CONTENT|CONTENU

TRAVEL REPORT
Belgium

1. RECENT UPDATES

Section 4 has been updated (Schengen Area).

See our Global Issues page for information on the H1N1 Flu Virus.

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2. WARNINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

There is no Official Warning for this country.

Belgium

Exercise normal security precautions

Exercise high degree of caution

Avoid non-essential travel

Avoid all travel

Canadians should exercise normal security precautions. They should ensure that valuables, passports, and other travel documents are secure at all times.

OFFICIAL REGISTRATION RECOMMENDATION: We offer a registration service for all Canadians travelling or living abroad. This service is provided so that we can contact and assist you in an emergency abroad, such as a natural disaster or civil unrest, or inform you of a family emergency at home. Registration can be done on-line or by contacting a Canadian government office abroad. For more information, see our FAQs on Registration of Canadians Abroad.

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3. SAFETY AND SECURITY

The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety. The purpose of this Travel Report is to provide Canadians with up-to-date information to enable them to make well-informed decisions.

Crime

Violent crime is low. Petty crime, such as pickpocketing and purse-snatching and muggings, occurs frequently. Exercise caution in areas such as the Grand Place, on public transportation, at airports and in main railway stations in Brussels and Antwerp. Small groups of young men have been known to target people between the Gare du Nord and the Gare du Midi and in subway stations.

It is increasingly common for thieves, usually on motorbikes, to break a car window while the car is stopped at a traffic light, and snatch valuables from the front or back seat. Ensure valuables are out of sight.

Thefts have occurred in and around Gare du Midi in Brussels. As the terminal of several international trains, the station is a major target for organized gangs. Be especially cautious if approached by anyone asking odd questions, spilling food or drink, or telling you someone else has spilled something on your clothes. Pickpockets operate on international trains such as the Paris-Brussels-Amsterdam and the Brussels-London lines.

Demonstrations

As capital of the European Union and the location of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Headquarters, Brussels frequently experiences large-scale protests and widespread demonstrations by various interest groups. Canadians should monitor local news reports and avoid demonstrations and large gatherings.

General Safety Information

In an emergency, call 101 for police, 100 for fire or medical assistance, or 112 for all distress calls from a cellular phone.

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4. ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS

It is the sole prerogative of each country or region to determine who is allowed to enter. All countries or regions have special requirements for persons intending to reside for extended periods (usually more than 90 days) or who plan to work, study, or engage in non-tourist activities. To obtain information on specific entry requirements, contact the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the destination(s) to be visited. Violations of entry and exit requirements may result in serious penalties.

The following information on entry and exit requirements has been confirmed with the Belgian authorities. However, these requirements are subject to change at any time. It is the traveller’s responsibility to check with the Consulate General of Belgium in Montreal, for up-to-date information.

A Canadian passport is required for Canadians intending to visit Belgium. The passport must be valid for at least three months beyond the date of their expected departure from this country. 

Tourist Visa: Not required (for stays less than 90 days within 6 months, interrupted or not)
Business Visa: Not required (for stays less than 90 days within 6 months, interrupted or not)
Student Visa: Required (for stays more than 90 days)
Working Visa: Required (for stays more than 90 days) - a work permit is always required.

Canadians must be prepared to show proof of purpose of their visit, of sufficient funds during their stay or of their accommodation, or their return ticket, upon request by customs officials. If staying in private accommodation, they have to report to the municipal authorities where they intend to stay upon arrival.

Up-to-date information can be found as well in the Travel Visa section of the following official website: http://www.diplomatie.be/en/travel/visa/default.asp.

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Schengen Area

The member states of the European Union (EU) (not including Romania, Bulgaria, the United Kingdom and Ireland), along with Norway, Iceland, and Switzerland (which are not in the EU), make up the Schengen Area, which has common rules regarding visas and controls at external borders.

The external land, air, and sea border controls of nine countries that joined the EU in 2004 (the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia) have been removed. Bulgaria, Romania, and Cyprus are not yet part of the Schengen area.

In the Schengen Area, Canadian travellers do not need visas for short-term visits (up to 90 days within a six-month period), but some countries require you to register with local authorities within three working days of your arrival. It is important to get your passport stamped when entering the Schengen Area. The absence of an entry stamp from the initial Schengen port of entry could create difficulties during subsequent encounters with local police or other authorities throughout the Schengen area.

If Canadians overstay the permitted 90 days in the Schengen Area, they may be fined or deported. To visit longer than 90 days, Canadians must either obtain a long-stay national visa or have been outside the Schengen Area for at least 90 consecutive days before re-entering.

