Easy Visa-Free Entry To Brunei For Travelers

If you're planning a trip to Brunei, it's important to understand the country's visa requirements to ensure a smooth entry. The visa policy of Brunei outlines the necessary entry requirements, including the type of visa and the duration of stay, depending on your nationality and the purpose of your visit. All visitors to Brunei must have a passport valid for at least six months, regardless of whether they require a visa. Now, let's delve into the specifics of visa-free travel, visas on arrival, and other essential visa information for Brunei.

Can I go to Brunei without a visa?

Do I need a visa for Brunei if I'm a British citizen?

British citizens with a full 'British citizen' passport can enter Brunei as a visitor for up to 90 days without a visa. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from your arrival date, and you must get your passport stamped when you enter the country.

If you are planning to stay longer than 90 days, or are travelling for work, study, or business, you will need to meet the Brunei government's entry requirements and check which type of visa or work permit you need with the Brunei High Commission in the UK.

Please note that Brunei does not recognise dual nationality for Bruneians. If you are a dual national, you should use the same passport to enter and exit Brunei.

What are the passport requirements for entry to Brunei?

To enter Brunei, all travellers, regardless of whether they need a visa, must have a passport valid for at least 6 months.

Citizens of the following countries can enter Brunei without a visa:

• All European Union member states
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom (only British citizens and British subjects with the right of abode in the UK)
• United States
• Laos
• South Korea
• Malaysia
• Turkey
• New Zealand
• Ukraine
• Oman
• Singapore

The above countries can enter Brunei with just a passport for up to 30 days, except for EU countries, the UK, and the US, which can stay for up to 90 days.

In addition, Brunei offers a visa on arrival for certain nationalities. For a fee, travellers can obtain a single-entry or multiple-entry visa valid for 14 or 30 days. The countries that can obtain a visa on arrival in Brunei are:

• Indonesia
• Philippines
• Thailand
• Italy
• Oman
• Ireland
• Poland
• Austria
• United Arab Emirates
• Slovakia
• Hungary
• Czech Republic
• Slovenia
• Cyprus
• Estonia
• Finland
• Greece
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Malta
• Portugal
• Vietnam
• Iceland
• Bulgaria
• Romania
• Hong Kong
• Ukraine
• Cambodia
• Myanmar
• Macao
• Costa Rica
• Russia
• Croatia
• Liechtenstein
• Mongolia
• Thailand
• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Ireland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Poland
• Portugal
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• United Kingdom
• Bangladesh
• Kuwait
• Morocco
• Tajikistan
• Pakistan
• Peru
• Romania
• Thailand
• Vietnam
• Myanmar
• Cambodia
• Russia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Ireland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Poland
• Portugal
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• United Kingdom

The Brunei visa policy also specifies different types of visas, such as tourist, business, work, dependent, student, and transit. Depending on the purpose of your trip, you may need any of these visas to enter Brunei.

What is the Brunei transit visa?

The Brunei transit visa is a type of visa that can be issued on arrival at Brunei International Airport and is valid for a maximum of 72 hours (3 days). This visa is suitable for travellers who are changing flights in Brunei. To be eligible for a Brunei transit visa, you must:

• Arrive and depart via Brunei International Airport
• Have a valid passport
• Have a confirmed onward flight ticket within 72 hours
• Have a valid visa for your third country of destination, if a visa is required
• Pay the visa fee in local currency (B$5)

It is important to note that the Brunei transit visa cannot be extended. Therefore, it is only valid for a short-term stay at the airport.

What is the process for applying for a tourist visa for Brunei?

The process for applying for a tourist visa for Brunei depends on your country of origin.

