Location: Belgium
Event:
Note: This information will continue to be sent regularly for the benefit of new enrollees in STEP. (NEW) information from previous emails is marked.
U.S. Ambassador to Belgium Ronald Gidwitz has recorded a video message for U.S. citizens in Belgium during this unprecedented time. If you haven't already, we hope that you can take a moment to view the video. You can only reach the video by clicking directly on the link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOES8TgYmag&feature=youtu.be), but please feel free to share this link with any fellow U.S. citizen in Belgium – and encourage them to sign up for STEP, the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. We also encourage you to follow U.S. Embassy Brussels on social media - Twitter and Facebook.
International commercial flight options currently exist for U.S. citizens in Belgium via neighboring countries. U.S. citizens who wish to return to the United States should make commercial arrangements as soon as possible unless they are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period. The U.S. government does not anticipate arranging repatriation flights in Belgium at this time. Please review our webpage, Information About COVID-19 and Travel to the United States, for further details. If you will stay in Belgium, Federal Public Service Interior has posted information relevant to U.S. citizens prevented from leaving on how to extend their stay. (NEW) If you have or are considering leaving Belgium temporarily, FPS Interior has posted important information about Travel to Belgium during the temporary travel restrictions.
In accordance with U.S. and Belgian measures to control the spread of COVID-19, U.S. Embassy Brussels has suspended routine consular services. Emergency American Citizens Services will continue to be available, including for emergency passports. U.S. citizens requesting an emergency appointment must write to USCitizenBrussels@state.gov or call +32 (0)2 811 4000 (8am-10am M-F unless critically urgent). The embassy will continue to accept routine U.S. passport renewals by mail, however you should expect significant delays due to public health measures affecting passport printing facilities in the United States.
There are confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Belgium and the government has implemented measures to reduce the spread of the virus, including extending its confinement measures through May 3. Citizens are required to stay at home in order to avoid contact outside their immediate family, except for essential travel, such as for food and medical needs, as well as for physical activity. Visit the local government COVID-19 websites https://www.info-coronavirus.be/ and http://www.crisiscentrum.be/ for updated information.
The Department of State has issued a Global Level 4 Health Advisory for COVID-19 and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 3 Global COVID-19 Pandemic Notice.
Actions to take:
Assistance:
- U.S. Embassy in Belgium, located at 27 Boulevard du Regent/Regentlaan, 1000 Brussels. Tel. +32-2-811-4000, 08:00 am - 06:00 pm Monday through Friday, except U.S. and Belgian holidays. After-hours emergency number for U.S. citizens is +32-2-811-4000; USCitizenBrussels@state.gov
- 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries;
- Belgium Country Information
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages;
- Follow us on Twitter and Facebook
