News and Events -----------

In November 2025, the UK Government announced the enforcement of the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) from 25 February 2026, which included information about the requirements for dual nationality citizens. This has inspired a number of questions from UK nationals resident in Belgium. At the BBCA AGM on 21 May members had the opportunity to put questions to HM Ambassador Anne Sherriff on this and other subjects. The article below gives advice on ETA, dual nationality and travel to/ from the UK from the Embassy and closes with a summary of relevant  parts of the Q&A session from 21 May.

British and Irish citizens do not need an ETA. Dual British citizens are exempt from needing an ETA, but are expected to present either a valid British passport or Certificate of Entitlement when travelling to the UK. You can renew your British passport via: GOV.UK

This is a requirement for all British citizens regardless of other nationality and is similar to the approach taken by other countries, including the United States, Australia and Canada.

The UK Government recognises that this is a significant change for carriers and travellers, and have therefore provided additional temporary guidance to carriers on possible alternative documentation, including expired passports issued in 1989 or later and alongside a valid non-visa national third country passport where biographic details match. It is an operational decision (i.e. down to the carrier) whether carriers accept alternative proof, and if so, what alternative proof they will accept.

The UK is moving to a modernised ‘digital permission’ system where international carriers are required to confirm, through automated checks against Home Office records, that passengers have valid permission or status to travel to the UK. All carriers (e.g. airlines, maritime and rail) have now been equipped with the necessary tools to verify travel permission via automated digital checks with the Home Office.

It is strongly recommended that passengers should obtain a British passport or Certificate of Entitlement to ensure the smoothest travel experience.

Matching biographic details, maiden names etc

Given the advice above with respect to the use of a valid non-visa national third country passport where biographic details match, there have been questions about the use of maiden name or non-matching names in passports (see Q&A below too).

British nationals can seek support directly from His Majesty’s Passport Officer (HMPO) and/or consult public guidance on gov.uk for further information: Names: aligning names on foreign documents - GOV.UK

HMPO also has a telephone help line (+44 300 222 0000). Further details can be found on the gov.uk website: Passport advice and complaints - GOV.UK

Q&A session with the Ambassador from our AGM on 21 May 2026

Q: There is confusion at the borders of Dunkirk, Calais and Gare du Midi etc on which passport to use.

A: Travellers should use the same passport as they exited the country when they return, but always show your Belgian ID / residence card.

Q: Can a dual national travel to UK without a valid UK passport?

A: UK nationals exempt from ETA requirements must prove their status by having a UK passport or certificate of entitlement. The government recognizes flexibility is required during the change and the use of out-of-date passports (post 1989) can be accepted at the UK Customs border. However, be aware some carriers have their own rules.

Q: Can I travel to UK with an Irish passport?

A: UK has a special rule for free movement between UK and Ireland.

Q: What if passports have different names (maiden / married names)?

A: When applying for a UK passport you can request a remark to explain this difference.

Calling all cricket fans and the ‘cricket curious’ in Belgium. An array of international cricket superstars are in Belgium this week playing in the inaugural EU T20 cricket competition. Players include Moeen Ali (pictured below in action for Antwerp Anchors), Jason Roy, James Vince, Alex Hales, Faf du Plessis, Shoaib Malik and many more.

EUT20 Belgium is a professional T20 (20 overs/ 120 balls per side) franchise cricket league in Belgium organised by Destino Legends Sports LLC in partnership with the Belgian Cricket Foundation. Approved by the International Cricket Council (ICC) the competition is the first of its kind in continental Europe.

Five teams are competing representing five cities in Belgium: Akcel United Brussels, Ghent Gladiators, Liege Red Lions, JB Bruges, and Antwerp Anchors.

All matches take place at the Hofstade sports ground just south of Mechelen.

The tournament started on 6 June and culminates this weekend with final round matches on 11, 12 and 13 June and the Final itself on Sunday 14 June from 16h30.

More information, including how to get (very reasonably priced) tickets, here. 

On the evening of Friday 19 June, the Spanish group of the Femmes d'Europe Association invites you to a very special event where art and solidarity come together to create a truly unforgettable experience, held in celebration of the Association’s 50th anniversary.

Flamenco will take centre stage, featuring a powerful, emotional and beautifully expressive performance combining dance, singing and live music. 

All proceeds from the event will be fully dedicated to assisting those most vulnerable, particularly women and children.

“Fâmes de la Terre” is much more than a performance: it is an invitation to share culture, sensitivity and social commitment in a warm, carefully curated and authentic atmosphere, accompanied by a selection of tapas and beverages.

For more details see the poster below with QR link for tickets.

 

The Caledonian Society of Brussels has announced that their St. Andrew’s Ball will be back for 2026 and will take place on Saturday 28 November. The venue will be the Steigenberger Wiltcher’s Hotel on Avenue Louise in Brussels and a ticket to the  ball will include a welcome drink, a three-course meal including wine and haggis, Scottish country dancing, musical entertainment and an open bar after the meal.

