How to get a Lebanese visa

I wanted to avoid the VFS Global. For my earlier visas, I visited the Consulate General of Japan in Bangalore to obtain the visa, and I connected with the Armenian embassy via email and phone to get the visa. I thought that this time, too, I would engage with the Lebanese Embassy to obtain the visa directly.

I emailed the embassy several times and they suggested I apply for my visa through Embassy of Lebanon. As this website seemed new to me, I decided to apply through VFS Global instead.

The VFS Bangalore office is 33 kilometers from my house, so I knew it would cost me a lot for transportation and I would need to take a leave to visit and apply. After reading online and confirming with VFS over the phone, I learned that they allow walk-ins for Lebanese visas.

I prepared all the documents mentioned on the website and went to the VFS office. There was a long queue, but I asked the security guard if I needed an appointment for this visa. He allowed me to proceed, and after asking a staff member, I finally reached the first floor and submitted my documents. I received a token, and the staff member checked my documents. They informed me that I needed two identical photographs, but I only had one with a white background. Additionally, I made a mistake by not booking a hostel stay for a single date due to connecting days, as I thought it would be covered in one of the stays.

I asked him about printing and photographs, and he said I could get those on the ground floor and return before a specified time. I took all my documents and went back to the photo booth, where I asked for passport-size photographs for my Lebanese visa. The photographer quickly took my photo and asked me to come back after 20 minutes. Meanwhile, I went to the print and scan counter. I booked a stay online and asked for a print, but they charged me ₹150 for a single print, which shocked me. When I asked why, the service provider (a third-party company providing print and scan services) said it was company policy. I told them that this was unacceptable and took a photo of the prices. Later, I posted this story on Twitter and found out that many customers were facing issues with VFS.

I went to the photo booth and the person gave me four subpar quality photographs and charged me more than ₹100. It was at this point that I realized VFS is a money-making machine and, due to their monopoly, they are able to do this.

I took the prints and photographs to the counter and asked the same person for assistance. He asked me to wait and called me back after 10 minutes. Everything was okay, and he asked me to pay the embassy and VFS fees and get a stamp on the receipt. I went to the counter, but they said they only accept cash. I had to leave the VFS premises and withdraw more than ₹10,000 in cash. I gave the cash, and it took the cashier some time to count it. She stamped the receipt, and I handed it over to the same person. They said it would take 10-12 days, but I received my visa in 3-4 days. I opted for home delivery, which was cheaper than taking a taxi for a 65-kilometer journey.

My experience with VFS was bad. I realized that they charge you for anything and don’t even control third-party service providers on their premises. I am avoiding VFS for now.

You can find all the details about visa application and required documents on the VFS website. Please make sure to carry all the necessary documents and avoid getting trapped like me, having to pay an absurd amount for a single page print.