Do Ukrainian citizens need a visa to enter Belgium?
Ukrainians can visit Belgium without a visa for short stays. You can travel around the country and other Schengen states for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. The visa-free stay is valid for tourism, family visits, or business, but it doesn’t allow you to work or study.
Insurance policy for Ukrainians traveling to Belgium
Every Ukrainian citizen entering Belgium must have valid travel insurance. The plan must:
- Work in all Schengen states;
- Cover emergency care and repatriation;
- Include at least €30,000 coverage.
Such insurance is easy to arrange online before travel and is one of the mandatory entry conditions for Belgium.
Documents Ukrainian citizens need at the Belgian border
When entering Belgium visa-free, you may need to present:
- A valid passport (issued within 10 years, valid 3 months beyond departure).
- Proof of trip purpose (hotel booking, invitation, or itinerary).
- Proof of funds (bank statement or card).
- Return ticket or other evidence of leaving the Schengen area.
- Travel insurance valid for your stay.
For children: a birth certificate, parental consent, and copies of parents’ passports if traveling with one parent or another adult.
Extension of stay in Belgium for Ukrainians
A visa-free stay cannot be extended beyond 90 days except in exceptional cases. Those wishing to remain in Belgium longer must apply for a national visa (type D) or a residence permit prior to the expiration of their current stay.
If force majeure or medical emergencies occur, an extension may be requested. Such applications must include supporting documentation and be filed before the end of the 90-day period, for review by the Immigration Office of Belgium.
The best places to visit in Belgium for Ukrainian citizens
Belgium may be small, but it’s full of unique cities, each with its own atmosphere.
- Bruges offers a true medieval experience — cobblestone streets, canals, and fairy-tale architecture.
- Brussels, the European capital, blends Gothic buildings, fine chocolate, and modern art.
- Ghent is lively and youthful, known for its castles, street cafes, and cultural events.
- Antwerp stands out as Belgium’s fashion and design hub, famous for its diamond district and museums.
- Liège and Namur reflect the charm of Wallonia, with riverside views, history, and local cuisine.
Belgium is perfect for short trips — you can cross the whole country in just a few days while enjoying its chocolate, waffles, beer, and culture.
A Transit Schengen Visa is a permit for persons who only need to enter the Schengen territory in order to change their means of transport.
What is an Airport Transit Schengen Visa?
An Airport Transit Schengen Visa is a permit designated for travellers that have to change flights at a Schengen airport. It enables them to stop and wait in the international transit area of a Schengen airport for their flight to their destination country.
However, this visa does not permit its holder to leave the international transit area of an airport, even if the traveller has to wait overnight.
Please note that if you need to transit through more than one airport within the Schengen Area, then you are no longer eligible for an Airport Transit Visa. You should instead apply for a regular Schengen Visa (C Type).
This happens because flights between two or more Schengen countries are considered to be “domestic” flights, even if they are undertaken for transit purposes.
You will also have to apply for a regular Schengen Visa (C Type), in case you need to leave the airport in order to take your flight in another airport within the same country.
The nationals of the following countries need an airport transit visa when passing through the international transit area of any Schengen country airport:
- Afghanistan
- Bangladesh
- The Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Ghana
- Iran
- Iraq
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Somalia
- Sri Lanka
Airport Transit Schengen Visa Exempt Categories
You may be exempt from the airport visa requirement, even if you belong to any of the above-listed countries if you:
1) hold a diplomatic passport
2) are a family member of a citizen of the EU, EEA or Switzerland
3) hold a valid visa issued by a Schengen state, a Member State of the European Union or the European Economic Area, Canada, Japan or the United States
4) hold a valid residence permit issued by a Schengen state, a Member State of the European Union or the European Economic Area, the Principality of Andorra, Canada, Japan, Republic of San Marino, or the United States
5)are a flight crew member national of a contracting party to the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation
The required documents to apply for an Airport Transit Schengen Visa are as follows:
-
Visa application form. A regular short-stay visa application form, fully completed, printed and signed at the end.
- Two recent photos. Taken within the last three months and according to the requirements for a Schengen visa photo.
- Valid passport. With at least two blank pages in order to be able to affix the visa sticker in it. It must be no older than ten years and with validity.
