This section contains advice and information for Irish citizens who encounter difficulties in Belgium

General

Our telephone number is: + 32 (0)2 2823 400. If you telephone at the weekend, you will be asked to leave a message on the answering machine. The answering machine is monitored regularly, and the Duty Officer at the Embassy will contact you as soon as possible. When you leave a message, remember to state your name, the nature of the problem, where you are now, and the details of how the Duty Officer can contact you (eg. leave your mobile phone number, or the phone number of the hotel/hostel where you are staying). If necessary, contact the police also.

Loss/Theft of Passport

If your passport is lost or stolen, you should firstly report the loss or theft to the nearest police station, as soon as possible after the event.  The police will issue you with a statement of loss confirming that you have made the report.  You will be required to present this when applying for a replacement travel document.

Secondly, contact the Embassy. A police report is accepted by some airlines in lieu of a passport, but always check with your airline before going to the airport. If your airline will not accept the police statement, the Embassy can issue you with an Emergency Travel Certificate.   You will need to present the police report and two passport photographs to apply for an Emergency Travel Certificate.  There is a fee of €15 for this service.

Police

If you are the victim of a crime while in Belgium, please contact the nearest police station or gendarmerie as soon as possible.  Normally, reports are only accepted if made in person and it is very difficult to make a report once you have left Belgium.  You will be asked to sign the draft report and will normally be given a copy of it to keep.  Please keep the copy carefully; it is not easy to get a duplicate issued.  The report may be necessary for follow-up investigation or for insurance claims, etc.  See above for specific information on reporting a lost or stolen passport.  Depending on the circumstances, you may also be given the contact details of victim support groups.

If you wish, you may also contact the Embassy, who can facilitate your communication with the police forces.

Arrest

If you are arrested, you may ask the Belgian authorities to inform the Embassy of your arrest.

The Embassy can:

• Visit you or arrange for you to be visited by an Embassy official
• If necessary, provide you with a list of local English-speaking lawyers
• Advise you about the prison system and about your entitlement to visits, mail and other facilities
• Bring details of any medical condition you may have to the attention of prison officials
• Pursue with the prison authorities on your behalf any complaints about ill-treatment or discrimination
• Pass messages to and from your family

However, the Embassy cannot:

• Secure better treatment for Irish citizens than local or other nationals receive
• Give or pay for legal advice
• Interfere with or influence the proper operation and application of the local judicial system
• Provide any financial assistance while you are in prison
• Pay bail bonds or fines