The CalSoc St Andrew’s Ball returned to Brussels last year, after a break of over ten years, and was a great success, with over 180 people attending. It was a great evening - from the wonderful hotel, the good food, the raffle with a huge range of fantastic prizes through to the lively dancing provided by the original Brussels-based Scottish ceilidh band, The Hoggies! No previous Scottish dancing experience is necessary as all dances will be explained on the night

Since capacity is limited, and the ball sold out by the end of June last year, grab a ticket asap! To register your interest, send an email to calsocbrussels@gmail.com , including your contact details. The CalSoc will then get back to you with payment instructions. Once payment is received, your seat at the ball will  be confirmed subject to availability.

Ticket prices are €150 each or €1450 for a table of 10.

Serve the City’s superb Second-hand English Book Sale will set up shop again at Stonemanor’s Everberg store on Saturday 13 June 2026.

Enjoy browsing in a great environment, bring your old books and/or buy others. You will find fiction, non-fiction and children’s books! The books are sold by the centimetre at with prices starting at €2 from 1-5cm, and €1 from 5cms onwards – so its cheaper the more you buy!

Books will be on sale from 10h00 to 15h30 and books can be donated between 10h00 and 12h00. All funds raise go directly to Serve the City to support their ongoing volunteer projects across Belgium. More details on the Serve the City website.

And the Serve The City Pub Quiz night is back on Wednesday 17 June! Think you’ve got what it takes to win Brussels’ most fun trivia night? Then join STC for their Serve the City Pub Quiz for an evening full of laughs, friendly competition, and great vibes, all while supporting amazing community projects in Brussels!

Teams are 4–6 people with a donation of €15 per person. The venue is URSquare, Brussels and it all kicks off from 19h30. Bring your smartest friends (or just the funniest ones ) and reserve your spot before it fills up!

Registration via this link. 

In June the Brussels Light Opera Company (BLOC) will be presenting two one-act comic operas. Five performances are programmed from 11 to 14 June at GC de Bosuil in Overijse.

The one-act operas are ‘The Zoo’ and ‘Trial by Jury’.

In ‘At the Zoo’ we meet two young men, in love with different women. One man faces rejection from his beloved's father due to his low social status as an apothecary, while the other has a more favourable situation with a lady working at a refreshment stall. Following suicide attempts and dramatic revelations, will love prevail in the end?

In ‘Trial by Jury’ Edwin, having fallen in love with another woman, has jilted Angelina, who is suing him for Breach of Promise of Marriage. The Judge and Jury all favour Angelina. Edwin proposes to marry both women on consecutive days, to which Angelina objects, but in the end the Judge finds a solution which will satisfy everyone.

Get your tickets here.

Its that time of year again – time to fill in your Belgian Tax Return on your 2025 income. But how to do it? What is your tax residency status and what are the consequences? How do you declare foreign income? What information do you have to prepare or provide?

Fortunately, the Expat Welcome Desk (EWD) of the Brussels Commissioner’s office is organising a webinar (in English) on these topics from 12h00 noon on Tuesday 19 May 2026.

The webinar will be primarily focused on expats working for Belgian employers. The session will be moderated by Selma Mitri, Legal Advisor and EWD Manager and the speaker is Eric Laurent, Tax Consultant at ERYV.

The webinar is free but mandatory registration is required before Friday 15 May at 17h00. More information on the webinar can be found here.

And you can register via this link.

The access link for the webinar will be sent via e-mail to registrants one day before the event. Remember to check your spam!

Anyone with a Scottish Accent who fancies being part of an advertising campaign for Visit Flanders

11-12 May in Antwerp.

Contact - 

Celandine Parent
Casting Director
+32 460 966 710
instagram.com/wewantyou.agency/

www.wewantyou.agency

On 9 May, people in cities across the world will come together in the quiet hours before dawn for Darkness Into Light, a powerful sunrise walk that shines a light on mental health, suicide prevention, and hope.

In Belgium, Darkness Into Light has once again chosen the CHS Helpline as its partner. That means all the money raised by the walk goes towards keeping this vital service running around the clock every day of the year. The CHS Helpline is a critical support for so many in their darkest moments.

You can join CHS and its supporters on the Darkness into Light walk on 9 May in Parc du Cinquantenaire, Brussels starting at 5 am to share a walk of hope.

The walk begins in darkness and ends as the sun rises – a symbol of remembrance, solidarity, and hope for the future. The walk remembers those who have died by suicide, honours the loved ones they left behind, and most importantly, supports the prevention of suicide and the promotion of mental well-being.

For more information and to sign up for the walk, please use this link and support this great cause.

For those outside Brussels, Darkness into Light walks will also take place on May 9 in Ghent, Leuven, Bruges, and Tervuren. Information about the starting points for those walks will be posted on the Darkness into Light page of the CHS website here.

See you there?