On its website, the FPS Foreign Affairs has updated its travel recommendations. Here are the steps to follow when traveling to and from Belgium
Published on 20/04/2021 at 20:28
The ban on non-essential travel within the European Union ended on Monday. It was presented on January 27 after it was found that the only recommendation had not taken effect over the holiday period. In the meantime, a cooperation agreement has been approved between the different parliaments of the country. It must make effective the control of the filtering and quarantine obligations imposed on travelers returning from a red zone. The police will be able to monitor and sanction non-compliance based on the information contained in the Passenger Locator Form (PLF) that travelers must complete. For travel outside the EU, European rules still apply. A negative travel advisory remains in effect.
Traveling to and from abroad when living in Belgium
It is possible to travel, but it is not recommended. You must always respect the measures applicable in the country of destination and those that apply on your return to Belgium. To make a trip, the following measures must be respected:
For those who have stayed abroad for more than 48 hours, who are returning by plane or boat or who are returning to Belgium by train or bus from a country outside the EU or the Schengen zone, you must complete the passenger locator form (PLF) . at the earliest 48 hours after the return date. Travelers at risk will be contacted by SMS. They must observe quarantine and be tested on the first and seventh day of quarantine. Quarantine and testing are mandatory. Quarantine and examinations are mandatory, with the risk of a fine of at least 250 euros.
Those returning from the UK, South Africa or South America must self-quarantine, taking the test on the 1st and 7th of their quarantine. Quarantine and testing are necessary.
Travel to Belgium for those who reside abroad and do not have Belgian nationality
It is possible to travel to Belgium, but it is not recommended, recalls Foreign Affairs. To make a trip, the following conditions must be met:
You must be in possession of the results of a negative PCR test carried out no later than 72 hours before your departure from a red zone for Belgian territory. On the other hand, it is not necessary to carry out tests for those who come from an EU country or the Schengen area and stay less than 48 hours in Belgium.
For those who stay more than 48 hours in Belgium or who enter the territory by plane, bus, train or boat, you must complete the Passenger Locator Form (PLF) no later than 48 hours before your arrival in Belgium. Based on the responses, the form will calculate if the traveler is a high-risk contact. In this case, he is contacted by SMS and must be quarantined. You must take a test on the seventh day of quarantine. Quarantine and examinations are mandatory, with the risk of a fine of at least 250 euros.
Those coming from the UK, South Africa or South America should be quarantined and tested on the 7th of their quarantine.
More details can also be found on the FPS Foreign Affairs website