- Documents related to the onward journey to the final destination
- Return flight ticket reservation showing the ongoing travel to a third country
- Visa issued by the country of your travel destination in case you need a visa
- Travel insurance policy. That covers any medical emergencies with a minimum of €30,000.
- Proof of paid visa fee. Which costs the same as a short-stay visa.
To apply for a Transit Schengen visa, follow the steps listed below in the given order:
1) Check if you are required to hold this visa.
2)Complete the application form.
3) Collect the required documents. You can find the required documents for a Schengen visa listed and explain above in this article.
4) Make an appointment.
5) Attend your appointment to submit the required documents.
6) Pay the fee. The fee for a Transit visa is €60. Still, you should check the list of Schengen visa fees since you may have to pay a reduced fee instead, or no fee at all.
You will have to submit your Transit Schengen Visa application at the representative visa authority of the country where the airport/seaport where you will change flight/vessel is located.
This representative authority may be:
- The embassy of the country where the airport/seaport is located
- The consulate
- A visa center of a third party to which this country has outsourced visa submission
- The embassy/consulate of another country to which this country has outsourced visa submission
Submit your Transit Schengen Visa application at least 15 days prior to your trip to the Schengen Zone. It is highly recommended to submit your application as soon as possible, though you cannot do it more than three months prior to your planned departure date.
You will receive an answer on your Transit Schengen Visa application within two weeks approximately.
In case of specific or extraordinary situations, this period may extend up to 30 or 60 calendar days. That is why you are highly suggested to lodge your application well in advance. However, you still cannot submit an application more than three months prior to your trip.
An Airport Transit Schengen visa is valid for 24 hours, and only in the international transit area of a Schengen airport. If you need to leave this area or to remain there longer than one day, then you will have to apply for a regular Schengen visa instead maximum of five days in the Schengen territory, before leaving the Schengen area.
Requirements for cats/dogs or ferrets:
1) Microchip + rabies shots:
The microchip (15 digits).
If you are traveling to a EU country and your pet has the 9 digit microchip, your pet will either need another 15 digit microchip OR you will need to bring your own scanner. (the 15 digit ISO microchip is fast becoming the world standard).In Europe, the standard pet microchip meets ISO standard 11784/17785 and is a 15 digit microchip operating at 134.2 kHz )
“Pet dogs, cats, and ferrets must be identified with a microchip compatible with ISO standard 11784 or 11785 or the appropriate microchip reader must be provided along with the pet. Microchip implantation must occur prior to rabies vaccination. Any rabies vaccination that occurs prior to microchip implantation is not considered valid regardless of whether the animal was up-to-date on its previous rabies vaccines. In this case, the animal must be revaccinated. 21 days must have elapsed after the first (primary) vaccination after implantation of the microchip before the animal is eligible to enter the European Union. A rabies vaccination is considered primary if either: (1) an animal was up-to-date on its rabies vaccination but vaccination occurred prior to microchip implantation, (2) vaccination was not carried out within the period of validity of a previous vaccination, or (3) the animal was vaccinated for the first time.“
2) The rabies vaccinations:
After the implant of the microchip and at least 21 days before traveling. (So at least 21 days - but the “maximum” vaccination of a pet cannot exceed 3 years - otherwise the pet will need to get vaccinated again.) Also, if the shots were given before the implantation of the new microchip, your pet will need a rabies booster shot and again has to wait at least 21 days before traveling.
(A puppy has to be at least 3 months old before getting the vaccination and afterwards wait at least 21 days before travel)
3) Veterinary certificate (within 10 days of travel):
If the veterinary is USDA accredited, his signature will suffice.
5 or less dogs, cats, and ferrets traveling:
- Owner traveling on the same plane as the pet OR owner travels within 5 days before or after the pet
Certificate must be issued within 10 days of entering the EU
- Designated person traveling on the same plane as the pet OR designated person* travels within 5 days before or after the pet
Certificate must be issued within 10 days of entering the EU
- Neither the owner nor a designated person is traveling within 5 days of the pet
Certificate must be issued within 48 hours of departing the U.S.
- Designated person: a family member, friend, or other person authorized by the owner to travel with pet - Health Certificate (Movement of no more than 5 non-commercial pet animals)
6 or more dogs, cats and ferrets traveling
- Privately owned pets
Certificate must be issued within 48 hours of departing the U.S.
