The past few months in Belgium have been complicated, but things are starting to look hopeful. So hopeful, in fact, that people might start wondering if they can visit Belgium - a question easier to answer in theory than in practice.
Things have become so locked up in closed borders, forms and tests, talk of vaccination passports and local measures, it becomes hard to keep track.
Not so up-to-date with the current Covid-19 travel regulations in Belgium anymore? Here are the facts.
Red, Orange and Green
First, we'll take a look at who's allowed to enter the country.
To determine if you are allowed in, the government mainly looks at your primary residence.
If your primary residence is in Belgium, the European Union, or a country that's part of the open-border Schengen Area, non-essential travel to Belgium is allowed.
If your primary residence is in a country outside of this list, the government classifies your country as a 'third country' and looks at the colour code of your country and your nationality to determine whether you are allowed to enter Belgium for non-essential reasons.
These colour codes indicate how high the Belgian federal government estimates the risk of a Covid-19 infection in that region. The three codes used are red, orange and green:
- Red: the risk of infection is considered high in this region or country
- Orange: the risk of infection is considered moderate in this region or country
- Green: the risk of infection is considered low in this region or country
The Rules For Third Countries
If your primary residence has a green or orange code, travel to Belgium is permitted, regardless of your nationality. Currently, only Australia, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea and Israel have a green colour code. Thailand is orange.
If the country of your primary residence has a red colour code, your nationality will decide whether you are allowed to travel to Belgium. If you are a national of the EU or a country that is part of the Schengen Area, you can travel to Belgium.
If this is not the case, you can only enter Belgium for essential travel. For most countries, this includes travel for work, studies, humanitarian reasons or family reasons, with a full list available here.
If your primary residence is in India, Brazil or South Africa, however, you are not allowed to pass through Belgium for transit, and essential travel to Belgium is much more restricted due to the new Covid-19 variants found in these countries.
Therefore, only work-related travel is allowed from these countries, specifically for transport personnel, mariners, diplomats, staff members of an international organisation or guests of those organisations whose physical presence is required. You will also need to prove that the journey is essential.
Still not sure whether you can travel to Belgium? Follow this flowchart to find out:
© The Brussels Times
This information was last updated on 2 June and will be updated regularly with the latest data.
