International Close Protection in Europe

Clients rarely stay in one country. A board meeting in Frankfurt, a site visit in northern France, a conference in Geneva, a return to Brussels the same week: the protection has to travel with them, and it has to be legal in each place it goes.

What we cover

• Business travel — accompaniment of executives and delegations across European destinations, including airport procedures and hotel arrangements.
• Official and diplomatic visits — coordination with the receiving mission and, where relevant, the local authorities.
• Recurring cross-border journeys — regular routes between Belgium and a neighbouring country, planned once and reviewed periodically.
• Advance work — venues, routes and accommodation checked before the client arrives.

The legal point, stated plainly

A Belgian authorisation is a Belgian authorisation. It does not confer any right to carry out protection duties, armed or unarmed, in another country. Every international assignment is arranged under the law of the destination: sometimes that means our own officers working within what local rules permit, sometimes it means a vetted local partner operating under their own licence, with our team coordinating and remaining the client’s single point of contact.

In France specifically, our officers hold CNAPS professional cards for the protection of persons, which is what allows them to carry out close protection duties there. Any other country is assessed on its own rules before we commit to anything. We would rather tell you that an arrangement is not possible than improvise one that exposes you.

How we prepare a trip

1. Itinerary review — dates, cities, venues, transport and who else will be present.
2. Country-by-country check — what is permitted locally, what authorisations are needed, how long they take.
3. Partner selection where required — licence verified, insurance verified, officers briefed on the client’s own procedures.
4. Written plan — responsibilities, communications, medical arrangements and an escalation procedure for each leg.
5. Debrief — a written report, and adjustments for the next trip.

Continuity matters more than headcount

What clients value on international work is not a larger detail but the same faces across the trip: officers who already know how the client works, what they dislike, and how they move. Wherever the assignment allows, we keep the same team from departure to return and use local partners for support rather than substitution.

Starting from Belgium

Most of our international assignments begin and end at home, with secure transport to and from the airport. See security drivers and armoured vehicles and close protection in Belgium. Our authorisations and insurance are published and verifiable.

Frequently asked questions

Can your Belgian officers work armed abroad?

No. A Belgian authorisation applies in Belgium. Any armed arrangement abroad depends entirely on the destination country’s own rules and authorisations, and is confirmed before departure or not offered at all.

Which countries do you cover?

Principally Western Europe, with France covered directly by our own officers holding CNAPS cards. Other destinations are assessed individually before we commit.

Who is our point of contact during a trip?

We are, throughout. Local partners work under our coordination and report to us, so you deal with one team rather than a chain of providers.

How far in advance should we plan?

As early as possible: the constraint is rarely officer availability but the time needed to verify what is legally possible locally and to arrange it properly.

Do you handle airport and hotel arrangements?

Yes, including advance checks of venues and accommodation, and secure transport at each end of the journey.