If you have applied for and been granted a visa to  Belgium and then your travel plans change can you still use that visa to enter another  Schengen country.

 

For example you have a visa for Belgium but things changed and you wanted to go to Italy instead.

 

Thank you for any help

Yes, if it was a genuine change of plan and not a false application from the very start . So you may or may not get some questions at the external Schengen border regarding your change of plan and your intentions. If you can show that you are genuine traveler and meet all of the demands, they would most likely let you enter. Just as with any visa, if they suspect you have ill intentions they can refuse entry. So be sure you bring supporting evidence regarding sufficient financial means, accommodation, return flight out of the Schengen zone etc.

 

If the visa holder is traveling under freedom of movement (thus with EU/EEA spouse to any other EEA member state) of course the more relaxed rules as -as explained in the sticky- apply. But even then they may have some questions at the border.

 

Also, the airline checking staff may have such questions as well. Especially if such a staff member does not know that a schengen visa gives access to the entire schengen zone unless the visa explicitly states otherwise.