Belgium – Entry And Travel Update
At present, the travel restrictions for non-essential travel are
still in place. The Belgian Federal government decided not to
re-open the borders for the 15 white-listed countries (Algeria,
Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, New
Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia, Uruguay,
and China *subject to confirmation of reciprocity).
Effective July 2, 2020, Belgium has extended the list of
specific categories of travellers with an essential function or
need to mariners, persons attending meetings of international
organisations, students and highly qualified personnel whose work
cannot be carried out at a distance (taking into account the visa
procedures currently in force).
Furthermore, EU+ citizens and third-country nationals legally
residing in the European Union, as well as their family members,
can travel wherever they wish in the EU+, including Belgium, and no
longer only in their country of residence.
As of July 6, 2020, the Belgian embassy/consulate general in the
United States has resumed accepting some visa applications
by mail only, such as:
- Third-country nationals travellingfor the purpose of study;
- Highly qualified third-countryworkers if their employment is necessary from an economic
perspective and the work cannot be postponed or performed abroad
(Single Permit holders).
- Family members of EU citizens,citizens of Schengen associated countries and third-country
nationals: receipt and processing of D-type visas, but without
issuance of visas until further notice. C-type visas for short stay
visits, by mail unless the traveler has not applied for a Schengen
visa during the last 5 years. If this is the case, please contact
the consular mission you wish to visit to schedule an
appointment.
Anyone travelling to Belgium must complete a Passenger Form
which must be submitted to the designated authorities upon arrival.
This is a sanitary measure imposed by the Federal Public Service
Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment. The form may be
downloaded here.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general
guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought
about your specific circumstances.