Belgium: Authorities maintaining COVID-19 restrictions as of July 9 /update 38

Event

Authorities are maintaining measures imposed to combat the spread of COVID-19 as of July 9. Non-essential travel from outside the EU and Schengen Area countries, Albania, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Canada, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Macau, Moldova, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and the US. Exceptions are in place for individuals with a COVID-19 vaccination certificate approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and no less than 14 days old. Exceptions are also in place for EU/Schengen Area residents, limited categories of essential work, and urgent family reasons.

All travelers arriving via plane or sea, or arriving via ground transport and spending at least 48 hours in Belgium, must fill out a Passenger Locator Form within the 48 hours before arrival. Travelers arriving from a "red-zone" country within the EU must present a certificate of vaccination or recovery from COVID-19 or a negative PCR test taken within the previous 72 hours; travelers unable to meet these requirements must take a test on arrival and quarantine until the result is known. Permitted travelers arriving from a red-zone country outside the EU must present a certificate of vaccination or recovery from COVID-19, take a test on arrival, and quarantine until the result is known; permitted travelers without these certificates must quarantine for 10 days on arrival and take an additional test on day seven of quarantine. A list of areas designated as red zones is available here.

Authorities also maintain a list of "very high-risk" locations. Individuals who have visited a very high-risk country in the previous 14 days are prohibited from entering Belgium with minimal exceptions, including Belgian nationals and residents, individuals in transit, transport workers, and urgent humanitarian reasons. Individuals seeking to travel under many of these exceptions must apply for an essential travel certificate by contacting their local diplomatic mission five days before they are due to travel. All permitted travelers from very high-risk countries must present a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival or an EU Digital COVID Certificate, or equivalent, and self-isolate for 10 days, taking additional tests on days one and seven of the isolation period.

As of July 9, Argentina, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, eSwatini, Lesotho, Mexico, Mozambique, Namibia, Paraguay, Peru, South Africa, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Zambia, and Zimbabwe are considered very high-risk locations. The list of very-high risk countries is available here.

Domestic Restrictions
Individuals may host up to eight people in their homes. Events are permitted for up to 2,000 people indoors and 2,500 people outdoors. Hospitality and catering establishments permitted opening hours will be extended to 01:00. Most businesses and services were previously permitted to reopen subject to hygiene and social distancing requirements. Facemasks remain mandatory in enclosed public spaces and busy outdoor areas as defined by local authorities.

Authorities could reimpose, extend, further ease, or otherwise amend any restrictions with little-to-no notice depending on disease activity over the coming weeks.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Consider delaying traveling if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions. Reconsider and reconfirm nonemergency health appointments.