration documents

Work permit fees vary depending on type and category of work. According to the Ministry of Labor, your employer should pay these fees.

• Yes. You can apply for a work permit from the Ministry of Labor even if you lack valid legal residency, as long as you entered Lebanon through an official crossing point and work in a formal sector.
• After you receive the work permit from the Ministry of Labor, you must apply for a residency at GSO.

• Yes. According to the GSO decision, if your employer is an individual and not a company or a business entity, you can apply or renew your residency based on sponsorship without the need to obtain a work permit from Ministry of Labor.

If you work for an individual—for example, as a family driver, domestic worker, gardener, or janitor—you may continue to renew residency based on sponsorship. You do not need to obtain a work permit.

You should approach GSO directly to renew your residency. You will need:

• Pledge of responsibility signed by the sponsor at the notary
• Copy of identification documents (ID or valid passport)
• Residency and overdue fees apply.

• According to GSO, you must obtain either a new sponsorship or work permit based legal residency before 31 March 2026.

• Please be aware that you have the right to request a closure of your UNHCR file at any time.
• If you choose to obtain a legal residency based on sponsorship or work permit, you must go to GSO. There, you will sign a statement declaring that you voluntarily choose to close your file. GSO will regularly share names of those who signed the form with UNHCR. Once UNHCR reviews the list, it will inactivate your file.
• UNHCR does not provide you with any documented proof of file closure.
• Once your file is closed, you will no longer be able to access humanitarian assistance.
• If you choose to close your file, you may not be able to re-open it at a later date.

• GSO has confirmed to UNHCR that dependents may remain registered with UNHCR and continue renewing their legal residency based on the UNHCR certificate, unless they are benefiting from the same type of residence permit.
• For example, if a husband/father renews his residence permit through sponsorship, his wife and children may remain registered with UNHCR and renew based on their UNHCR certificates. However, if the wife and child also wish to obtain residence permit through sponsorship, they must also sign the undertaking and close their UNHCR files.

• Closing your UNHCR file may have implications on their resettlement application. If you are considering this option, contact UNHCR for counselling.

• Costs and fees are set by the Government and applicable laws and will depend on the type of legal residency you are seeking (work permit or sponsorship based), whether your residence permit has expired, and for how many years your residence permit has expired.
• When you approach GSO, you can request to know the cost of the legal residency and fees. Please note: GSO may not be able to inform about the costs associated with Ministry of Labor processing.
• UNHCR does not provide support to cover the costs of fees at GSO and/or Ministry of Labor.

• UNHCR legal partners are available to provide counselling, clarification, and procedural guidance. Where necessary, they may accompany individuals to MoL and/or GSO.
• UNHCR and legal partners do not provide support to cover the costs of fees at GSO and/or MoL.

• If a you applied for residency, signed the statement at GSO requesting the closure of you UNHCR file, and your file was then inactivated by UNHCR but GSO ultimately rejects your residency application, you mayo request reactivation of their UNHCR file through the Online Contact Form.