- Pets traveling in a group to the EU to participate in competitions, exhibitions, sporting events, or in training for those events
Certificate must be issued within 10 days of entering the EU - Health Certificate (Movement of commercial of more than 5 non-commercial pet animals)
Please note:
The EU health certificate is valid for travel within the EU for up to 4 months from the date it is issued by the USDA Accredited Veterinarian as long as the rabies vaccine documented on it does not expire.
4)Post-rabies/titillation test:
This is only needed if your pet is coming from a third world country, not if your pet is leaving from the US. (For example: If you came back from Africa, your pet would need it)
If you have any more questions, please contact Mrs. Malliet, Mrs. Rixta Lycklama or M. Moelans. at the email address below.
Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain
Import, Export & Notifications
Food Safety Center (6th floor, office 04), Kruidtuinlaan 55
1000 Brussel , Belgium
Tel.: +32 211 8466
Fax.: +32 211 8468
E-mail:
[email protected]: with regard to import controls in Belgium; now managed by the " Thematic Control Unit Border Control Point " (TCU BCP)
[email protected]: with regard to intra-community certification and exports to third countries, now managed by the "Notifications and Certification Cell" (CNC)"
Customs regulations in Belgium are standard for the EU.
Duty-free import of cigarettes - up to 200 pcs., cigars - 100 pcs., cigars - 50 pcs., tobacco - 250 g, strong spirits - up to 1 l, wine - up to 2 l . Persons transporting alcoholic beverages and cigarettes must be over 17 years of age.
It is prohibited to export weapons and ammunition, antiques, as well as objects of cultural, historical or artistic value without a special permit.
There are no restrictions on the import or export of currency in the form of banknotes or traveler's checks. Without filling out a special customs declaration, it is allowed to move currency, checks and securities for a total amount of no more than 10,000 euros across the border.
Duty-free import when entering from outside the EU
Other products:
• Medicines - for personal use only
• Goods for personal use of a non-commercial nature in the amount of no more than 430 euros when traveling by plane or ship;
• Goods for personal use of a non-commercial nature in the amount of no more than 300 euros when traveling by land;
• Goods for personal use of a non-commercial nature worth no more than 150 euros for travelers under 15 years of age.
Non-commercial items are incidental and consist solely of goods for the traveler's personal or family use, or goods intended as gifts.
Prohibited:
• Meat and dairy products produced outside the EU countries, with the exception of products in limited quantities from Andorra, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland and a small amount of certain products from other countries;
• Protected species and their products, eg ivory, turtle shell, coral, reptile skin, wood from the Amazon forests.
Limited import:
• pets must be identified (brand or electronic identification system), vaccinated against rabies, as well as the necessary veterinary certificate;
• no more than 10 kg of meat, milk and dairy products brought from the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Iceland;
• infant milk powder, baby food and special medical food (including pet food) may be allowed if they do not need to be refrigerated before opening and if these products are factory-produced in original sealed packaging and the quantity does not exceed 10 kg (for the production of the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Iceland) and 2 kg (for the production of other countries).
• fish, only gutted and its weight does not exceed 20 kg;
• currency - without restrictions, if it is imported from EU countries. All travelers arriving from outside the EU must declare amounts exceeding 10,000 euros or the equivalent in another currency;
• fur and leather shoes made from protected animal species - a special permit is required.
Limited export (depends on declaration):
• Currency - without restrictions, when traveling to a country that is not part of the EU. All travelers arriving from outside the EU must declare amounts exceeding €10,000 or the equivalent in another currency.
1. You will rarely need cash in Belgium
You can pay with your card everywhere, except maybe in some tiny shops or souvenir shops. Even in public transportation, you can usually pay not only with your card, but also with your phone or smartwatch.
2. Do not rent a car in Brussels
If you are planning a trip to Brussels, don't rent a car (unless it's for a day trip around the city). Public transportation in Brussels is generally safe (beware of pickpockets), convenient, efficient and very affordable.
Many areas of Brussels (including the tourist areas) can be easily explored on foot, and you can take a bus, tram or metro to reach outlying parts of the city. Renting a car will only lead to additional costs, expensive parking and is generally not a good idea for getting around the city.
