Belgium Tourist Visa
I've applied for Schengen Visas plenty of times before. I know how challenging it can be if you don't know the process. Here you'll learn about the Belgian Schengen Visa requirements, processing times and visa fees.
Travel To Belgium From The US: Belgium Travel Restrictions
Written By: Armando Du Preez
Fact Checked By: Richard Nathan
Oct 18, 2022
7 min read
As we all know, the Coronavirus pandemic has dimmed down, and countries have lifted most of the travel restrictions. Although international travel is open again, there are a few things that you must keep in mind when traveling from the US to Belgium.
If you plan a trip to the Schengen Area from the USA, such as Belgium, this post is for you. In this post, we'll cover information like if you need a visa to go to Belgium, the required documents, and the Belgium COVID-19 requirements.
Here's what you'll need to know:
Do You Need A Visa To Go To Belgium From The US?
Before booking your hotels and flight tickets to Brussels, you must first determine if you need a visa to go to Belgium from the US. Remember that Belgium is an EU country with very strict entry restrictions. Below I will explain if US citizens and US Green Card Holders need a visa to enter Belgium.
- Do US Citizens Need A Visa When Traveling To Belgium From The US?
- Do US Green Card Holders Need A Visa To Go To Belgium From The US?
Do US Citizens Need A Visa When Traveling To Belgium From The US?
As I mentioned earlier, Belgium is an EU country, and it falls within the Schengen Area. If you are a US citizen, consider yourself very lucky. US citizens do not have to apply for the Belgium Schengen Visa or any other country in the Schengen Area, including Switzerland. This means that you enjoy a visa-free Belgium travel experience.
Although US citizens enjoy visa-free travel to Belgium, please make sure you follow the 90/180-day rule. This rule merely states that you can travel to any Schengen country for 90 days within a 180-day period. I know this might seem confusing, but please check out our 90/180-day rule guide for additional information.
Do US Green Card Holders Need A Visa To Go To Belgium From The US?
Although some people might think you can travel without a visa if you are a US Green Card Holder, it might not be the case. Visa-free travel to the Schengen Area depends mainly on your country of origin. So if you are a bit confused, don't worry too much because I will explain it shortly.
For example, perhaps you are a US Green Card Holder, but your country of origin is Afghanistan. In that case, you must apply for the Belgium Schengen Visa. The reason, therefore, is Afghanistan citizens do not enjoy visa-free travel to the Schengen Area.
Important note: Although Ukraine is a non-EU country, citizens from Ukraine do not have to apply for a Belgium Schengen Visa.
What Are The Required Documents When Going To Belgium From The US?
Now that you have determined whether or not you need a visa to go to Belgium, we must discuss the essential travel documents. Although US citizens do not require a visa, you must still have the necessary documents before allowing entry to Belgium.
- Valid passport (your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after your planned departure date and must have at least 2 blank visa pages)
- Hotel itinerary
- Flight itinerary
- Professional documents (only applicable if you are traveling to Germany for business)
- Travel insurance
What Are The COVID-19 Requirements When Traveling From The US To Belgium?
When writing this post, the USA is not considered a high-risk country. It therefore means that there are no entry requirements when going to Belgium from the US. However, as a disclaimer, please always check Belgium's COVID-19 requirements before traveling, as they can change without notice. You can
- What Are The COVID-19 Belgium Entry Requirements?
- What Are The COVID-19 Entry Requirements When Returning To The US?
- Are There Any Quarantine Requirements In Belgium?
- Do I Need To Complete The Passenger Locator Form?
- Which Vaccines Are Approved By The European Union?
What Are The COVID-19 Belgium Entry Requirements?
If you are a vaccinated traveler, there are no entry requirements when going to Belgium from the. Although, if you are not vaccinated or have not been infected with Coronavirus, you may be required to provide a negative COVID-19 test and are subject to quarantine requirements. Belgium has put in place measures to slow the spread of the virus and allow the Belgian healthcare system to continue responding to COVID-19 cases. You can find more details by visiting the local government's website.
What Are The COVID-19 Entry Requirements When Returning To The US?
Suppose you are a US citizen and returning to the US. In that case, you do not have to show proof of vaccination, a negative COVID-19 test, or proof of recovery. This is because the CDC lifted the entry requirements for US citizens returning to the US on the 12th of June, 2022. However, if you are a non-US citizen or non-US immigrant, you must provide the following:
- Proof of COVID-19 vaccination
- Proof of recovery
Please ensure to keep updated with the latest COVID-19 information before traveling. The COVID-19 restrictions can change without notice, so please use the following recourses for the most recent travel restrictions and exceptions.
Are There Any Quarantine Requirements In Belgium?
As I mentioned earlier, the US is not considered one of the high-risk countries. This means that you do not have to quarantine in Belgium upon arrival. However, if you test positive while in Belgium, you must quarantine for at least 7 days.
Do I Need To Complete The Passenger Locator Form?
If you are traveling from the US, you are not required to complete the passenger locator form. You are only required to complete the passenger locator form if you are traveling from a high-risk country. Please head over to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to find out which countries are considered high-risk.
Which Vaccines Are Approved By The European Union?
If you are a vaccinated traveler, ensure that you have one of the following vaccines that are approved by the EU:
- Comirnaty (also known as the US Pfizer vaccine)
- Spikevax (Covid-19 vaccine Moderna)
- Jcvovden (Covid-19 vaccine Janssen and also known as Johnson & Johnson)
- Vaxzevria (Covid-19 vaccine AstraZeneca)
- Nuvaxovid
Important note: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advise persons do not travel without getting vaccinated. Please check out the Belgium travel advisory on the US Department of State website for more information. Also, ensure that you are up to date with Denmark's latest COVID-19 requirements.
What Can I Expect When Arriving At The Belgian Border?
When you arrive at the Belgian border, you must have your required entry documents ready.
After presenting your documentation, the Belgian Border Patrol officer might ask you to submit additional information. I advise that you travel with proof of financial means to support yourself during your stay. If the border patrol requests this, you can provide them with a bank statement or a traveler's check. If you visit a friend, they might want to speak with them. Alternatively, you can request they send you a certified invitational letter before arriving at the border.
Do I Need To Apply For The ETIAS When Traveling To Belgium?
Maybe you haven't heard, but the European Union will implement the ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) at the end of 2023. Therefore, if you travel to Belgium before 2023, you don't need to apply for the ETIAS. However, remember that this will change in November 2023.
Please feel free to check out our ETIAS guide for more information on how you will need to apply for it in the future.
Enjoy Your Trip To Belgium
Now that you know everything about your next trip to Belgium from the US, I think you should start packing your bags. Also, as I mentioned earlier, always check the latest COVID-19 requirements before traveling to Belgium. They might change without notice, and that would cause delays if you do not meet the entry requirements.
Written By: Armando Du Preez
Fact Checked By: Richard Nathan
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Use Public Transportation In Belgium?
Yes, you can use public transportation in Belgium, but please remember that you must wear a face mask. You must also wear face masks at any transportation hub, such as train stations, bus stations, and airports.
What Other Schengen Countries Can I Visit Without A Visa?
As mentioned earlier in this post, you can visit any country in the Schengen Area without a visa. Countries in the Schengen Area include:
Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.