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A Certificate of Canadian Citizenship is not a travel document. A Canadian passport is the only reliable and universally accepted travel and identification document available to Canadians for the purpose of international travel. Canadian citizens returning to Canada who present other documents, such as a Certificate of Canadian Citizenship, birth certificate, provincial driver’s licence, or foreign passport, instead of a Canadian passport, may face delays or be denied boarding by transport companies.

Selling, altering, or allowing another person to use your passport is a criminal offence. It could lead to the laying of charges and imprisonment if convicted. It could also lead to the denial of future passport services.

Special and diplomatic passport holders should verify all visa requirements for this and other destinations, as they may differ from those that apply to regular passport holders.

EU legislation on the amount of cash that can be carried was implemented on June 15, 2007. Canadians crossing one of the external border control points of the EU will have to make a declaration to customs upon entry or exit if they have at least 10,000 euros, or the equivalent in other currencies, in cash, cheques, money orders, traveller's cheques, or any other convertible assets in their possession. Failure to report such a sum will be considered an offence. This does not apply to Canadians travelling within the EU or in transit to a non-EU country. The purpose of this legislation is to prevent illegal activities, such as money laundering. For more information on the new EU legislation and links to EU countries' sites, consult http://ec.europa.eu/eucashcontrols.

Any adult travelling with children may be required to show evidence of parental/custodial and/or access rights. Foreign and Canadian authorities may also require evidence that the adult has the consent of the parents, legal guardian, and/or the court to travel with the children. Some countries or regions may not permit children to enter or, in some cases, leave the country or region without proper documentation such as a letter of consent or a court order.

Same sex marriage is legal.

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5. CANADIAN GOVERNMENT CONTACTS

You can obtain consular assistance and further consular information at the following addresses:

Belgium - BRUSSELS, Embassy of Canada
Address: Avenue de Tervuren 2, 1040, Brussels, Belgium
Tel.: 32 (2) 741-0611
Emergency toll-free to Ottawa: 00-800-2326-6831
Fax: 32 (2) 741-0619
E-Mail: bru@international.gc.ca
Internet: http://www.Belgium.gc.ca

Belgium - ANTWERP (ANTWERPEN), Consulate of Canada
Address: Sint Pietersvliet, 15, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium
Tel.: 32 (3) 220-0211
Emergency toll-free to Ottawa: 00-800-2326-6831
Fax: 32 (3) 220-0204

For emergency assistance after hours, call the Embassy of Canada in Brussels and follow the instructions. You may also call the Department in Ottawa at 613-996-8885 or toll free from any landline at 00-800-2326-6831. It is not possible to place collect calls from Belgium using the local network.

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6. TRAVEL HEALTH

The Public Health Agency of Canada and the World Health Organization (WHO) report on disease outbreaks that occur throughout the world. For the latest travel health advisories and related information, visit the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Travel Health Web site.

The Public Health Agency of Canada strongly recommends that your travel plans include contacting a travel medicine clinic or physician six to eight weeks before departure. Based on your individual risk assessment, a health care professional can determine your need for immunizations and/or preventive medication and advise you on precautions to avoid disease. Travellers are reminded to ensure that their routine (childhood) immunizations (e.g., tetanus, diphtheria, polio, and measles) are up to date.

Standards of medical care may differ from those in Canada. Treatment may be expensive, and payment in advance may be required. Travellers are advised to arrange for medical insurance prior to departure. Prescription medications should be kept in the original container and packed in carry-on luggage.

The Public Health Agency of Canada also recommends that travellers who become sick or feel unwell on their return to Canada seek a medical assessment with their personal physician. Travellers should inform their physician that they have been travelling or living outside of Canada.

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7. ADDITIONAL HEALTH INFORMATION

Excellent healthcare facilities are widely available.

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8. LAWS AND CUSTOMS

You are subject to local laws. A serious violation may lead to a jail sentence. The sentence will be served in local prisons. However, Canada and Belgium are signatories to the European Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, which enables a Canadian imprisoned in Belgium to request to be transferred to Canada to complete the sentence in a Canadian prison. The transfer requires the agreement of both Canadian and Belgian authorities.

Canadians arrested or detained have the right to contact the responsible Canadian government office (embassy, high commission, etc.) listed in Section 5 above. Arresting officials have a responsibility to assist you in doing so. Canadian consular officials can provide a list of local lawyers upon request. The procedures required in legal proceedings or police investigations may be different from the procedures in force in the Canadian legal system. Canadians wishing to undertake such proceedings can expect to face long delays and additional efforts in order to resolve their case. The Government of Canada cannot intervene in ongoing legal proceedings in other countries or regions, unless requested to do so by local authorities. Such requests are rare.

