Night Vision and Thermal Imaging in Belgium: The Legal Framework in 2026

Belgium is one of the strictest European countries when it comes to night vision and thermal imaging — far stricter than France, Germany, or the Netherlands, where owning a handheld observation device without a weapon-mounting interface is generally unrestricted. Here, the subject isn't primarily governed by hunting law but by weapons law in the broadest sense, which fundamentally changes how a purchase should be approached. Here is exactly what Belgian legislation says in 2026, and what is currently changing.

The reference text: the Weapons Act of 8 June 2006

Unlike France or Germany, where the subject is primarily addressed through hunting law, Belgium regulates night vision through the Act of 8 June 2006 governing economic and individual activities involving weapons ("loi sur les armes"), regularly amended since (last updated on 26 March 2026). This law sorts all weapons and accessories into four categories: freely available weapons, weapons subject to declaration, weapons subject to authorization, and prohibited weapons. Night vision falls into this last, strictest category.

Night sighting devices: classified as "prohibited weapons"

Article 3, § 1, 15° of the Weapons Act explicitly lists night sighting devices ("lunettes de visée nocturne") among prohibited weapons, alongside sound suppressors and laser sighting equipment. According to Belgium's Federal Public Service Justice, this prohibition applies whether or not the device is mounted on a firearm. The only exception, under Article 27, is for police and security services.

Possessing a prohibited weapon carries a fine of up to €25,000 or a prison sentence of up to five years. One case illustrates just how strictly this classification is applied: in 2020, a wildlife photographer in the Liège region was told by the Federal Public Service Justice that his infrared scope — used solely to observe wildlife and never mounted on a weapon — still fell under Article 3, § 1, 15°, since no exception exists for that kind of use.

Observation vs. sighting: a line that needs case-by-case verification

The law specifically targets "night sighting devices" — equipment designed to assist aiming. In practice, a general understanding has emerged: a handheld observation monocular or binocular, without a reticle and without a weapon-mounting interface, is generally treated differently from a sighting scope mounted on a rifle. Hands-free kits (helmet mounts) and any device intended to be fitted to a weapon remain firmly in the highest-risk category.

That line, however, isn't spelled out in detail in the law itself, and the Liège photographer's case shows that strictly civilian, unarmed use can still be reclassified as an offense by the authorities. Before any purchase, it is advisable to request written confirmation from the Federal Public Service Justice (Weapons Service), particularly for professional or repeated use.

Thermal imaging: a separate, still-uncertain status

Thermal imaging doesn't rely on a light-intensifier tube but on heat detection, so it isn't explicitly named in Article 3, § 1, 15° — which has long left room for commercial sales for agriculture, security, and professional observation. The 2025 hunting reform (see below), which groups sound suppressors together with thermal and night vision scopes, nonetheless confirms that Belgian authorities treat both technologies under the same strict legal framework once they are weapon-related.

The 2025-2026 reform for hunters: where things stand

On 18 July 2025, the Chamber of Representatives passed a law authorizing licensed hunters to possess sound suppressors as well as thermal or night vision scopes — a step welcomed by hunting federations, particularly for nighttime wild boar population control in Wallonia. Three points remain essential, however:

• An implementing royal decree is still required to set the practical conditions for acquisition, possession, storage, transport, and registration of these devices. As of this article's publication date (August 2026), no confirmed publication of that decree has been identified: without it, legal acquisition is not yet operational for hunters.
• Use while hunting is distinct from mere possession. The 1970 Benelux Hunting Protocol and the 1983 Benelux Weapons Decision govern nighttime use at a supranational level; their evolution doesn't depend on Belgian domestic law alone.
• The reform only concerns holders of a hunting license. It does not change the rules for other uses — wildlife observation, astronomy, private security, or recreational use.

Hunting rules still vary by region

Even once possession is clarified at the federal level, hunting use itself remains governed by regional decrees: Wallonia's hunting decree differs from Flanders'. In Wallonia, hunting is generally permitted from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset; outside that window, nighttime wild boar population-control operations fall under a separate "destruction" regime, subject to prior administrative authorization — not hunting in the strict legal sense.

Key takeaways before you buy

• Belgium classifies night sighting devices as prohibited weapons, regardless of whether they are mounted on a firearm.
• Pure observation devices (no reticle, no weapon interface) sit in a less clearly defined zone than in most neighboring countries — prior verification with the Federal Public Service Justice is advisable.
• Thermal imaging follows a similar legal logic, confirmed by the 2025 hunting reform.
• Possession by hunters was voted into law in 2025, but its practical entry into force depends on a royal decree still pending as of this writing.
• Hunting use itself remains governed separately by regional decrees and Benelux agreements.

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Belgium's legal framework is evolving rapidly (2025 law, pending royal decree): before purchasing or importing any night vision or thermal device into Belgium, verify the current status with the Federal Public Service Justice (Weapons Service) or a specialized lawyer.