Travel formalities
General
Every passenger (including children and babies) must present a valid official photo ID (international passport or official national identity card) that corresponds with the name provided at the time of booking.
You must also prove that you are in compliance with the travel formalities required in the country of origin and by the immigration service and other government agencies of the country of destination.
Any costs arising from non-compliance with the regulations are at the expense of the passenger.
Information required formalities:
Belgian nationals
Please note that damaged travel documents, such as a ruptured passport or a cracked / torn identity card or an electronic identity card whose microchip is missing, can be regarded as invalid proof by the competent Belgian or foreign authorities. Any refusal of entry to the flight or country of destination is completely your own responsibility. We therefore advise you to replace damaged travel documents in time and certainly before your trip.
a) Documents required for passengers of Belgian nationality (subject to change and always subject to verification)
It is advisable to contact the respective embassy or consulate for up-to-date information.
ALBANIE
Valid identity card (valid for at least 3 months after arrival date).
ALGERIA
International passport valid until 6 months after arrival + VISA (to be obtained from the Algerian Embassy tel 02/5378241 or 02/5378133. Fax 02/5345278. Address: place du champs de mars 2, 1050 Ixelles Bruxelles.)
ALL info and conditions for your VISUM application can be found on the website of the Algerian embassy:
Attention: for your visa application it is mandatory to take out a valid travel and assistance insurance.
ARUBA
International passport valid until 6 months after the return.
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Valid identity card (at least 3 months after date of return). max stay 90 days. On arrival, Belgians must always present a ticket for the return journey
BULGARIA
Valid identity card. A visa is required for stays longer than 90 days.
CUBA
International passport and a tourist card. For stays longer than 30 days, the tourist card (the visa) can be renewed on the spot for 30 extra days by the local authorities. A visa is required for stays longer than 30 days. When you arrive in Cuba, Belgians must always present a ticket for the return journey. We also advise you to have a hotel reservation of at least 2 days on hand.
For an access to Cuba, you must provide a number of details in advance. These are as follows: complete (official) name, date of birth, nationality, passport number and expiration date.
Please note: you are obliged to take out travel and assistance insurance with an insurance company that has a direct contract with Asistur. Europ Assistance is represented by Asistur. If you have a travel and assistance insurance with another company, it must provide you with the necessary certificates.
Travelers who do not have a Belgian travel insurance that covers the medical costs or can not present a certificate will be obliged to take out local insurance when arriving at the airport in Cuba.
CURACAO
International passport valid until 6 months after the return.
CYPRUS (Greek Cypriot side)
Valid identity card.
CYPRUS (Turkish Cypriot side)
See Turkey.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
International passport (valid during stay)
Tourist card available on arrival for 10 USD and 10 USD airport tax at the return flight. Please note that a return ticket must be presented on arrival. An exception to this is if you hold a Dominican 're-entry permit'.
Naturalized Belgians: international passport required (from Belgium or from the country of origin)
For stays longer than 30 days a visa is required (or an extension of a tourist card via 'Emigration dept' on site up to a maximum of 90 days, subject to payment) and an additional airport tax must be paid to the Immigration Service in the Dominican Republic (+/- € 50> 30 days, +/- € 80> 3 months).
! Special formalities required for unaccompanied children (up to 17 years of age) or children accompanied by only one of both parents or by persons other than the parents. More information: tel 02 346 49 35 (embassy / consulate Dominican Republic)
EGYPT
If you stay less than 1 month in Egypt, an identity card is sufficient (valid for at least 6 months after arrival date).
Note: Egypt only accepts the electronic identity card with chip.
You must also be in possession of a separate visa. You pay € 28 to the local agent on arrival for this visa or USD 25 to the local Bank (only possible in cash). The visa can also be purchased online as E-Visa before departure. If you travel with an identity card, you must also bring 1 passport photo for this visa.
For stays longer than 1 month, an international passport is mandatory (valid for at least 6 months) and a visa is required (no passport photo required). On arrival, this visa requires € 28 to be paid to the local agent or USD 25 to the local Bank (only possible in cash). The visa can also be purchased online as E-Visa before departure.
FRANCE
Valid identity card.
GAMBIA
Valid identity card (valid for at least 6 months after arrival date).
GREECE
Valid identity card.
ISRAEL
International passport valid until 6 months after return. A visa is required for stays longer than 90 days. A ticket for the return journey must always be presented on arrival.
ITALY
Valid identity card.
JAMAICA
International passport valid until 6 months after the return. A visa is required for tourist stays longer than 90 days. A visa is required for a business trip longer than 30 days. A ticket for the return journey must always be presented on arrival.
JORDAN
Belgian identity card is sufficient if the following conditions are fulfilled:
* Arrival and departure from Aqaba airport.
