Travel · Crime, scams & Britons abroad · 18 October 2026
FCDO updates Belgium travel advice on strikes and passport rules
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has updated its travel advice for Belgium to include details on recent and upcoming strike action. The guidance notes that strikes can cause travel disruption and may be announced with little warning. It also sets out specific passport validity requirements for entry into the Schengen area.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has published updated travel advice for Belgium, incorporating information on strike activity. The department highlights that strike action in the country is an ongoing issue which can lead to travel disruption. General strikes have taken place on specific dates in 2025 and 2026, and further action is scheduled.
The guidance lists several dates for general strikes, including 31 March, 29 April, 14 October, 26 November, and 15 December 2025. In 2026, general strikes are listed for 12 March, 12 May, and 9 and 12 October. Travellers are advised to monitor local news and check with their providers for potential delays, as strike action may be announced with little warning.
Entry requirements are also detailed in the updated advice. Passports must have a date of issue less than 10 years before arrival in the Schengen area, and must remain valid for at least 3 months after the planned departure. The guidance notes that passports renewed before 1 October 2018 might have invalid issue dates, and entry will be denied if a traveller does not have a valid travel document or uses a reported lost or stolen passport.
These entry requirements apply to people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. The announcement does not specify whether the listed strike dates are confirmed or subject to change, nor does it provide details on the specific sectors affected by the industrial action.
Written by StreetOwl from Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s own announcement. It was drafted by StreetOwl’s own model, every figure and quotation was checked by code against the announcement, and it was read and approved by Michael Rossi before it went up. It says what was announced, not what anyone should do about it.
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