3. Travel by train in Belgium
Belgian trains are comfortable, cheap and fast. You can get from Brussels to Ghent or Antwerp in 30 minutes! This makes day trips from Brussels very easy.
Within the country, two people can travel by train for the price of one with a "duo ticket".
Check connections and buy tickets on
the website of the Belgian National Railway Company (SNBC).
4. Bring an umbrella and raincoat
As in England and northern France, rain is a common occurrence in Belgian life. In Brussels, for example, there are about 140 rainy days a year!
5. Take advantage of numerous Belgian train discounts
Belgium has incredibly good rail connections and train travel is surprisingly affordable, thanks in large part to a number of attractive discounts.
Here are some of them that are worth paying attention to:
- Youth ticket (formerly Go Pass 1): A ticket for people under the age of 26 that allows you to buy one train ticket for €7.10 to any destination in the country. It is much cheaper than paying the full price!
- Standard Multi (Rail Pass): Provides you with 10 trips throughout the year for €96 and these trips can be transferred to other people in your group, so it can be an easy way to save money if you are traveling in a group. A youth pass is also available (for people under 26), which is even cheaper.
- Weekend ticket: If you are planning day trips or additional trips on the weekend, you can save 50% of the fare with a weekend ticket, which is valid for round trips departing after 19:00 on Friday and returning by Sunday.
- Discovery tickets: Give you 50% off a round-trip train ticket if you use it to visit attractions that are on their list. Similarly, you can use Bravo Tickets, which give you a 50% discount if you are going to one of the concerts or festivals on their list.
6. Don't forget to also have at least a 1 euro coin for the museum lockers
Especially in Brussels, it is noticeable that many museums are very strict about tourists carrying ordinary backpacks around the hall and emphasize that they must be left in a locker. Most of these lockers require a deposit of one euro, which you will receive back, so just make sure you have this coin with you.
7. Keep an eye out for free museum admission days
One of the best ways to save money in Belgium is to find out in advance about free days at major museums.
In Brussels, for example, many museums are free on the first Wednesday and first Sunday of every month.
In Antwerp, the same goes for the last Wednesday of the month.
In Liege, there are also several free museums on the first Sunday.
So if you want to save some money, be sure to check if there are any such offers in your city.
8. Belgium is very friendly to cyclists
Like many other countries in Europe (including the neighboring Netherlands), Belgium is incredibly cyclist-friendly, and this is especially true in the Flemish part of the country.
Getting around by bike is a quick and efficient way to see more of the city and the sights in one go, and bike rental outlets can be easily found in most major cities and towns.
9. Don't trust the opening and closing hours listed on Google Maps!
Many tourists make the mistake of trusting the opening and closing hours listed on Google Maps, and this leads them astray many times.
For large museums and cultural attractions, the opening hours are quite accurate, but for restaurants, coffee shops, and small retail stores, the opening and closing times are often incorrect. Make sure you find accurate information on the store or restaurant's website. CityMapper is a good option for Brussels, but none of the other Belgian cities are listed in the app.
10. Do not plan to go shopping or sightseeing before 10 am.
Many commercial centers in Belgium start to come alive after 10 am, so don't rush to start your day too early.
If you're an early bird, take some time in the morning to explore a nearby park or sit and enjoy a leisurely morning coffee. Also, if you're visiting Belgium during the winter months (especially December and January), the sun doesn't rise until 8am!
Sources:
European emergency number Valid in Brussels and throughout Europe, for all medical emergencies Phone: 112
Online: www.sos112.be
Police emergencies Phone: 101. To find the nearest police station, see the section on police zones.
Fire and ambulance services Phone: 100
Online: firebru.brussels
Red Cross Phone: 105
Rode Kruis Vlaanderen (Dutch-speaking service)Online: www.rodekruis.be (NL)
In a medical emergency as a result of an accident, violence or a fire, call 100 (in Belgium) or 112 (valid throughout the European Union). Both of these numbers are free 24 hours a day from a landline, a public telephone or a mobile phone (even when networks are not available or overloaded.
The list of Belgian embassies and consulates abroad is published on the website of the FPS Foreign Affairs.
