Notices
Coronavirus - Dedicated phone lines
Irish citizens in Belgium, or who intend travelling to Belgium, who have COVID-19 travel related queries not covered by our Travel Advice can call the dedicated Department of Foreign Affairs travel advice centre on +353 1 613 1733 (open: Mon - Fri, 10:00 - 17:00 Irish time).
Please contact the dedicated HSE phone line +353 41 685 0300 with queries relating to public health measures in Ireland and the COVID-19 passenger locator form.
Travel Advice for Belgium
The Department of Foreign Affairs advises against all non-essential travel to Belgium.
Our travel advice for Belgium is available here or by downloading the TravelWise app. Belgium specific information begins from 'Overview'.
Follow @IrishEmbBelgium and @DFATravelWise on Twitter for our latest updates.
Anyone traveling to Belgium from abroad (inc. Ireland) is required to complete a Public Health Passenger Locator Form in the 48 hours prior to travel.
Details of how to find a GP in Belgium, if you need a referral for COVID-19 testing, are available in our New in Belgium page.
Those travelling to Belgium from elsewhere in Ireland currently do not need to quarantine or be tested on arrival.
- Those resident or visiting Belgium are encouraged to familiarise themselves with public health measures.
- Measures include maintaining a social distancing (1.5 metres), respiratory etiquette and obligatory mask wearing in certain indoor and outdoor spaces.
- Sign up to BE-Alert to receive the latest email updates directly from the Belgian Crisis Centre.
Citizens' Registration
Irish citizens travelling to or resident in Belgium are encouraged to register their contact details with the Department of Foreign Affairs so that we can contact you or your family in case of emergency.
Travel to Ireland
The Irish Health Authorities require anyone coming into Ireland from Belgium to restrict their movements for 14 days. By law, passengers arriving in Ireland must complete a mandatory COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form and to submit it to the relevant authority at their port of entry.
Further information for those travelling to Ireland from Belgium is available here.
Exemptions are in place for providers of essential supply chain services such as hauliers, pilots and maritime staff.
Embassy Services
In order to provide a safe environment for our staff and our visitors, and adhere to public health guidelines, the Embassy is currently operating with reduced on-site staffing.
Our public office is closed as the Embassy is currently focused on providing emergency consular services only. Appointments are available for Irish citizens requiring emergency consular assistance by contacting us.
Answers to some of the most frequently asked questions can be found here.
For all other queries, please email us and we will respond to you as soon as possible.
If contacting us by phone, please ensure you include a phone number if leaving a voicemail message so that we can return your call.
Irish Passport Services
It is currently only possible to apply for an Irish passport (renewal or first passport) in Belgium using Passport Online. You should not make travel arrangements without a valid passport.
Please do not send us paper applications as these cannot be processed at present.
Passport Online FAQ | Passport Application Tracking: Belgium
If you have a query regarding an existing passport application that you have submitted to the Embassy, or if you need a travel document for a genuine emergency (death or serious illness of a family member, or emergency medical treatment), please contact us.
If you have a query in relation to an application submitted using Passport Online, please contact the Passport Office.
Visas for Ireland
We have temporarily ceased accepting new visa applications. For more information, please visit the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service's website.
• Long Stay Visas (‘D’ categories) applications for those moving to Ireland can now be submitted by registered post only.
• Please do not visit the Embassy in Brussels as it will not be possible to submit your application.
• Short-stay Visas (‘C’ categories), for visits of less than 90 days, will not be processed due to ongoing restrictions in Ireland.
