Lebanon to Set Syrian Visa Restrictions

Lebanon is imposing new visa restrictions on Syrians for the first time beginning on Monday, following the surge of more than 1.1 million refugees attempting to flee their country's civil war. The new regulations are posted on the General Security agency website and lay out new visa categories such as business visits, schooling, medical treatment or tourism, which requires a $1,000 fee and evidence of a hotel reservation. Citizens of both countries have previously traveled freely across borders, but the new policy is the latest effort to stem the influx of Syrian refugees, which overwhelmed Lebanon's population of just four million people since the conflict broke out in March 2011.