Belgium Lifts Entry Ban On Non-Essential Travel For Third-Country Visitors

As of Monday, May 23, 2022, Belgium has dropped its entry ban on non-essential travel from third countries. Meanwhile, a number of other COVID-19-related restrictions have been eased. Read on to find out what you need to know if planning a trip to Belgium.

Belgium drops entry ban on non-essential travel from third countries

While welcoming travelers from third countries, on May 23, the Belgian government also dropped a number of other restrictions relating to COVID-19. The announcement was made on Friday, May 20, by the Federal Public Service (FPS) Public Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment office in Belgium. It was stated that as of Monday, May 23, the code yellow, effective in the country since March 2022, is coming to an end after a decision by the Consultation Committee.

While previously travelers from third countries (outside of the European Union) were unable to visit for non-essential reasons, this has now changed. Now, third-country travelers can visit Belgium for non-essential reasons, including tourism. Meanwhile, authorities have also dropped the obligation to test for COVID on the first and seventh day after arrival. On top of this, there will no longer be any requirement to quarantine for ten days.

Visitors will no longer be required to complete a Passenger Locator Form prior to arrival in Belgium. In fact, they won’t even need to present a vaccination certificate, proof of recovery, or a negative test result.

Some rules remain

Despite all this, there are still some concerns over coronavirus. According to Politico, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo made a press statement relating to the COVID-19 changes.

However, this does not apply to travelers coming from a country with a new variant of concern. For them, the current rules continue to apply.

Besides this, locals and visitors no longer need to wear a face mask on public transport or in other public spaces. The only places where masks must still be worn are medical facilities, pharmacies and overly crowded public spaces.

In a statement, the Consultation Committee said it decided to make changes due to low numbers of hospitalizations. Moreover, there is also a downward trend in the number of new cases of the virus.

The reproduction rate of contaminations and hospitalizations remains permanently below one, which indicates a markedly slowed circulation of the virus. The number of beds occupied by COVID patients in intensive care units has also been around 100 for some time and therefore remains well below the 300-threshold,

Until now, Belgium had some of the harshest COVID-19 entry restrictions compared to other European Union and Schengen Area nations. It seems that may have finally paid off.

Monkeypox concerns

However, while COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted, the Risk Assessment Group (RAG) in Belgium has imposed a three-week quarantine for those with symptoms of monkeypox. In fact, this makes it the first European country to do so.

Monkeypox is a rare viral disease mainly carried by those who have recently traveled to Africa. In fact, cases of the virus have been detected in 10 countries outside Central and West Africa. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cases have been found in Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. The virus spreads from close contact with lesions, body fluids, respiratory droplets, or contaminated materials such as bedding.

Whether it’s quaint architecture or Belgian chocolate travelers are craving, Belgium is finally open to non-essential travel.