* Ticket is booked longer than 5 working days before departure
* traveling around with excursions within Jordan
OR beach stay Jordan without diving packages
Your identity card must remain valid for a minimum of 6 months after the return date.
An international passport, valid up to 6 months after the return date, is required when:
* you have booked more than 5 business days before departure.
* you want to take part in excursions abroad to other countries (including for extension in Egypt)
* you have booked a free stay during your travel period with the intention to go to another country (eg Egypt)
* you go diving or have booked a dive package
In order to enter Jordan with your identity card or International passport, a number of details must be provided in advance: complete (official) name, date of birth, nationality, identity card or passport number and expiration date.
If you have an international passport, we advise you to take it with you.
Visa: both with an international passport and an identity card you have to buy a visa upon arrival. (+/- 37.50 euros)
CAPEVERDIAN ISLANDS
You must be in possession of a visa and an international passport that is valid for 6 months after the arrival date.
Visa: You can buy this on arrival (+/- € 45) or you can apply for it before your departure at the Embassy of Cabo Verde: Avenue Jeanne / Johannalaan 29, 1050 Brussels, tel 02 / 643.62.70, fax 02 /646.33.85, emb.caboverde@skynet.be
For stays of more than 30 days you have to arrange an extension of your visa on the spot and pay the costs. This visa extension must be made within 14 nights after your arrival at Cabo Verde.
KOSOVO
Valid identity card. A visa is required for stays longer than 90 days.
CROATIA
Valid identity card. You will receive a free visa on arrival. If you want to visit Bosnia (eg Mostar and Medugorje), an international passport is valid until 6 months after leaving Bosnia. A visa is required for stays longer than 90 days.
MACEDONIA (Former Yugoslav Republic)
Valid identity card (valid for the period of stay).
MALTA
Valid identity card.
MOROCCO
International passport, valid during stay. A visa is required for stays longer than 90 days.
MEXICO
International passport valid during stay and a tourist card on arrival (free). A visa is required for stays longer than 180 days. Upon arrival in Mexico a ticket for the return journey must always be presented.
In order to enter Mexico, you must provide a number of details: complete (official) name, date of birth, nationality, passport number and expiration date. For more information contact the Mexican embassy.
MONTENEGRO
Valid identity card (valid during stay).
For stays longer than 30 days an international passport is required (max stay 90 days)
Upon arrival you always have to present a ticket for the return journey
AUSTRIA
Valid identity card.
PORTUGAL - MADEIRA - AZORES
Valid identity card.
SPAIN
Valid identity card.
TUNISIA
International passport valid during stay. A visa is required for stays longer than 90 days.
Imports of dinars are forbidden, but can be exchanged for euros in most hotels. You can also find ATMs in many hotels.
TURKEY
Valid identity card (valid up to 6 months after arrival date) and visa (valid for 90 days) to be purchased in advance via www.evisa.gov.tr
Children: Belgian children under the age of 12 require a photo ID or a Kids ID (more info on www.eid.belgium.be) and a visa (via www.evisa.gov.tr), provided the children are accompanied by at least one of their parents. In other cases a passport (valid until 6 months after arrival date) is necessary.
UNITED STATES (USA)
All Belgian travelers, including children under the age of 12, traveling to the USA must be in possession of an international passport valid until the return date.
On arrival, Belgians must always present a ticket for the return journey.
All Belgian travelers are obliged to obtain an electronic travel authorization (ESTA = Electronic System for Travel Authorization) prior to departure. The application is made via the website of ESTA, https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta, where you have to answer a number of questions. This is best done before booking the trip (minimum 72 hours before departure). The cost for this is 14 USD. This amount can only be paid by credit card. We unfortunately can not mean anything for you in this. Every traveler must arrange this individually. Accepted credit cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover. In general, this procedure takes a very short time and you will receive a confirmation within a few seconds. If your application is approved, you will be given permission to travel to the USA. If this is not the case, a visa must be applied for via the embassy. The ESTA is valid for 2 years. More information can be found on www.CBP.gov/travel
Maximum stay for Belgians: 90 days.
Since 21 January 2016, travelers with a Belgian passport who have been in Syria, Iran, Iraq or Sudan since 2011 are required to apply for a visa at the American Embassy in Brussels. This also applies to Belgian travelers who have dual nationality, with the second nationality being 1 of the mentioned countries. More information can be found at http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/visit/visa-waiver-program.html
ZANZIBAR (TANZANIA)
international passport required (valid for at least 6 months longer than the visa) for adults and children and certificate yellow fever. You also need a visa (valid for a maximum of 3 or 6 months), which you can apply for prior to your departure from the Tanzanian embassy in Brussels, upon arrival in Tanzania at the airport or at the land border. Price on the spot: 50 USD per person, only payable in USD and appropriate. (more expensive in Belgium). Prices may be subject to change. Check http://diplomatie.belgium.be
b) Identity card
A valid identity card is sufficient for many Member States of the European Union and some countries considered as tourist attractions.