Citizens of the following countries do not need to apply for a visa before entering Brunei:

• All European Union member states
• United Arab Emirates
• British citizens and British subjects with the right of abode in the UK
• ASEAN member states (except Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam)
• Malaysia and Singapore
• Canada, France, Japan, Liechtenstein, South Korea, Switzerland and the United Kingdom
• Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands
• Germany
• Maldives
• Sweden
• Denmark
• New Zealand
• Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand
• Italy
• Oman
• Ireland and Poland
• Austria and the United Arab Emirates
• Slovakia
• Hungary
• Czech Republic
• Slovenia
• Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta and Portugal
• Vietnam
• Iceland
• Bulgaria and Romania
• Hong Kong
• Cambodia
• Ukraine
• Macao
• Myanmar
• Croatia
• Russia
• Costa Rica
• Peru
• Romania
• Bulgaria
• Pakistan
• Russia
• Thailand
• Kuwait
• Morocco
• Bangladesh
• Mongolia
• Liechtenstein
• Croatia
• Thailand
• Kuwait
• Morocco
• Bangladesh

Additionally, holders of an APEC Business Travel Card with the code "BRN" on the back can enter Brunei without a visa for business trips of up to 90 days.

Citizens of the following countries may obtain a visa on arrival at Bruneian immigration checkpoints:

• A multiple-entry visa for B$30, valid for 30 days.
• A single-entry visa for B$20, valid for 30 days.
• A multiple-entry visa for B$30, valid for 14 days.
• A single-entry visa for B$20, valid for 14 days.

If your country is not listed above, you will need to apply for a tourist visa before entering Brunei. The process for doing so is as follows:

• Complete the Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application (DS-160) for each traveller and print the application form confirmation page to bring to your interview. You will also need to upload a photo in the format explained in the Photograph Requirements.
• Schedule an appointment for your visa interview. There is no walk-in service for visa applications. Routine appointments are available on Wednesdays at 8 am and 9 am, except on Embassy holidays.
• Gather and prepare the following documentation before your interview:

• A passport valid for travel to the United States and for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States (unless exempt by country-specific agreements).
• The DS-160 confirmation page.
• A printed photo in the format explained in the Photograph Requirements (only if the photo upload fails).

• Pay the non-refundable visa application processing fee of USD $185.00 or BND $259.00 at the Embassy before your interview. The Embassy accepts currency from Brunei, Singapore, or the United States.
• Attend your visa interview. During the interview, a consular officer will determine whether you qualify for a visa and, if so, which category of visa you should receive based on your purpose of travel. You will need to establish that you meet the requirements under U.S. law for the category of visa for which you are applying. Ink-free, digital fingerprint scans will be taken as part of your application process, usually during your interview.

What is the visa policy for Brunei?

The visa policy for Brunei depends on your nationality, the purpose of your trip, and the length of your stay. All visitors to Brunei must have a passport valid for at least 6 months, regardless of whether they need a visa.

Citizens of the following countries can enter Brunei without a visa:

• All European Union member states
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom (only British citizens and British subjects with the right of abode in the UK)
• United States
• Laos
• South Korea
• Malaysia
• Turkey
• New Zealand
• Ukraine
• Oman
• Singapore

The above countries can stay in Brunei for up to 30 days without a visa. Additionally, citizens of Brunei's ASEAN member states (except Cambodia, Myanmar, and Vietnam) can enter without a visa for 30 days.

Citizens of the following countries can also enter Brunei without a visa but can only stay for up to 14 days:

• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Central African Republic
• Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
• Palestinian Territories
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Sao Tome and Principe
• St. Pierre and Miquelon
• St. Vincent and the Grenadines
• Turks and Caicos Islands

The Brunei Immigration office also offers visas on arrival for certain nationalities. A single-entry visa for 14 or 30 days costs B$20, while a multiple-entry visa for the same durations costs B$30.

For other nationalities, a visa must be obtained in advance from a Bruneian diplomatic mission. Brunei offers various types of visas, including tourist, business, work, dependent, student, and transit visas. The requirements for each type of visa may vary, so it is recommended to check the Brunei visa policy for specific details.

Frequently asked questions