Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade quietly refreshed its Smartraveller advice for Belgium late on 25 June 2026. While the overall level remains “exercise normal safety precautions”, the update highlights two mobility-critical points: the temporary re-introduction of border checks by France, Germany and the Netherlands, and the “severe travel disruption” caused by frequent Belgian strikes.
![Australian travel advisory flags Belgian border-control delays and strike risk]()
For travellers who need help navigating Belgium’s changing entry requirements—whether securing a business visa, understanding how the new EES biometric checks might affect them, or obtaining expedited paperwork—VisaHQ offers an end-to-end service. Its dedicated Belgium page (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) provides real-time updates, step-by-step application tools and expert advisors who can streamline the process for Australian nationals and other travellers alike.
DFAT urges travellers to factor additional time for land crossings, especially at busy Benelux motorway junctions and Eurostar/Thalys hubs, where manual passport inspections can add 30-60 minutes. The notice also reminds dual nationals that the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) records biometrics at first Schengen entry and may generate longer queues during the summer peak. The bulletin lists transport hubs, including Brussels-Midi station and BRU airport, as perennial protest flashpoints and recommends monitoring local media for last-minute strike calls. Recent incidents—such as the 25 June general strike—reinforce the warning. Business-visa holders are advised to carry printed appointment letters in case police request proof of purpose. Although tailored for Australian citizens, Smartraveller’s risk language is widely used by travel-management companies to calibrate duty-of-care thresholds. Corporations relocating staff to EU headquarters in Brussels should circulate the advisory and consider staggered arrival windows around planned demonstrations. The update will feed into global GDS systems within 48 hours, meaning airlines may proactively notify passengers of potential delays at Belgian land borders.
For travellers who need help navigating Belgium’s changing entry requirements—whether securing a business visa, understanding how the new EES biometric checks might affect them, or obtaining expedited paperwork—VisaHQ offers an end-to-end service. Its dedicated Belgium page (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) provides real-time updates, step-by-step application tools and expert advisors who can streamline the process for Australian nationals and other travellers alike.
DFAT urges travellers to factor additional time for land crossings, especially at busy Benelux motorway junctions and Eurostar/Thalys hubs, where manual passport inspections can add 30-60 minutes. The notice also reminds dual nationals that the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) records biometrics at first Schengen entry and may generate longer queues during the summer peak. The bulletin lists transport hubs, including Brussels-Midi station and BRU airport, as perennial protest flashpoints and recommends monitoring local media for last-minute strike calls. Recent incidents—such as the 25 June general strike—reinforce the warning. Business-visa holders are advised to carry printed appointment letters in case police request proof of purpose. Although tailored for Australian citizens, Smartraveller’s risk language is widely used by travel-management companies to calibrate duty-of-care thresholds. Corporations relocating staff to EU headquarters in Brussels should circulate the advisory and consider staggered arrival windows around planned demonstrations. The update will feed into global GDS systems within 48 hours, meaning airlines may proactively notify passengers of potential delays at Belgian land borders.
