Guidelines to follow for Belgium travelers

Belgium, a popular tourist destination and is simply known as the “heart of Europe”. Summer in Belgium (July to August) is fully packed with cultural events and festivals. It is a small country but has a lot of things to explore. Travelers enjoy the beaches, sightseeing, cultural events, thirty world-class museums, and a lot more.

Belgium is also known for starred restaurants, and most travelers named it ‘the best food destination’ in Europe.

Here are the guidelines for travelers who are planning a trip to Belgium this summer.

Who is allowed to travel to Belgium without quarantine?

Individuals who are fully vaccinated from EU countries (green, orange, and red) with any one of the European Medicines Agency authorized vaccines listed below are allowed to travel Belgium.

• Moderna
• AstraZeneca
• Pfizer
• Janssen and
• CoviShield

Travelers has to show the vaccination certificate upon arrival are allowed to enter Belgium without being quarantined.

Recently Belgium has added the CoviShield vaccine into its list (manufactured by the Serum Institute of India), this allows Indians vaccinated with the jab into Belgium without quarantine measures.

Travelers to Europe can find all the updated information, like how to travel, requirements to travel, quarantine measures, documents required, etc.

Major requirements for a quarantine-free entry to Belgium

Travelers need to present their

• Proof of vaccination (any vaccine approved from European Medicines Agency)
• Recovery certificate (proving that they are immune to the COVID-19 virus) but the positive PCR test result should be no older than 180 days
• COVID-19 test certificate holding a negative result

Belgium color coded system for countries

Based on the data given by ECDC (European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control ), Belgium has given the color coded system for different countries:

 Belgium’s green color coded countries

Belgium’s green color coded countries represents ‘No risk for Coronavirus infection’.  Hence the travelers from these countries are allowed with little to no entry restrictions. Travelers to Belgium from green countries are not restricted with quarantine measures or any COVID-19 tests upon arrival.

Here is the list of green color coded countries, who can enter Belgium with ‘Little to NO’ travel restrictions:

Along with these few regions in the Netherlands (Friesland, Drenthe, Flevoland and Limburg), are considered as green regions. In Sweden the regions Stockholm, Middle Norrland, East Middle Sweden, South Sweden, West Sweden are also included under green regions.

Belgium’s orange color coded countries

Belgium’s orange color coded countries represents ‘ Moderate risk for Coronavirus infection’.  They are also free from  quarantine and testing restrictions. The list of orange color coded countries includes:

Belgium’s red zone coded countries

Belgium’s red zone coded countries represent ‘High risk for Coronavirus infection.’   Travelers from these countries are free of quarantine if they are fully vaccinated (with any of the vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency) or immune to the virus or tested negative for the Coronavirus in the last 72 hours.

If they fail to do so, they need to get tested within the first 48 hours upon entry. If the result is negative, they will be free from quarantine measures. Children under 12 years of age are not required to get tested for Coronavirus.

While the travelers who are fully vaccinated or recovered from the Coronavirus belonging to red zone countries need to get tested on or the second day of arrival, this ends the chance of getting quarantined if the test result is negative.

If the traveler from the red zone countries fails to submit any vaccination proof or recovery certificates, they need to follow quarantine measures for ten days. This also includes a PCR test for COVID-19 on the first and seventh days of quarantine. The list of red zone countries includes:

 Very High-risk Countries

Travelers from ‘very high-risk countries’, are also allowed to travel Belgium if they can submit all the quarantine free entry requirements. The list  of very high-risk countries includes:

Rules to follow when you travel Belgium

As per the Belgian authorities, travelers need to follow certain rules. Travelers need to fill Passenger Locator Form (PLF) within 48 hours before arriving.

Exemptions for Passenger Locator Form (PLF):  

Travelers are exempted from filling the PLF, if they:

• Stay in Belgium for less than 48 hours
• Come for a short trip of fewer than 48 hours
• Travel by plane or boat to Belgium;
• Travel by train or bus from a country located outside the EU or Schengen Area
• Travel from a country having varied testing and quarantine requirements

Belgium’s Vaccination Passport

In June 2021, Belgium is successfully connected to the EUDCC gateway. It followed the countries like Germany, Czechia, Greece, Denmark, Croatia, Poland, and Bulgaria, who issued the document one month ahead of the given deadline.

The EU Digital COVID-19 Vaccination Passport is issued in both digital and paper format. It contains the information about the traveler’s vaccination report, tested for COVID-19 or recently recovered from the Coronavirus, along with a QR code.

This document is issued to facilitate safe traveling across the EU amid the pandemic.

Currently, what is open to visit in Belgium

The country mandates every individual (older than 12 years) to wear a face-covering while traveling in public transport or when you visit public spaces. All the shops are open till one in the morning. The social distancing of 1.5 meters has to be maintained as a preventive measure. Markets can be visited in groups of eight by maintaining social distance.

Bars and restaurants are also open till 1 am, but a face mask is not mandatory when seated.

While coming to the events, sports, and festivals, only 2,000 people are allowed if organized outdoors. For other activities, they allow only 100 people with social distancing.

Travel insurance is a must while traveling to Belgium 

Amid pandemic, it is highly recommended for all travelers to purchase travel insurance because it helps you to get a full or partial refund (of your flight charges) if there is any cancellation due to COVID-19.

It is better to opt for medical travel insurance protection for Belgium from AXA Assistance or Europ Assistance. These are economical and provides safety for travelers.

Vaccination in Belgium

As per the current update, more than 67.06 percent of the population were vaccinated with the first dose, and 46.05 percent of its population are fully vaccinated in Belgium. It is still implementing vaccination campaigns for the safety of the population.

Finally, Belgium is a safe country to travel. Enjoy this summer by following all the precautionary measures even though you are vaccinated.

If you are looking to Study in Europe or Visit to Belgium, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company.

If you found this blog engaging, you may also like …

Traveling to Germany this Summer? Look into the checklist