The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) revised its Belgium travel advisory on 21 January, flagging the national rail strike scheduled for 25–30 January and urging travellers to consult SNCB journey planners and carrier websites before departure. The page remains ‘current’ as of 26 January. (gov.uk)
Although the update predates the strike’s start by several days, it is the first government advisory to spell out the potential impact on both domestic and international routes. British business travellers, who make up a significant share of Eurostar’s premium segment, are advised to expect last-minute cancellations and to monitor strike information via the Safety and Security section.
![UK Foreign Office updates Belgium travel advice to warn of week-long rail strike]()
For those needing to amend travel plans or refresh entry documents at short notice, VisaHQ’s Belgium portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) offers on-demand visa processing, document checklists and live regulatory alerts. Its digital tools can be integrated into corporate travel workflows, giving mobility managers and travellers a single dashboard for Schengen requirements, courier options and any strike-related extensions that may become available.
From a compliance perspective, UK employers sending staff to Belgium must ensure A1 certificates and work-permit holders do not inadvertently over-stay because of transport delays; documentation showing that the strike counts as force majeure can mitigate penalties.
The advisory also reminds travellers of Belgium’s nationwide demonstration culture, noting six general strikes in 2025. Global-mobility teams should integrate such alerts into pre-trip briefings and duty-of-care dashboards.
Although the update predates the strike’s start by several days, it is the first government advisory to spell out the potential impact on both domestic and international routes. British business travellers, who make up a significant share of Eurostar’s premium segment, are advised to expect last-minute cancellations and to monitor strike information via the Safety and Security section.
For those needing to amend travel plans or refresh entry documents at short notice, VisaHQ’s Belgium portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) offers on-demand visa processing, document checklists and live regulatory alerts. Its digital tools can be integrated into corporate travel workflows, giving mobility managers and travellers a single dashboard for Schengen requirements, courier options and any strike-related extensions that may become available.
From a compliance perspective, UK employers sending staff to Belgium must ensure A1 certificates and work-permit holders do not inadvertently over-stay because of transport delays; documentation showing that the strike counts as force majeure can mitigate penalties.
The advisory also reminds travellers of Belgium’s nationwide demonstration culture, noting six general strikes in 2025. Global-mobility teams should integrate such alerts into pre-trip briefings and duty-of-care dashboards.
