LAST UPDATED – 10/18/22 – Belgium Entrance Requirements
If you are traveling to Belgium from outside of the country, you should be aware of the passport, VISA, and immunization requirements before planning your travel. If you do not meet the Belgium entrance requirements, you will be denied entry into Belgium. This is not something that I would wait until the last minute to take care of as you might not have enough time to sort out any issues at the last minute should you run into them.
To assist you in making sure you meet the necessary Belgium entrance requirements, I have outlined all of the requirements you need to be concerned about in this article. Furthermore, I have also created the handy checklist I linked below for you to use as a point of reference and to track all of the requirements as you meet them.
View Belgium Passport, VISA, Customs, and Immunizations Checklist
Belgium Passport Requirements
Requirement: Passport must be valid for 3 months after your trip.
You will need to make sure that your passport is not only valid but that it will be valid at least 3 months after your trip. So, if your passport is set to expire a month after you get back, you won’t be let into the country. That is something that frequently trips travelers up, so make sure you check the expiration date of your passport closely.
Belgium VISA Requirements
Requirement: No VISA requirements prior to January 1, 2021. After January 1, 2021, all visitors from outside the Schengen Zone of Europe will be required to apply for an ETIAS Electronic VISA.
Belgium Immunization Recommendations
Requirement: No immunizations are required for entry, but there are recommendations.
While there are no immunization requirements to enter Belgium and no specialized immunizations that are recommended for protection while visiting (such as the Yellow Fever, Rabies, or Japanese encephalitis vaccinations), it is strongly recommended that you are up to date on the standard immunizations. For some guidance on what is recommended before traveling to Belgium, please refer to the tables below.
Recommended Vaccinations
| Vaccine | How Disease Spreads | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Hepatitis A | Food & Water | Recommended for most travelers |
| Hepatitis B | Blood & Body Fluids | Accelerated schedule available |
Routine Vaccinations
| Vaccine | How Disease Spreads | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR) | Various Vectors | Given to anyone unvaccinated and/or born after 1957. One time adult booster recommended. |
| TDAP (Tetanus, Diphtheria & Pertussis) | Wounds & Airborne | Only one adult booster of pertussis required. |
| Chickenpox | Direct Contact & Airborne | Given to those unvaccinated that did not have chickenpox. |
| Shingles | Direct Contact | The vaccine can still be given if you have had shingles. |
| Pneumonia | Airborne | Two vaccines given separately. All 65+ or immunocompromised should receive both. |
| Influenza | Airborne | Vaccine components change annually. |
| Meningitis | Airborne & Direct Contact | Given to anyone unvaccinated or at an increased risk, especially students. |
| Polio | Food & Water | Considered a routine vaccination for most travel itineraries. Single adult booster recommended. |
Belgium Customs Restrictions
Another of the Belgium entrance requirements that you will need to consider before your trip is the customs restrictions for the country. In order to make sure you are in compliance, please review the sections below.
Requirement: Firearms, some knives, narcotics, certain plant products, and non-native animal products are controlled. There are also limits on the amount of tobacco and alcohol that can be brought into the country.
The Following Items Cannot Be Brought In:
- Counterfeit coins and banknotes
- Counterfeit or pirated goods
- Goods bearing false origin statements in any form
- Narcotic drugs and psychotropic substance
- Radioactive products
- Explosives
- Firearms
- Knives that have a locking blade mechanism
- Review Other Items Here
Travelers MUST declare the following items:
- Animal Products
- Plant Products
- Alcohol Products
- Tobacco Products
- Review Full Declaration Requirements Here
Traveling With Controlled Drugs
If you are traveling with controlled substances such as medications, you must make sure you are following the correct protocols for bringing those substances into the country. If you are traveling with medications, make sure you consider the following:
- You are only carrying substances prescribed for yourself or someone in your care (parent/child or nurse/patient).
- You declare the substance(s) on your Passenger Arrival Card which is inspected by Customs.
- You carry a copy of the prescription from your doctor for the substance.
- The controlled substances are carried in their original containers.
- You are carrying a supply that does not exceed a month’s supply of the controlled substance.
Belgium Currency Requirements
The final of the Belgium entrance requirements that you will need to consider before your trip are the currency restrictions for entering and leaving Belgium. For more details on the currency restrictions, please review the information below.
Requirement: If you are traveling with more than EUR 10,000, the money must be declared.
If you are traveling to or from any country outside of the EU with currency exceeding 10,000 Euros or the equivalent in another currency (banker’s draft and cheques of any kind included), you must declare the money.
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Thank you for the detailed and informative write-up!
Thank you so much for the kind words!! 😀