General Directorate of General Security

What General Directorate of General Security does

The General Directorate of General Security is a Lebanese government security agency operating under the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities. It holds exclusive statutory authority over immigration processing, passport issuance, residency permit administration, and border security across all Lebanese territory. The agency serves Lebanese citizens requiring biometric passports and travel documents, foreign nationals seeking work visas and residency permits, Palestinian refugees requiring biometric travel documents, and Syrian refugees for whom it coordinates voluntary return programs with UNHCR and IOM. Its operations span border crossings, airports, seaports, and regional service centers covering all Lebanese governorates.

The agency's core technology infrastructure comprises biometric passport systems with electronic data storage and verification capabilities, an online e-services portal for residency and visa applications, and a smartphone application providing mobile access to its services. It operates a 24/7 contact center (1717) for citizen inquiries and complaints, and maintains integrations with LibanPost for residency renewal and document delivery. Digital channels include a trilingual website (Arabic, French, English) and an official X platform account. Supporting products include customer satisfaction surveys, a formal complaints system, and the quarterly General Security Magazine (154 issues as of July 2026).

As a state security institution, General Security is wholly funded through the Lebanese national budget and does not have external investors or commercial shareholders. Revenue mechanics consist of service fees collected for passports, visas, residencies, and administrative transactions, alongside the broader government budget allocation. Leadership is appointed by the government, with the most recent transition in March 2025 from Acting Director General Colonel Elias El Baisari to Colonel Hassan Shaqir. The agency maintains strategic partnerships with international organizations including UNHCR, IOM, ICMPD, and Lebanese Red Cross, and receives equipment and infrastructure support from foreign governments including Germany, South Korea, and UNIFIL.

Name

General Directorate of General Security

Legal name

General Directorate of General Security

Website

https://general-security.gov.lb

Company type

Private

Founded year

1921

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The General Directorate of General Security is Lebanon's official government security agency under the Ministry of Interior, holding exclusive authority over immigration, passport issuance, residency permits, and border security for citizens, expatriates, and refugees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Immigration & Border Security Services

NAICS

International Affairs (92812), National Security (928110)

SIC

International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Immigration, Citizenship & Border Administration (Civil) (BPAIAAAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Border Security & Homeland Security (BPAIAHAI), Passport & Identity Document Management (THALAPAB), Visa, Immigration Liaison & Travel Document Policy (Foreign Affairs) (BPAIAIAL), Customs, Immigration & Border Processing Services (TLAHAEAF), Consular Services & Citizen Assistance (BPAIAIAB)

Keywords

• Immigration services
• Passport issuance
• Residency permits
• Border security
• Visa processing

Headquarters

HQ city

Beirut

HQ country

Lebanon

HQ region

Middle East

Offices18 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Budget Allocation: Funded through Lebanese government national budget as a security and administrative agency

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The General Directorate of General Security is Lebanon's official government agency responsible for immigration control, border security, passport issuance, and residency administration. It issues biometric passports for Lebanese citizens, biometric travel documents for Palestinian refugees, and processes residency permits, entry visas, work permits, and artist/entertainment permits for foreign nationals. Services are delivered through a nationwide network of regional centers, border checkpoints, port facilities, and digital channels including an E-Services Portal and smartphone application.

Product overview

The General Directorate of General Security is a Lebanese government agency offering a unified suite of security and administrative services. The core portfolio includes biometric passport issuance and management, residency and visa services for foreign nationals, biometric travel documents for Palestinian refugees, and electronic/digital service delivery through a smartphone application and e-services portal. Supporting services include a contact center (1717), complaint handling systems, customer satisfaction surveys, and voluntary return programs for Syrian refugees. The services operate through a network of regional centers and border posts across Lebanon, with digital channels provided via the official mobile app and online portal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 1717 Contact Center: Centralized contact center for citizen complaints and inquiries

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lebanese UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 February 2026Cooperation agreement signed for academic collaboration, professional training, and joint research initiatives between General Security and Lebanese University.
• UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 September 2025Donation of four-wheel drive vehicles to General Security as part of ongoing cooperation between UNIFIL and Lebanese security forces.
• German Police AttachéminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 January 2025German government funding for infrastructure development including the parking garage at Abd Square in Beirut, inaugurated in January 2025.
• Republic of Korea Embassy in LebanonminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 December 2024Donation of five vehicles to General Security as a gesture of friendship and commitment to security cooperation between Korea and Lebanon.
• ICMPD (International Centre for Migration Policy Development)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organization providing training programs for General Security personnel on migration management, border security, and policy development. Multiple training activities conducted between 2020-2022.
• UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordination on Syrian refugee voluntary return programs, data sharing for refugee registration, and residency permits for UNHCR certificate holders. Part of organized return plan with 15+ phases implemented.
• IOM (International Organization for Migration)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Syrian refugee voluntary return operations, providing logistical support and coordination for organized departure programs from Lebanon.
• Lebanese Red CrossminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHumanitarian partner in Syrian refugee return operations, providing medical support and emergency services during organized departures.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA): Canadian federal agency managing border control, immigration enforcement, and customs processing at ports of entry and inland offices. Comparable mandate in passport/visa screening and residency adjudication.
• UK Home Office: UK ministerial department overseeing immigration, passports, visas, borders, and security policy. Operates Her Majesty's Passport Office and UK Visas and Immigration — closely mirrors Lebanese General Security's combined immigration/border/political-security remit.
• German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF): German federal agency handling asylum applications, integration, and migration management with extensive training partnerships (mirroring Lebanon's ICMPD link). Comparable on refugee status determination and residence permitting.
• Australian Department of Home Affairs: Australian government department responsible for immigration, citizenship, border management, and multicultural affairs. Comparable in integrating visa processing, passport services, and refugee policy under one agency.
• French Office for Immigration and Integration (OFII): French public agency under the Ministry of the Interior responsible for residence permits, integration programs, and immigration-related services for foreign nationals. Directly comparable to Lebanese General Security's residency and visa mission.
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS): U.S. federal agency under DHS that adjudicates immigration applications, issues immigrant and non-immigrant visas/permits, and handles naturalization. Directly comparable as the closest functional counterpart delivering immigration and citizenship services.

Regional players

• Jordanian General Directorate of Passports and Residency: Jordanian agency under the Ministry of Interior responsible for passport issuance, residency permits, and border processing. Directly comparable mandate serving a large expatriate and refugee population.
• UAE Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP): UAE federal authority issuing residence permits, passports, and operating border posts. Functionally near-identical to Lebanese General Security, including biometric identity services and expatriate residency issuance.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LebanonGDGS
• Facebookfacebook.com/DGSGLB

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about General Directorate of General Security