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Updated 21 January 2021
After months of dormancy due to the raging pandemic, the travel industry is gearing up for a return to small normalcy with borders reopening, easing of quarantine requirements, and the creation of travel bubbles. Travellers around the world are now keen to find out if, when and where they can travel abroad. One country that’s been on many travel wishlist is Belgium.
Can anyone travel to Belgium now? What important things do travellers need to know if they are planning to fly to Belgium?
Who can travel to Belgium?
There are currently some travel bans in place in Belgium for certain countries, particularly for non-essential travel. However, according to Belgium’s Immigration Office, these restrictions do not apply to national of EU and Schengen member states and third-country nationals in possession of a valid residence permit issued by a Schengen State or a valid D visa, as well as their respective family members.
Note that all passengers are obligated to fill the Public Health Passenger Locator Form 48 hours before their arrival to Belgium. Travellers from outside the Schengen area must also meet the conditions for entry into the Schengen area.
Travellers from another Schengen state
No specific travel restrictions apply to travellers from another Schengen state.
Travellers from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia and Cyprus (non-Schengen EU countries)
Travellers from these countries are allowed to enter Belgium for a short stay (not more than 90 days).
Travellers from a country considered safe by Belgium
Travellers residing in Australia, Canada, South Korea, Japan, Rwanda, New Zealand, Uruguay, and Thailand are allowed to enter Belgium for a short stay (not more than 90 days).
Travellers from a third country (that is not a member of EU, neither a Schengen state)
All non-essential travel to Belgium from third countries are prohibited. However, exceptions are made for people with an essential function or need. The following category of travellers can request a Visa C or D to travel to Belgium:
- health professionals, health researchers, and elderly care professionals
- frontier workers
- seasonal workers in agriculture
- transport personnel
- diplomats, staff of international organisations, military personnel, and humanitarian aid workers in the exercise of their functions
- passengers in transit, both extra-Schengen, and intra‑Schengen
- passengers travelling for imperative family reasons (spouse, registered partner, dependent child, co-parent, and travel for reasons such as funerals, cremations, weddings)
- seafarers
- persons travelling for humanitarian reasons like medical reasons or medical care
- third-country nationals travelling for study
- Highly skilled third-country workers if their employment is necessary from an economic perspective
- movements of persons who come to work as an employee in Belgium
- movements of persons who come to work as a self-employed in Belgium
Do I need to quarantine if I travel to Belgium?
Based on the completed Passenger Locator Form, you will be notified via text message whether you should quarantine and when you should get a COVID-19 PCR test. Different isolation/quarantine systems exist in Belgium for people coming from red, orange, or green zone. You can check what zone you belong to on a map at the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
Generally. if you belong to:
- Red zone- COVID-19 test and quarantine are mandatory
- Orange zone- COVID-19 test and quarantine are recommended
- Green zone- COVID-19 test and quarantine are not mandatory
Note that PCR test and quarantine are not mandatory for travellers visiting Belgium for less than 48 hours and if their means of travel is other than plane or boat.
Are there flights to Belgium now?
There are international flights available to Belgium on Wego. Domestic flights have also been resumed by the government for you to travel within the country. Travellers taking flights to Belgium must mandatorily wear a face mask and practice social distancing (1.5 m).
