Negative test for non-residents coming from a red area: what exceptions?

A ministerial decree of 12 January 2021 provides for exceptions to the rule that non-residents coming from a red area must present a negative test result on the basis of a test carried out at the earliest 72 hours before departure to Belgian territory. These exceptions concern in particular the categories of persons who have to travel to Belgium as part of their job.

Rule

Since 25 December 2020, any person, from the age of 12, arriving on Belgian territory, coming from a red area and not having his main residence in Belgium, is required to present a negative test result on the basis of a test carried out at the earliest 72 hours before departure to Belgian territory.

This obligation applies to travellers coming to Belgium:

• by carrier;
• who do not use a carrier and of whom:
  • the stay in Belgium exceeds 48 hours and
  • the preceding stay outside Belgium lasted more than 48 hours.

By carrier, we mean:

• the public or private air carrier,
• the public or private maritime carrier,
• the inland navigation carrier,
• the rail carrier or public or private bus, for transport from a country outside the European Union and the Schengen area.

Work-related exceptions

Since 12 January 2021, some exceptions to this rule officially apply, in particular for certain categories of persons travelling to Belgium as part of their job. Therefore, a negative test result is not required for:

• employees in the transport sector or transport service providers, including drivers of vehicles transporting goods intended for use on the territory as well as those who are merely in transit;
• seamen;
• the United Kingdom Border Force Officers;
• border workers.

Sources: ministerial decree of 12 January 2021 amending the ministerial decree of 28 October 2020 on emergency measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19, Belgian Official Gazette of 12 January 2021; ministerial order of 14 January 2021 amending the ministerial decree of 28 October 2020 on emergency measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19, Belgian Official Gazette of 15 January 2021.