New conditions for entry into Belgium: ban on non-essential travel until 25 April 2021

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EMERGENCYTraffic restrictions during the night (between 22: 00-06: 00 in the Brussels Capital Region and between 00: 00-05: 00 in Flanders and Wallonia).

ENTRY RESTRICTIONS ON THE TERRITORY OF BELGIUM

From 27 January until 25 April 2021, the Belgian authorities prohibit all non-essential travel (for tourism or recreational purposes) to and from the Kingdom of Belgium. During this period, only essential journeys are authorized, namely:

  1. for family reasons (deaths, marriages, family reunification, custody of children, etc.);
  2. for humanitarian reasons (for medical purposes, assistance to vulnerable people, etc.);
  3. study trips (researchers, students, trainees, pupils, etc.);
  4. cross-border residents' travel;
  5. business or professional travel;
  6. for other urgent reasons (legal reasons, relocations, etc.).

All persons arriving in the Kingdom of Belgium, regardless of the means of transport used, must submit a declaration on their own responsibility to justify the reason for the trip. It is available at: https://d34j62pglfm3rr.cloudfront.net/downloads/20210126_BU_Declaration_sur_honneur_Finale_FR_Approuv%C3%A9_Blanco_a_remplir.pdf . The statement on your own responsibility will be attached to the "Passenger Location Form" and will have to be accompanied by supporting documents.

All persons entering the Kingdom of Belgium are required to complete the form

All persons entering the Kingdom of Belgium are required to complete, no later than 48 hours before arrival, regardless of the mode of transport, status, country of origin, online form Passenger Locator Form (PLF), available at https://travel.info-coronavirus.be/fr/public-health-passenger-locator-form. The Belgian authorities encourage the completion of the online PLF form.

For persons not resident in the Kingdom of Belgium, the condition to present, both on boarding and on arrival in this state from a red zone, including Romania, the negative result of a molecular PCR test for SARS-CoV virus infection remains in force. 2, carried out no later than 72 hours before arrival on Belgian territory, in a laboratory accredited by the country of origin and certified by a biologist or pharmacist, issued in one of the languages ​​French, Dutch, German or English, in physical format (printed on paper) or electronically (and available immediately ). 

They are exempted from the obligation to present a PCR type molecular test

The following categories of persons traveling from a red zone, including Romania, are exempted from the obligation to present a PCR-type molecular test with a negative result for SARS-CoV-2 virus infection upon entering the territory of the Kingdom of Belgium:

  • people up to 6 years old;
  • persons traveling on routes other than air or sea and who have not been abroad for more than 48 hours or who will remain in the Kingdom of Belgium for a maximum of 48 hours;
  • persons traveling by air and staying exclusively in the transit area of ​​the airport, without entering Belgian territory.

The negative result of the PCR-type molecular test for SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, performed a maximum of 72 hours before arrival, must meet the following conditions:

  • be performed in an accredited laboratory in the country of origin and certified by a biologist or pharmacist;
  • be presented in physical format (printed on paper) or electronically (and can be consulted immediately); 
  • be issued in one of the Dutch, French, German or English languages.

Residents in the Kingdom of Belgium who return from a red zone where they have remained for more than 48 hours, are NOT required to present the negative result of a PCR-type molecular test for SARS-CoV-2 virus infection on arrival in that State. However, they have the obligation to perform two molecular tests such as PCR, respectively on the first day and on the seventh day of quarantine.

Upon return to Belgium, any person (resident or non-resident) after a stay of at least 48 hours in a red zone, including Romania, must be quarantined for a period of 10 days at home or in another location declared by the person concerned. Quarantine may end earlier if the person performs a PCR-type molecular test on the 7th day and the result is negative. Upon entering Belgium, passengers will receive an SMS message informing them of quarantine and testing (the message will contain the code required to register for a test center).

The following exceptions to the quarantine are provided:

  • persons performing critical functions in key sectors may be exempted from quarantine on the basis of a certificate from the employer, in accordance with the decision of the Interministerial Committee on Health of 2 December 2020;
  • residents who have traveled abroad for professional reasons may be exempted, in which case the employer must complete the Business Travel Abroad (BTA) form at least 48 hours before arrival in Belgium. Completing the form generates a certification number that must be entered in the online form - Passenger Locator Form (PLF). If this number is not mentioned in the PLF form, the trip cannot be considered in the interest of the service. Also exempt from quarantine are non-resident foreign nationals in Belgium, who travel to that country in the interests of the service for a maximum period of 72 hours, and it is mandatory for the employer to complete the BTA form.
  • students may interrupt quarantine, exceptionally, only to take an exam.

From 25 January 2021, all persons arriving in the Kingdom of Belgium from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, South Africa or South America will have to undergo a quarantine period of 10 days and two PCR molecular tests. for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the first and seventh day after arrival. 

Transport companies must verify, prior to boarding, that passengers are in possession of the negative result of the molecular PCR-type test for SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, and may refuse to board persons who do not have such a test.

Quick tests are not accepted

Careful! Rapid tests are not accepted, the only exception being for certain categories of people arriving from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Thus, if it is impossible to present a molecular PCR-type test with a negative result for SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, persons working in the field of road transport, customs agents and law enforcement officers may present a test upon entry into Belgium. rapidly with a negative result for SARS-CoV-2 virus infection. The rapid antigen test used must be included in the list of antigen tests authorized by the Belgian authorities.

Referring to Passenger Locator Form (PLF), which can be found at  https://travel.info-coronavirus.be/fr/public-health-passenger-locator-form

  • This form must always be completed on arrival in Belgium by air or sea, regardless of the length of your stay in the Kingdom of Belgium (without exception).
  • Persons using land transport who travel to the Kingdom of Belgium for less than 48 hours or who have not stayed outside the Kingdom of Belgium for more than 48 hours are exempted from completing the form.
  • Passengers are asked to follow the instructions of the Belgian authorities regarding quarantine received by e-mail / sms, following the completion of the form. Passenger Locator Shape. With regard to persons who have spent more than 48 hours abroad and will remain in the Kingdom of Belgium for more than 48 hours, the Belgian authorities warn that the police will carry out additional checks to verify the completion of the passenger location form and, respectively, compliance with the quarantine measure.

Detailed information is available on the following websites:

Self-isolation and testing measures do not apply to people traveling for less than 48 hours in a red zone. 

Travel to / from the Kingdom of Belgium is based on the classification of the states:

  • green area: travel to these areas is permitted; attention will be paid to compliance with hygiene measures and social distancing; when returning from a green area, testing and self-isolation are not mandatory.
  • orange area: travel to these areas is allowed, the Belgian authorities call for increased vigilance; there are states in the "light orange" area, for which self-isolation is required for people coming from Belgium. Upon entry into Belgium, testing and self-isolation are recommended. Travel to these areas is strongly discouraged or the authorities in these states prohibit non-essential travel to Belgium.

In August 2020, the Belgian authorities included the entire territory of Romania in the red zone.

  • the red zone: non-essential trips to these areas are prohibited. Any person (resident or non-resident) who returns to Belgium after a stay of at least 48 hours in a red zone, including Romania, must be quarantined at home or in another location declared by the person concerned. The quarantine period may end on the basis of a negative PCR molecular test for SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, carried out from the seventh day of quarantine. Persons not resident in Belgium arriving from a red zone must present a molecular PCR-type test with a negative result for SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, carried out no later than 72 hours prior to arrival in Belgium.
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