Jazmin Li
Brussels Airport is a hub for travellers, accommodating 25.7 million travellers a year, with 18% of those being transfer passengers. The airport has a range of facilities to assist those with connecting flights, including the Brussels Airport app and BRUce, which provide real-time updates on flights. The airport also has a transfer matrix that predicts with great accuracy who will make their connection and who may need assistance. This helps the airport to proactively rebook passengers' tickets if they are unable to make their connecting flight. Whether you need to go through security and border control again depends on where you are coming from and where you are going. If you are flying within the Schengen area, you can usually go straight to your gate. If you are flying from a Non-Schengen country to a Schengen country, you will need to go through security and border control.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of transfer passengers at Brussels Airport | 18% |
| Number of travellers at Brussels Airport per year | 25.7 million |
| Whether you need to go through security and border control | Depends on where you're coming from and where you're going |
| Whether you need to collect your luggage | Depends on whether you have booked two separate tickets or one ticket |
| Whether you need to check in again | No, if you have a single ticket |
| Whether you need to go through passport control | Yes, if your connection is from a Schengen country to a non-Schengen country |
| Whether you need to go through security checks | Yes, if your connection is from a non-Schengen country to a Schengen country |
| Whether you need a transit visa | Depends on your nationality and whether you are exiting "airside" |
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What You'll Learn
Schengen to Non-Schengen transfers
If you are transferring from a Schengen to a Non-Schengen destination at Brussels Airport, you will need to go through passport control and additional security checks. This is because your transfer at Brussels Airport depends on your departure point and destination.
For instance, if you are travelling from Beijing to Madrid, you will go through security and border control. However, if you are travelling from Madrid to Berlin, you can go directly to your gate without any extra security.
Brussels Airport accommodates 25.7 million travellers a year, 18% of whom are transfer passengers. The airport has introduced a new transfer matrix that can predict with great accuracy which passengers will make their connections and which will not. This helps the airport alleviate the stress of passengers and results in shorter delays for connecting flights.
If you are travelling with an EU passport holder, you can go through the EU line together, although you won't be able to use the self-scan machines. If you have an EU passport, immigration inside the airport is not usually an issue. However, if you are flying outside the EU, you must go through passport control first.
The minimum transfer time for a Schengen to Non-Schengen transfer is 70 minutes. However, some passengers have reported having a transfer time of 1 hour and 20 minutes, which they believe is sufficient.
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Non-Schengen to Schengen transfers
If you are travelling from a non-Schengen country to a Schengen country via Brussels Airport, you will need to go through security and border control. This means that, when you arrive at Brussels Airport, you will need to go through passport control and additional security checks before continuing to your gate.
Brussels Airport is not a large airport, and it is possible to get from one end to the other in around 20 minutes if you walk fast. There are three terminals, with Schengen flights arriving and departing at gate A, and non-Schengen flights arriving and departing at gate B. This means that, if you are travelling from a non-Schengen country to a Schengen country, you will need to transfer between these two terminals.
It is recommended that you have at least 50 minutes to transfer between flights at Brussels Airport, although some sources suggest that 45 minutes should be sufficient. If you are travelling with an EU passport holder, you can go through the EU line together, which may be faster. However, you will not be able to use the self-scan machines.
It is important to note that your baggage will usually be checked through to your next flight, unless you have booked two separate tickets. Therefore, if you are travelling from a non-Schengen country to a Schengen country on a single ticket, your baggage should be transferred between the two flights without you having to collect it at Brussels Airport.
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Luggage check-in and transfers
However, if you are travelling from a non-Schengen country to another non-Schengen country, you will need to go through security on arrival. For example, if you are travelling from Beijing to Kinshasa or Dakar, you will go through security when you arrive at Brussels Airport. Similarly, if you are travelling from a non-Schengen country to a Schengen country, you will need to go through security and border control. For instance, if you are travelling from Beijing to Madrid, you will need to pass through security and border control at Brussels Airport.
It is important to note that if you have booked two separate tickets, your luggage may not be automatically transferred to your next flight. In such cases, you will need to collect your luggage from the baggage claim area and check it in again for your connecting flight. However, if you have booked a connecting flight, your luggage will typically be checked through to your final destination. This means that you do not need to collect and re-check your luggage during your layover.
