Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Update 03/07/2020
Consular services
On Monday 8 June, the Embassy’s consular department was re-opened to the public. To access any of the consular services, an appointment will be required. Please note that without an appointment we will not be able to assist you.
Click here for a list of all the consular services offered to Belgians in the UK. An appointment for any of these services can be made online by clicking here.
It is essential to arrive on time for your appointment and adhere to some COVID-19 rules that are in place when visiting our Embassy.
Please note that the Visa Application Centres for Belgium in the UK (London, Edinburgh and Manchester) remain closed to the public until further notice. For more details, click here.
Follow UK guidelines
On Monday 23 March, a strict containment system was put in place for the entire territory. Since then the measures have been relaxed but people are still asked to stay at home as much as possible, to work from home if they can, to stay alert when going outside and to respect social distancing measures.
When going outside, the following measures must be followed:
- A distance of at least 1 meter between persons must be respected;
- Wash your hands as soon as you get home;
- A facial cover is recommended when you are in an enclosed space with people who do not belong to your household and is obligatory on public transport.
For further information regarding the regime currently in place in the UK, please visit the UK government’s regularly updated FAQ website on Coronavirus.
We strongly recommend to follow the instructions of the UK authorities, namely those of the UK Department of Health and Social Care: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public (in English) and of the National Health Service (NHS): https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ (in English). Please monitor these sites regularly since updates are likely to be made swiftly.
Travel
Worldwide steps are being taken to curb the spread of the coronavirus and stem the pandemic. Since travelling can adversely affect the spread of the virus, numerous countries have adopted quarantine measures or have closed their borders so that crossing them can no longer be guaranteed.
Since 15 June, Belgium has opened its borders for travel to and from the European Union, including the United Kingdom and the four other Schengen countries (Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway). However, it is up to each country to decide whether to open its own borders. People travelling from the United Kingdom to Belgium do not have to self-isolate upon arrival in Belgium.
Commercial options for travelling from the UK to Belgium remain available, such as Eurostar (www.eurostar.com) and Eurotunnel (www.eurotunnel.com). Please consult the respective websites for the latest information.
For travel to the UK, a quarantine obligation of 14 days applies on arrival until 10 July. For stays of less than 14 days, travelers must self-isolate during their stay and may leave the country again afterwards. At least 48 hours prior to arrival, details of your stay must be reported to the UK authorities. More information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control.
For transit from the UK to Belgium via France: France allows transit across its territory. The exception certificate is no longer required.
- Movements within the European Union, including the Schengen zone and the United Kingdom
Travelers within the EU + Schengen zone + United Kingdom do not have to self-isolate on their return to Belgium.
- Movements outside the European Union, including the Schengen zone and the United Kingdom
Any person of Belgian nationality with or without a main residence in Belgium, long-term residents in Belgium and persons with legal residence in Belgium must, upon return to Belgium after moving outside the European Union, the Schengen zone or the United Kingdom, comply with the following two conditions:
- The person must remain in isolation at home for 14 days; AND
- The person is prohibited from working outside for 14 days (even if s/he works in an essential sector); telework is still allowed.
Exception: There is no need to self-isolate if you return to Belgium from outside the European Union, the Schengen zone or the United Kingdom after travelling for the reasons mentioned on the site with the latest update on the Covid-19 restrictions in Belgium. This information can be found here under 'When should I self-quarantine?' or from the Crisis Center in Belgium which can be contacted on 0800 14 689 (in Belgium) or +32 78 15 17 71 (from abroad) – open from 9am to 6pm.
More information
In case of emergency, our Embassies, Consulates as well as the general call centre in Brussels (+32 2 501 4000 - https://www.facebook.com/Diplomatie.Belgium – FB chat: m.me/diplomatie.belgium) are ready to assist Belgian compatriots abroad.
It is also important that our citizens take responsibility and follow the instructions of the competent local authorities closely (see above). In these highly exceptional circumstances, even the resources of the Belgian Embassies are limited.
Our travel advice is updated on a regular basis, please consult the pages regularly:
(FR) : https://diplomatie.belgium.be/fr/Services/voyager_a_letranger/conseils_p...
(NL) : https://diplomatie.belgium.be/nl/Diensten/Op_reis_in_het_buitenland/reis...
Communication from the Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs: Rights of Belgian citizens in the context of Brexit
On 17 October 2019, a new agreement was concluded between the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom on an orderly exit of the United Kingdom from the EU. The agreement was ratified and entered into force on 1 February 2020. Since that date, the United Kingdom is no longer part of the EU.
On 1 February 2020 the transition period has officially commenced. This period will normally run until 31 December 2020, but it might be extended by one or two years. Notwithstanding the fact that the United Kingdom is no longer a member of the EU, it will remain bound by EU rules during this period but it will no longer be present in the European institutions. Everything else stays the same. EU citizens and Brits can travel, live and work in the exact same conditions as before. After this period, EU citizens and Brits who settled in the UK or EU before 31 december 2020 and registered themselves in time will largely retain the same rights. This has been agreed upon in the withdrawal agreement.
During this period, the EU and the United Kingdom will negotiate the future framework for their relations. When there is more info on this, we will update you.
Given the current developments surrounding Brexit, the information on this website is susceptible to change in light of political events. This information does not constitute legal advice. Neither the FPS Foreign Affairs nor the Belgian Embassy in London are in a position to provide such advice.
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© Tom D'Haenens
I hope that you enjoy our website - a portal into Belgium's presence in the UK.
Are you a Belgian citizen living in the United Kingdom or thinking of moving to the UK? Please register with the Embassy in London. Our consular services provide information about how to register, apply for identity cards and passports. Please note that since October 2011, Belgians residing in the UK have to book an appointment and come in person to the Embassy in London to apply for a new passport.
You are interested in travelling to Belgium or would like to study, work or do business there, please check the Travel to Belgium section. If you need a visa, an easy and quick application is available via the ‘Visa Application Centre’. Details can be found on https://be.tlscontact.com/gb/LON/index.php.
Finally, do not forget to visit our News and Events sections and join the Embassy’s Facebook page or follow us on Twitter for the latest news from the Embassy of Belgium in London and feeds about events in the UK with a Belgian touch. You can also subscribe to our newsletter.
If you have any questions and/or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us on london@diplobel.fed.be.
