Latest Notices
Updated: 27 September 2021
1. Travel to Ireland | 2. Travel to Belgium | 3. Embassy Services | 4. Passports | 5. Visas for Ireland
1. Travel to Ireland from Belgium
Passengers must complete an e-Passenger Locator Form online prior to travel. This is available at: gov.ie/locatorform
You also need to have appropriate valid proof of vaccination or recovery, or present evidence of a negative RT-PCR result from a test taken within 72 hours prior to arrival in Ireland. Ireland is operating the EU Digital Covid Certificate (EU-DCC). Your EU-DCC can be used as proof of vaccination / recovery / negative RT-PCR test result. Details of how to obtain the EU-DCC if resident in Belgium can be found here.
Children between the ages of 12 and 17 are required to have a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to arrival, unless they have valid proof of vaccination or recovery.
There is no quarantine requirement for those travelling to Ireland directly from Belgium with appropriate valid proof of vaccination (details of when you are considered fully vaccinated is outlined here), or recovery or a negative RT-PCR test (no older than 72 hours prior to arrival). Different guidance may apply if arriving in Ireland via Great Britain.
Information on travel to Ireland is available at: gov.ie/travel
If you have queries of an urgent nature regarding travel to Ireland in the context of COVID-19, the DFA Emergency Travel Advice Line number is +353 1 613 1700 (open: Mon-Fri).
If you are travelling from Ireland into Northern Ireland (Antrim, Armagh, Derry, Down, Fermanagh & Tyrone), check this guidance on requirements in place for travel to Northern Ireland.
Visit our Frequently Asked Travel Questions page
2. Travel to Belgium from Ireland
Ireland is designated as a red region by the Belgian authorities. All passengers arriving from Ireland must complete a Passenger Locator Form in the 48 hours prior to travel.
Testing and quarantine requirements differ for residents (i.e. those with Belgian residence cards) and non-residents. Please consult our travel advice for Belgium and our Frequently Asked Travel Questions page for more details.
Further information for those intending on travelling to Belgium is available from the Belgian Health Ministry.
As of 17 September, the Brussels Region has introduced a 10 day quarantine requirement and additional testing measures for those arriving from an EU red zone (including Ireland) who have not been fully vaccinated or do not have a recovery certificate.
- Information on coronavirus testing in Belgium is available from the Belgian Health Ministry and a map of coronavirus testing centres in Belgium is available here.
Irish citizens traveling 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.
3. Embassy Services
Our public office is operating by appointment only. Appointments are available for Irish citizens requiring consular assistance by contacting us.
For all other queries, please email us and we will respond 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.
4. Irish Passport Services
The Passport Office in Ireland is processing applications made using Passport Online. Passport Online is open to all applicants, including children, renewing their passports and those applying for their first passport who are resident in Belgium.
To avoid disappointment, we strongly advise applicants not to make travel arrangements without a valid passport.
It is currently not possible to apply via the Embassy. Queries about applications should be directed to the Passport Service’s Customer Service Hub.
More information is available on our Frequently Asked Questions page.
5. Visas for Ireland
We resumed accepting all visa applications on Monday 13 September. See our Visa Section for more information on visa services.
