The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) refreshed its Belgium travel guidance on 8 July, keeping the advisory at ‘normal’ but adding fresh warnings about national strike action and potential knock-on effects at borders and transport hubs. The update lists a series of strikes since March 2025 and cautions that new stoppages may be announced at short notice, potentially affecting Eurostar, Brussels Airport and internal rail services. Although the document’s main ‘Entry Requirements’ section still references standard Schengen rules, mobility managers should note the indirect reference to longer processing times: the FCDO encourages travellers to “monitor local news and check with your provider regarding potential delays and closures.” The language reflects growing concern in London about biometric bottlenecks linked to the Schengen Entry/Exit System (EES), even though the UK is no longer in the EU.
![UK updates Belgium travel advice, flags strike-related disruption and continued border delays]()
To streamline that preparation, organisations can lean on VisaHQ’s Belgium page, which aggregates visa requirements, EES updates and fast-changing border regulations in one dashboard, saving mobility teams precious time when itineraries have to pivot.
For British companies sending staff to Brussels or Belgian subsidiaries, the advisory underlines the importance of flexible itineraries, robust travel insurance and contingency budgets for accommodation or re-routing. HR teams should ensure posted workers carry proof of assignment and are prepared for both industrial action and extended border formalities. The update also maintains Belgium’s threat level at OCAD ‘3’ (possible and imminent), so employers must continue to integrate security briefings into pre-trip planning. While no new restrictions have been imposed, the FCDO guidance signals that operational volatility—from strikes to passport-control delays—remains a live issue for the next 12 months.
To streamline that preparation, organisations can lean on VisaHQ’s Belgium page, which aggregates visa requirements, EES updates and fast-changing border regulations in one dashboard, saving mobility teams precious time when itineraries have to pivot.
For British companies sending staff to Brussels or Belgian subsidiaries, the advisory underlines the importance of flexible itineraries, robust travel insurance and contingency budgets for accommodation or re-routing. HR teams should ensure posted workers carry proof of assignment and are prepared for both industrial action and extended border formalities. The update also maintains Belgium’s threat level at OCAD ‘3’ (possible and imminent), so employers must continue to integrate security briefings into pre-trip planning. While no new restrictions have been imposed, the FCDO guidance signals that operational volatility—from strikes to passport-control delays—remains a live issue for the next 12 months.
