Certificate of Free Sale (CFS)
Dietary supplements, medical foods and foods for special dietary use.
Document Services
FDA Embassy Legalization for Lebanon
FDA Embassy Legalization for Lebanon
Lebanon is outside the Hague Apostille Convention, so a U.S. FDA certificate for the Ministry of Public Health in Beirut has to be legalized rather than apostilled. We get it authenticated by the U.S. Department of State, then legalized by the Embassy of Lebanon in Washington, and courier the finished document to you or your Lebanese agent in about 20 business days.
- Not in Hagueembassy legalization needed
- Two-step legalizationdocument route
- Arabic (French and English widely used in business)official language
- 20 daysstandard processing
Prepare Your FDA Certificate for Lebanon
Simply upload your FDA digital file, and you will receive your legalized document via FedEx.
Processing time 20 business days
- We accept credit card payments.
- Track your order history and expenses online.
- U.S. Department of State and embassy fees are already included.
- Submit the files you received from the FDA electronically.
- We use the State Department minimum processing time.
- You may update your own FedEx air waybill or purchase a new one.
- U.S. Department of State Form DS-4194 is not required; we handle it.
Exp. Service fee$120 / Doc.
US Dept. of State fee$20 / Doc.
Embassy of Lebanon fee$225 / Doc.
Total:$365 / Doc.
FedEx delivery is used to return the completed legalized document after processing.
See expedited options →Why Lebanon Asks for a Legalized FDA Certificate
American medicines hold a strong position in Lebanon. According to Lebanese Customs figures reported by the U.S. Commercial Service, the United States was the country's largest source of imported pharmaceuticals in 2024, supplying about $87 million of a $737 million import bill, ahead of Germany, France and Switzerland. Lebanon imports roughly 70% of the medicines it uses, and U.S. products are especially well regarded in oncology, cardiology and biotechnology.
Every one of those products passes through the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), which registers medicines, licenses importers and controls what enters the market. Registrations are typically held by a Lebanese agent or importer, and the dossier includes official documents from the country of origin. A U.S. FDA certificate is a federal document, so its legalization for Lebanon starts at the U.S. Department of State and ends at the Lebanese Embassy, and we manage both.
Which FDA Certificate Does Your Lebanese Importer Need?
Match your product to the Lebanese authority that reviews it and the FDA certificate that authority normally expects.
| Product type | Lebanese authority | FDA certificate |
|---|---|---|
| Medicines & biologicals | Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) | Certificate of a Pharmaceutical Product (CPP), Certificate of Exportability |
| Medical devices | MoPH, through its drug import and export and sanitary engineering departments | Certificate to a Foreign Government (CFG), Certificate of Exportability |
| Food & ingredients | Ministries of Agriculture, Economy and Trade, and Public Health, depending on the product | Certificate to a Foreign Government (CFG), Health Certificate |
| Dietary supplements | MoPH, or food authorities for products sold as foods | Certificate of Free Sale (CFS) |
| Cosmetics | Ministry of Public Health | Certificate for Cosmetics |
Lebanon's food controls are split between several ministries, while health products sit with MoPH. Your Lebanese importer will know which department handles your product and which FDA certificate it asks for.
How FDA Embassy Legalization for Lebanon Works
Lebanon is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so it does not accept apostilles. Your FDA certificate is first authenticated by the U.S. Department of State and then legalized by the Embassy of Lebanon.
Upload your FDA certificate
Send the digital certificate exactly as the FDA issued it and choose Lebanon as the destination.
State Department authentication
We submit it to the Office of Authentications, which issues the federal authentication certificate in about 9 business days.
Embassy legalization
We take the authenticated certificate to the Embassy of Lebanon for legalization, which takes about 11 business days.
FedEx delivery
The legalized certificate ships to you, your importer or your agent in Beirut or anywhere else.
Exporting to Lebanon: What to Prepare
The top supplier of imported medicines
U.S. pharmaceutical exports to Lebanon rose from $58 million in 2022 to $87 million in 2024, giving the U.S. about 11.8% of imports and first place. New U.S. drugs not yet made in Europe are reported to be well received, which makes complete, legalized registration files worth the effort.
Devices: implantables first
Industry reports indicate that Lebanon has focused device registration on implantable devices, with the permit applied shipment by shipment and the local importer acting as the manufacturer's representative. Rules are evolving, so confirm the current scope with your importer before shipping.
A test market for the Levant
The U.S. Commercial Service notes that Lebanon has long served as a platform for testing U.S. medical products before they enter the wider Levant. U.S. medical equipment held about 16.6% of Lebanon's $247 million import market in 2024.
Currency and supply pressures
Since 2019, Lebanon's financial crisis has affected the subsidies used to import medicines, leading to shortages and price changes for some products. Expect importers to move quickly when a supply window opens, and keep legalized certificates ready.
FDA Embassy Legalization Cost for Lebanon
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Our service fee | $120 / doc. | Review, submission, tracking and FedEx dispatch |
| U.S. Department of State fee | $20 / doc. | State Department authentication, about 9 business days |
| Embassy of Lebanon fee | $225 / doc. | Embassy legalization, about 11 business days. Paid by us on your behalf |
| Total | $365 / doc. | Standard processing: 20 business days. Expedited options available. |
FDA Embassy Legalization for Lebanon: FAQs
Is an apostille valid for FDA documents in Lebanon?
No. Lebanon is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so FDA certificates are authenticated by the U.S. Department of State and then legalized by the Embassy of Lebanon.
How long does FDA legalization for Lebanon take?
About 20 business days in total: around 9 at the State Department and 11 at the Embassy of Lebanon, then FedEx shipping to you or to Beirut.
How much does it cost?
$365 per document: our $120 service fee, the $20 U.S. Department of State fee and the $225 Embassy of Lebanon fee for commercial documents. Both government fees are paid by us.
Who registers medicines and devices in Lebanon?
The Ministry of Public Health. It registers medicines, licenses importers and controls device imports through its own departments.
Do I need a Lebanese agent?
In practice, yes. Foreign manufacturers usually register and import through a Lebanese agent or importer, who submits the dossier including your legalized FDA certificates.
Which FDA certificate does Lebanon need?
Usually a CPP for medicines, a CFG for devices and foods, a Certificate of Free Sale for supplements and a Certificate for Cosmetics for cosmetic products. A Certificate of Exportability covers products not sold in the U.S.
FDA Certificates We Legalize for Lebanon
Certificate to a Foreign Government (CFG)
Medical devices, conventional foods, food additives and infant formula sold in the U.S.
Certificate of a Pharmaceutical Product (CPP)
The WHO-format certificate used to register human drugs.
Certificate of Exportability
Products made in the U.S. for export only.
Health Certificate
Collagen and gelatin exports (EU health certificate or SRM certificate).
Certificate for Cosmetics
Skincare, makeup, haircare and fragrance products.
Nearby destinations
Get Your FDA Certificate Legalized for Lebanon
Upload your FDA certificate today and receive it legalized by FedEx in 20 business days, for $365 per document with State Department and embassy fees included.
Start Your Order Ask a Question
Simply upload your FDA digital file, and you will receive your apostilled document via FedEx.
Processing time
20 business days
- We accept credit card payments.
- Track your order history and expenses online.
- The U.S. Department of State fee is already included.
- Submit the files you received from the FDA electronically.
- We use the State Department minimum processing time.
- You may update your own FedEx air waybill or purchase a new one.
- U.S. Department of State Form DS-4194 is not required; we handle it.
Exp. Service fee
US Dept. of State fee
Embassy of Lebanon fee
Total:
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