Canadian citizens who have dual nationality will be subject to Belgian laws, such as mandatory voting. Those affected should enquire at a Belgian embassy or consulate regarding their status. Dual nationality may limit the ability of Canadian officials to provide consular services.

Visitors are legally required to carry identification at all times.

The penalty for possession, use, or trafficking of illegal drugs may result in jail sentences and heavy fines.

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9. TRAVEL AND CURRENCY

Many accidents are due to speeding. The Belgian Government introduced strict laws to improve traffic safety. Speed traps, cameras, and unmarked vehicles are in operation throughout the country. Fines for exceeding the maximum speed limit (120 kilometres per hour on highways and 50 in population centers) are very high.

Penalties for drinking and driving are strict. The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.05%. Convicted offenders can expect heavy fines, and driving licences may be confiscated immediately.

The use of a cellular telephone while driving is prohibited, unless fitted with a hands-free device. Police can collect traffic fines on the spot. Vehicles may be impounded for failure to pay.

Drivers should also be aware of the "priority to the right" system, whereby drivers must give way to vehicles approaching from the right at intersections. Visibility is frequently obscured by rain and fog.

Carjackings have frequently occurred in Brussels and the Brabant area. Do not leave personal belongings unattended in vehicles. Drive with windows up and car doors locked at all times.

Road signs are written in Dutch in the Flemish region.

Canadians living in Belgium should be aware that neither a Canadian driver's licence nor an International Driver Permit (IDP) are recognized. Only an Alberta, Ontario or Quebec driver's licence can be exchanged for a Belgian driver's licence. Residents of provinces other than Alberta, Ontario and Quebec should contact their provincial licence authorities to see whether they plan to negotiate reciprocal recognition arrangements with Belgium. To obtain a Belgian driver's licence, you must pass all local courses and tests, both theoretical and practical. It may take from six months to a year to be able to drive legally and unaccompanied.

See our FAQ on transportation in order to verify if national airlines meet safety standards.

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The currency is the euro (EUR). Visitors should carry only a minimum amount of cash. Credit cards and traveller's cheques are widely accepted. Automated banking machines (ABMs) are widely available.

Check with your bank for information on automated banking machine (ABM) services outside Canada. You can also check the VISA ATM locator page or the MasterCard ATM locator page for the addresses of ABMs around the world. Verify with your financial institution whether your bank card can be used with ABMs abroad. Some countries use chip and/or personal identification number (PIN) technology for credit cards. Check with your bank to find out if your credit card will be accepted abroad. Credit cards and debit cards should be used with caution due to the potential for fraud and other criminal activity. ABMs should be used during business hours inside a bank, supermarket, or large commercial building. Leave copies of your card numbers with a family member in case of emergency.

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10. NATURAL DISASTERS AND CLIMATE

Flooding is a threat on reclaimed coastal lands protected from the sea by dikes.

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11. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Returning to Canada

Traveller's Checklist

Health and Travel Insurance: Do not rely on your provincial health plan to cover all expenses if you get sick or are injured while abroad. It may cover nothing or only a portion of the costs. Understand the terms of your supplementary insurance policy. Some credit cards offer their holders health and travel insurance. Do not assume the card alone provides adequate coverage. Carry details of your insurance with you. Also, tell your travel agent, a friend or relative, and/or travelling companion how to contact your insurer. Get a detailed invoice from the doctor or hospital before you return to Canada. Always submit original receipts for any medical services or prescriptions received abroad. Most insurance companies will not accept copies or faxes.

Cancelling a scheduled trip abroad could cost you money. Before cancelling a scheduled trip, you should discuss the matter with your travel agent, your travel insurer, or the airline. The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller.

Adoption: Provincial and territorial authorities in Canada are responsible for authorizing international adoptions. If you are thinking of adopting a child abroad, you must first obtain information about the adoption regulations of the province or territory in which the child will reside. While adoption is a provincial/territorial responsibility, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is responsible for allowing an adopted child entry into Canada. Entry can be refused if the child does not hold the appropriate immigrant visa. A visa may be denied, even if the adoption has already been completed. For more information contact CIC at 1 888 242-2100 (in Canada only), check the CIC Web site or contact your provincial or territorial government.

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12. ANNEX

N/A

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