(LEBANON) — Lebanon’s government reinstated a visa requirement for Iranian citizens on March 5, 2026, ending visa-free entry and pairing the move with orders to arrest IRGC members found in the country and prepare possible deportations.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam directed national security agencies to take “all necessary measures” against IRGC military operations on Lebanese soil and to prepare for deportations of any identified members.

Information Minister Paul Morcos confirmed the government instructed relevant ministries to investigate IRGC presence, arrest members, ban their military or security activities, and deport them if operating illegally.

The policy reversal changes the entry process for Iranian nationals who previously traveled to Lebanon without visas. The government framed the shift as part of a security crackdown aimed at curbing foreign military and security activity on Lebanese territory.

Advance visas now apply to all Iranian nationals seeking entry. The requirement affects travel planning, airline checks before boarding, and processing at border points.

Air carriers and border officials typically rely on passenger documentation checks to determine whether travelers meet entry conditions. With the visa requirement restored, Iranian citizens without advance visas now face a different screening threshold when seeking to travel.

Morcos’s confirmation tied the travel change to internal directives focused on Iranian-linked security activity. Those measures, he said, include investigations into IRGC presence and enforcement steps against members found in Lebanon.

Lebanon’s order covers IRGC members found within its borders, with instructions to prevent their military activities and potentially deport them. The government’s position links enforcement to whether individuals operate illegally, and removal would proceed under Lebanese procedures.

The decision also came alongside a broader push against non-state armed activity in Lebanon. The Lebanese army carried out an arrest campaign targeting illegal weapons possession by groups like Hezbollah, detaining 26 Lebanese and 1 Palestinian over two days as of March 4, 2026.

Salam criticized entities he said were dragging Lebanon into foreign conflicts. His remarks came as the country faced a humanitarian and security backdrop that included over 90,000 displacements from Israeli strikes.

Reports described the reinstated visa requirement as a major shift in Lebanon–Iran ties during regional escalations, including Operation Epic Fury. Those accounts also said implementation may be gradual due to security challenges.

The combined measures set out two tracks of action for Lebanese agencies: tighter entry controls for Iranian nationals and stepped-up domestic enforcement against suspected IRGC-linked activity. Morcos said the government instructed relevant ministries to investigate, arrest, restrict military and security activity, and carry out deportations when people operate illegally.

How quickly procedures change on the ground can depend on operational steps inside ministries and security bodies tasked with implementing travel and enforcement policy. The government’s directives, as described by Salam and Morcos, focus on investigations, arrests and restrictions on military activity, while leaving day-to-day processing to the agencies involved.

The developments remained ongoing as of March 5, 2026, with the government describing continued investigations and enforcement and the possibility of deportations in cases where individuals are found operating illegally. Travelers and residents typically look for official Lebanese government or embassy announcements for any future guidance on requirements, exemptions, or implementation details.