BEIRUT — Early 2015 was the first time in the history of Lebanese-Syrian relations that Lebanon has required Syrians to obtain a visa to enter or pass through the country. Since Lebanese and Syrian independence in 1943 and 1946, respectively, their citizens had been able to travel relatively freely across their shared border.

A personal ID was enough for Syrians to enter Lebanon and reside and work there without restrictions or personal administrative or financial charges or fees to be paid by their employers. Even work permits were not required. Now, however, all Syrians must fill out paperwork explaining their reason for entering the country and provide other documents. Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim, head of the General Security Directorate (GSD), linked the change to the number of Syrians refugees in Lebanon having reached 1.6 million.

On Oct. 23, 2014, the Council of Ministers approved a paper prepared by the ministerial committee responsible for Syrian refugees. It stated that Lebanon must “halt the influx of refugees at the border, except for exceptional humanitarian cases, and to record the entrants at the border according to the reason for entering [Lebanon]. This is to make sure that the measures are being properly implemented.” The state was also called on to “strictly apply the Lebanese laws in this regard and revoke refugee status from everyone who enters Syria and violates the Lebanese laws and conditions for entry.”

The most significant development took place Jan. 5, when the GSD, which is under the Interior Ministry, required that Syrians obtain an entry visa and released a list of the nine types of visa classes, each requiring supporting documentation: tourist, business or worker, real estate owner, student, transit, medical, foreign embassy consultation and Lebanese sponsorship. Stays on all visas was restricted to a maximum of one month.