Coronavirus situation - Notices
Closure Notice
Please note that Embassy Brussels will be closed on Thursday 21 May & Friday 22 May.
If you have a travel related query, you can call +353 1 613 1733 or use the WebChat facility.
Emergency contact details for Irish citizens requiring assistance in Belgium while we are closed are available here.
COVID-19 Travel Advisory
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade advises against all non-essential travel overseas until further notice.
Those needing to return to Ireland should arrange to do so as soon as possible and without delay, in light of disruption in international travel. Those travelling from Belgium (or transiting via Belgium), please monitor your airline’s website regularly. There have been signifcant reductions in the number of travel options between Ireland & Belgium.
Arriving in Ireland from another country
The Irish Health Authorities require anyone coming into Ireland, apart from Northern Ireland, to self-isolate for 14 days, upon arrival, and to complete a Public Health Passenger Locator Form (GA | EN) to this effect. This also applies to Irish citizens. Check the Irish Health Service COVID-19 Advice Page for full information on these requirements.
Exemptions are in place for providers of essential supply chain services such as hauliers, pilots and maritime staff.
If you have queries on the health-related controls or restrictions on people coming into Ireland, please contact the HSE (details below).
Coronavirus - Dedicated phone lines
Irish citizens in Belgium, or who intend travelling to Belgium, who have Coronavirus (COVID-19) travel related queries not covered by our Travel Advice can call the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s dedicated advice centre on +353 1 613 1733 or use the WebChat facility.
Please contact the dedicated HSE phone line +353 41 685 0300 with queries relating to public health measures in Ireland.
Citizens' Registration
Irish citizens travelling to or resident in Belgium are encouraged to register their contact details with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade so that we can contact you or your family in case of emergency.
Please note that this is separate to the Embassy News & Events newsletter.
Travel Advice for Belgium
Travel to Belgium for non-residents or non-citizens is only permitted if travel is essential. The criteria for essential travel and details of any documents/proof of essential travel required is available here and in the ‘International’ FAQs here.
Anyone entering Belgium is obliged to observe 14-day self-isolation upon entering the country, with the exception of those in transit or those who meet the specific exemptions listed in the ‘International’ FAQs here.
Our travel advice for Belgium is available here or by downloading the TravelWise app.
Follow @IrishEmbBelgium and @DFATravelWise on Twitter for the latest updates.
Those resident or remaining in Belgium are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the public health measures in place. Details of the Belgian government’s enhanced measures aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus and the proposed easing of restrictions, if circumstances permit, are available here.
- Belgian Health Ministry: Coronavirus Advice Page FR | NL | EN
- Frequently Asked Questions on public health measures in Belgium
- Sign up to BE-Alert to receive the latest updates directly from the Belgian authorities.
Embassy Services
The Embassy is currently operating remotely and our public office is closed, so as to support efforts in Belgium to suppress the transmission of the Coronavirus.
The Embassy is currently focussed on providing emergency consular services only.
Appointments are available for Irish citizens requiring emergency consular assistance by contacting us.
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
In line with restrictions in place in the passport service in Ireland, the Embassy is temporarily not processing passport applications.
You can continue to apply using Passport Online, however applications (including those sent to the Embassy) will only be processed once normal passport operations resume in Ireland.
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.
Visas for Ireland
We have temporarily ceased accepting new visa applications. For more information, please visit the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service's website.
Embassy Events
We regret to announce that we have decided to postpone all public events at the embassy for the coming months.
