With the summer season approaching and many Belgians travelling abroad, the Foreign Ministry is reminding travellers of the importance of being well prepared for a trip abroad. These 6 simple tips will get you off to a good start and will not only benefit Belgian nationals!
Belgians facing serious problems abroad can call on the consular network of the Belgian Foreign Ministry, which comprises 118 posts and over 300 honorary consuls worldwide.
This form of assistance is only available for the most serious situations, the foreign ministry is keen to emphasise. Such instances include a death, a serious accident, a worrying disappearance, a crime, an arrest or child abduction.
But there are limits to this assistance. The message from the ministry is that everyone is primarily responsible for their own journey. A whole host of minor but annoying problems can crop up during your trip. With good preparation, you can often prevent them. “Inform yourself, register, prepare,” is the advice.
1 Read the travel advice
‘In an increasingly unstable world, travelling can sometimes be a real challenge,’ says the Foreign Ministry. It strongly advises travellers to read the travel advice for the country they are visiting. You can find this on the Belgian Foreign Affairs website, which provides practical guidelines for all travel destinations.
2 Register on Travellers Online
The Foreign Ministry also strongly advises you to register on Travellers Online before departure. If anything happens at your destination, the Foreign Ministry will have a better overview of which Belgian nationals are in that locality. The Ministry can then contact you or reassure your family members if they contact the Ministry.
3 Check the validity of your travel documents
You may not always think about it but do check the validity of your identity and travel documents in good time. This prevents unpleasant surprises just before your trip. For some countries, you will also need a visa or travel permit.
4 Vaccinations and medication
Don’t forget about vaccinations and medication. “The right vaccinations, depending on your destination, as well as taking the necessary medication with you, can prevent a whole host of medical issues,” says the Foreign Ministry.
5 Travel insurance
Travel insurance ensures you can travel with peace of mind, without worrying about excessive costs in the event of an accident or repatriation.
6 Important telephone numbers
Having to frantically search for the right telephone numbers in an emergency is not fun. ‘By keeping the relevant numbers and a copy of your identity documents to hand, you can get help much more easily if problems arise!’

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