To ensure a smooth transfer, it is recommended to check your gate for your connecting flight and be aware of any additional security and passport checks that may be required, especially when travelling to or from a non-Schengen country. Additionally, Brussels Airport offers various check-in options, including online check-in, check-in at the airline's desk, and self-service kiosks. Online check-in is often the quickest and easiest option, allowing you to obtain your boarding pass in advance and proceed directly to security.
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Passport control and security checks
Brussels Airport accommodates 25.7 million travellers a year, 18% of whom are transfer passengers. The airport uses a transfer matrix to predict with great accuracy who will make their connection and who may need assistance. The accumulated data also helps in predicting future waiting times.
Whether you must go through security and border control again depends on where you're coming from and where you're going. If you are flying within the Schengen area, you can usually go straight to your gate without needing to go through passport control and additional security checks. For example, if you are flying from Madrid to Berlin, you can proceed directly to your gate without any extra security.
However, if you are flying from a Non-Schengen country to a Schengen country, you will need to go through security and border control. For instance, if you are travelling from Beijing to Madrid, you will have to pass through security and passport control. Flights from countries such as the USA, Canada, UK and Montenegro are subject to One Stop Security (OSS) and do not require additional security screening.
If you are travelling with an EU passport holder, you can go through the EU line together, although you won't be able to use the self-scan machines. If you have an EU passport with a microchip, you can use the eGates to pass through border control more quickly. These automated gates make the process simpler and faster. Nationals from the UK, US, and Canada no longer have to wait in line to see an agent.
Security screening at Brussels Airport involves checking for any dangerous or prohibited items. To speed things up, it is recommended to place items you won't need during your flight in your hold baggage. Liquids are restricted to a maximum of 100 ml per container, and all liquids should be placed in a transparent 1-litre bag. Keep your boarding pass ready and place it in the tray at the belt. Take electronic devices such as phones, tablets, and laptops out of your bag and place them separately. Remove any coats or jumpers, and empty your pockets.
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Transit visa requirements
If you are transiting through Brussels Airport, you may need a transit visa depending on your nationality and the purpose of your visit. There are two types of transit visas: an Airport Transit Visa and a Transit Visa for Seafarers.
The Airport Transit Visa allows you to stay in the international area of the airport while waiting for your next flight. This visa is required for citizens of certain countries, even if they do not leave the international transit area. The specific countries whose citizens need a transit visa for Belgium are not explicitly listed, but it is advised to check the official Belgian government website for the most up-to-date information.
The Transit Visa for Seafarers is a visa that allows you to temporarily leave your ship in one of the Schengen seaports. However, you cannot leave the Schengen seaport, even overnight.
To apply for a Belgium transit visa, you must provide the following documents:
- A completed and signed visa application form
- Two recent, identical photos
- A valid passport with at least two blank pages and valid for at least three months after departing the Schengen zone
- Proof of payment of the transit visa fee (typically €90)
- An inviting letter from the shipping company in the Schengen country, if applicable
- A copy of your Seaman's book, if applicable
Additionally, UK residents who are subject to airside (A) transit visa requirements can transit through any Schengen airport without a visa, provided they meet the following conditions:
- Their final destination is not within the Schengen member states.
- They do not need to pick up their luggage or check in again.
- They do not have to pass through passport control.
- They are not transiting through multiple airports in Belgium or Schengen countries.
- They hold a confirmed airline ticket for the entire journey.
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Frequently asked questions
Whether you need to go through security and border control depends on where you are coming from and where you are going. If you are flying within the Schengen area, you can usually go straight to your gate. If you are flying from a non-Schengen country to another non-Schengen country, you will go through security on arrival. If you are flying from a non-Schengen country to a Schengen country, you will go through security and border control.
The minimum connection time for Brussels Airport is reported to be less than 1 hour and 25 minutes. However, the time needed depends on the lines at passport control and security.
If you miss your connecting flight, head to your airline's desk in the departure hall, where staff will assist you.
If you have booked both flights on the same ticket, your luggage will be checked through to your final destination. If you have booked two separate tickets, you will need to collect your luggage and check it in for your second flight.