The rule is that identity cards (including identity documents or Kids ID for children) must at least be valid until the date of return - at least if the date of return can be determined.
Different rules apply to a number of destinations. People over 75 who want to go abroad must also have a valid identity card. If you have exceeded 75 years you will no longer be called by the municipal authorities for a renewal of your identity card. If you do not leave Belgium this is of course no problem, but for traveling abroad you still need an identity card with a valid expiry date. In that case, you must request a new identity card.
Please note that damaged travel documents, such as a ruptured passport or a cracked / torn identity card or an electronic identity card whose microchip is missing, can be regarded as invalid proof by the competent Belgian or foreign authorities. Any refusal of entry to the flight or country of destination is completely your own responsibility. We therefore advise you to replace damaged travel documents in time and certainly before your trip.
c) International passport
An international passport is a booklet containing your identity details. A passport is recognized as a valid travel document by all countries of the world. An international passport is required for travel to countries where the identity card is not sufficient.
Also check the validity period of your passport. In many countries it is required that your passport is valid for a long period (eg 6 months) when you leave this country. Request a new international passport in time and take into account the period required to obtain it.
How do you apply for an international passport?
a) The normal application
You apply for a new international passport (or its extension) with the services of your municipality. You bring four recent passport photos, your identity card and your old international passport (if you already had one). You have to count on a delivery period of three weeks. The price varies per municipality. international passports are always valid for 5 years.
b) The emergency procedure
If you can not wait 3 weeks if you leave unexpectedly abroad, you can opt for the fast procedure. The delivery time is then about three working days. This procedure has a higher cost.
d) Visa
For traveling to certain countries you need a visa. That is permission to stay there for a specific period of time. Visas are applied for at the embassy or consulate of the countries to be visited who decide for themselves whether or not to issue a visa. Inform in good time what the delivery time is, which documents you have to present and whether you can also arrange everything by mail. The price for a visa may differ from the country to be visited and the period of validity of the visa. Some countries can issue a visa for a fee upon arrival in the country of destination.
e) International vaccination certificate
Many countries, especially risk areas, refuse access if you do not have an internationally recognized certificate of vaccination against certain diseases. This is also called the 'yellow booklet'.
The mandatory and / or recommended vaccinations can best be requested via the consulates concerned. The rules differ if you have already traveled to an area contaminated with cholera, malaria or yellow fever. We advise you to consult your doctor in any case. You can also contact the Travelfoon of the Institute of Tropical Medicine on telephone number 0900 101 10.
f) Parental consent
there are no Belgian or international procedures or forms that determine parental consent for travel with minors.
If the child travels with one of the parents, it is recommended that this parent takes a written agreement from the other parent, which is best explained by the municipality.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends parental consent if the child is traveling alone or in the company of persons other than the parents. Belgian travelers can best inform themselves at the embassy or consulate of the country of destination, about any additional required documents for children traveling alone.
3. Other nationalities
a) Required documents for passengers with Moroccan nationality (subject to possible changes)
Always contact the relevant embassy or consulate for up-to-date information regarding travel formalities.
BELGIUM
international passport, issued within the last ten years, valid until at least three months after the intended date of departure from the Schengen area + visa + outbound and return ticket mandatory.
FRANCE
international passport, issued within the last ten years, valid until at least three months after the intended date of departure from the Schengen area + visa + outbound and return ticket mandatory.
ITALY
international passport, issued within the last ten years, valid until at least three months after the intended date of departure from the Schengen area + visa + outbound and return ticket mandatory.
THE NETHERLANDS
international passport, issued within the last ten years, valid until at least three months after the intended date of departure from the Schengen area + visa + outbound and return ticket mandatory.
SPAIN
international passport, issued within the last ten years, valid until at least three months after the intended date of departure from the Schengen area + visa + outbound and return ticket mandatory.
ALL OTHER DESTINATIONS
Please contact your Embassy or the Consulate of the country of destination.
b) Documents required for passengers of FRENCH nationality (subject to change)
Always contact the relevant embassy or consulate for up-to-date information regarding travel formalities.
BELGIUM
Valid identity card.
MOROCCO
international passport valid during stay.
ALL OTHER DESTINATIONS
Please contact your Embassy or the Consulate of the country of destination.
c) All other nationalities
Always contact the relevant embassy or consulate for up-to-date information regarding travel formalities.
• For certain nationalities, a round-trip ticket is required in addition to a visa. Please always contact the respective embassy or consulate for more information regarding correct travel formalities.
