BELGIUM: Global Update

Sep 8, 2020 | Global

Belgium has added to the list of categories of travelers with an essential function or need, and has issued an update on restrictions on non-essential travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

List of categories of essential travelers. Belgium has extended, effective July 2, 2020, the list of specific categories of travelers with an essential function or need to “4 categories: mariners, persons attending meetings of international organisations, students and highly qualified personnel whose work cannot be carried out at a distance (taking into account the visa procedures currently in force).”

Furthermore, EU+ citizens and third-country nationals legally residing in the European Union, as well as their family members, can travel wherever they wish in the EU+, including Belgium, and no longer only in their country of residence. The Belgium government listed “EU+” countries in a public statement from the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Philippe Goffin (https://diplomatie.belgium.be/en/newsroom/news/2020/non_essential_travel_outside_eu_no_major_changes_before_7_july).

“Highly qualified personnel whose work cannot be carried out at a distance” refers to the category “highly qualified third-country workers if their employment is necessary from an economic perspective and the work cannot be postponed or performed abroad” as mentioned in the EU Council Recommendation 9208/20, dated June 30, 2020. For the time being, the Belgian authorities have limited “highly qualified personnel whose work cannot be carried out at a distance” to Blue Card holders, who will receive a visa type D with the code B29. A Belgian visa type D contains a code B (number), indicating the underlying legal basis for the visa D.

The EU Blue Card is issued in Belgium to highly qualified employees, but it is not the only permit for highly qualified/skilled employees, and definitely not the most popular one. Many highly qualified/skilled employees hold a single permit that allows them to obtain a visa type D with the code B34. Some observers have said that the current limitation to Blue Card holders does not make sense. Despite pressure from the business community to include single permit holders, as of this writing, there was no final decision yet.

Restrictions on non-essential travel. As of this writing, restrictions on non-essential travel were still in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and this was not expected to change immediately. The Belgian press reported that the federal government decided not to reopen the borders for “white-listed” (safe) countries because the health situation in nine countries would not allow this and there was a lack of reciprocity with respect to the other countries on the list. Reportedly, if Belgium’s neighboring countries (France, Germany, Netherlands, Luxembourg) would allow entry to travelers from the white-listed countries, Belgium would implement unannounced border checks to prevent these travelers from entering Belgium. Formal confirmation of this decision by the federal government was awaited.

The 15 white-listed countries included Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia, Uruguay, and China (subject to confirmation of reciprocity).

The Public Health Passenger Locator Form must be completed by every passenger on flights from outside the Schengen Area to Belgium. On arrival, the travel must hand over the form to the designated authorities at the border. Information on travel to Belgium is available at https://dofi.ibz.be/sites/dvzoe/EN/Pages/Travel-to-Belgium.aspx. The form is at https://dofi.ibz.be/sites/dvzoe/EN/Documents/BELGIUM_PassengerLocatorForm_ENG.pdf.

Related Posts:

RUSSIA: Quick Updates

Quota for engaging foreign labour in 2020 is approved. The Russian government has approved the quota for engaging foreign labor in 2020, set at 104,993 foreign nationals, a decrease from 2019, when the quota was 144,583. Croatia—simplification of visa formalities. The Russian government has signed an agreement with the government of the Republic of Croatia regarding an amendment of the agreement between the two countries on mutual travel of citizens of the Russian Federation and Republic of Croatia. According to the new text of the agreement, citizens of each of these countries will be able to stay in the other country without visas for 90 calendar days out of each 180 days. The agreement will come into force within 30 days from the date when the last notification is received confirming the completion of in-country ratification procedures. Qatar—mutual cancellation of visa requirements. The government of the Russian Federation has signed an order in support of an agreement with the government of the State of Qatar on mutual cancellation of visa requirements for their citizens. According to the draft agreement, citizens of the State of Qatar will be able to enter Russia without visas for the period of 90 days out […]

Italy: Residence Permit Updates and Travel Restrictions on UK Citizens Entering Italy

Residence Permit Validity Extended By Law Decree no. 2 of December 14, 2020, the validity of residence permits has been extended to April 30, 2021. The decree also extends the validity of Nulla Osta (police entry clearances for family reasons, work permits) for the same period and the terms for conversion of study permits into work permits. New Residence Permit Requirement for British Citizens in Italy As of January 1, 2021, British citizens and their family members residing in Italy must apply for a residence permit in electronic format at the police headquarters (Questura) having jurisdiction over their place of residence in Italy. The new document will indicate that it is issued on the basis of the Withdrawal Agreement (under Brexit) and will allow the holder to exercise the rights recognized by the Agreement. The document will be valid for 5 years (or 10 years if the applicant has acquired the right of permanent residence after 5 years of legal and continuous stay). To apply for the document, applicants should book an appointment with the relevant police office and submit the Attestazione di iscrizione Anagrafica previously obtained from the City Council of the place of residence. Travel Restrictions on UK […]