Entry Procedures

Belgium is a member of the EU and the Schengen Area. Many nationalities can visit visa-free for short tourist stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period, while others need a Schengen visa. This depends on your nationality, and the EU ETIAS travel authorisation is planned for visa-exempt non-EU travellers. Rules can change, so check the official Belgian and EU sources and your embassy before you travel.

For most non-EU nationals, your passport should be valid for at least 3 months beyond your intended date of departure from the Schengen Area and have been issued within the previous 10 years. EU/EEA and Swiss nationals can use a valid national ID card instead of a passport. Check your specific requirements before you travel.

At the border you may be asked to show supporting documents in addition to your passport. These can include a return or onward ticket, proof of accommodation (hotel booking or invitation), evidence of sufficient funds for your stay, and travel insurance. Have these ready to speed up entry.

If you enter or leave the EU carrying cash of EUR 10,000 or more (or the equivalent in other currencies or negotiable instruments), you must declare it to customs. Travel within the EU does not require this declaration, but keep proof of the origin of large sums. Failing to declare can lead to fines and seizure.

If you arrive from outside the EU, duty-free allowances apply to goods such as alcohol and tobacco, and to a value limit for other goods; quantities above the allowance must be declared and may be taxed. When travelling within the EU there are generally no limits for goods for your personal use. Check the current allowances before you travel.

Bring enough of your prescription medicines for your trip, in their original packaging with the prescription or a doctor’s note explaining what they are. For controlled or narcotic medicines, a doctor’s letter is recommended and a Schengen certificate may be required for travel within the Schengen Area. Check the rules for your specific medicines before you travel.

No special or mandatory vaccinations are required for most travellers entering Belgium. It is recommended to be up to date with your routine vaccinations, such as measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, and others as advised. Check with your doctor or a travel clinic before you travel, especially if you have specific health conditions.

Most international visitors arrive at Brussels Airport (BRU) or Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL). If you arrive from outside the Schengen Area, you pass Schengen entry checks where your passport is stamped, and exit checks when you leave. Travellers with eligible biometric passports can often use automated e-gates to speed up the process. Have your documents ready at the border.

In Belgium you are legally required to be able to show identification when asked, so carry your passport or ID at all times. Many services and staff are multilingual, with Dutch, French, German and often English spoken depending on the region. The country has an excellent rail network, and trains connect easily to neighbouring France, the Netherlands, Germany and Luxembourg.