Brunei Passport Power: A Ticket To Global Freedom?

The Bruneian passport is a powerful travel document, ranking highly on several passport indexes for travel freedom. As of 2024, it is placed within the top 22 passports globally, with visa-free access to over 160 countries. This allows Bruneian citizens almost instant international travel and a high degree of mobility. The passport's strength is further enhanced by the fact that Brunei is the only Muslim-majority country whose citizens can enter the USA without a pre-arranged travel visa.

The Brunei passport's global ranking

The Brunei Passports Global Ranking

The Bruneian passport is a powerful travel document, facilitating visa-free access to a significant number of countries and territories worldwide. As of 2024, the Brunei passport has been ranked within the top 22 global passports, with some sources placing it as high as 15th or 17th.

Visa-Free Travel Freedom:

According to the Henley Passport Index, as of September 2019, the Bruneian passport provided visa-free or visa on arrival access to 165 countries and territories, ranking it 21st globally in terms of travel freedom. Arton Capital's Passport Index, as of October 2019, ranked it even higher at 15th, with a visa-free score of 151.

More recently, in 2024, the Brunei passport was ranked 17th by Latitude World, offering visa-free travel to 162 countries. This is further supported by Guide Passport Index, which also ranked the Brunei passport 22nd, granting visa-free access to 168 countries.

Unique Advantages:

The Bruneian passport stands out as the only Muslim-majority country whose citizens can enter the United States without a pre-arranged travel visa. Additionally, it provides easy access to other desirable destinations, such as the United Kingdom, Japan, Ukraine, Jamaica, Taiwan, and the entire European Union.

Visa Requirements:

Despite its impressive rankings, there are still countries that require Bruneian citizens to obtain a visa or electronic travel authorization (eTA) before entry. Approximately 61 countries require a traditional visa, while others offer the convenience of applying for an eTA or visa online prior to arrival.

Passport Features:

The Bruneian passport is valid for five years and features biometric technology, including a chip that stores facial and fingerprint data. The passport is coloured red, featuring Brunei's coat of arms, with the country's name above and "passport" below.

Visa-free access to countries

The Bruneian passport is a powerful travel document, allowing visa-free access to a significant number of countries and territories worldwide. As of 2024, it is ranked within the top 22 passports globally for travel freedom, with one source ranking it as high as 15th.

Brunei passport holders can enter a vast range of countries and territories without a visa, including the United Kingdom, the United States, and the entire European Union. This visa-free access extends to countries in various regions, such as Asia, the Middle East, and the Caribbean. For example, Bruneian citizens can travel to Japan, Taiwan, and the United Arab Emirates without pre-arranged visas.

The exact number of countries accessible with a Bruneian passport varies slightly depending on the source. Some sources state that the passport provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 165 countries and territories, while others suggest it could be as high as 168. This minor discrepancy may be due to the dynamic nature of visa regulations and the different methods used to calculate rankings.

In addition to visa-free travel, Bruneian passport holders also benefit from the convenience of visa-on-arrival options in many destinations. This flexibility allows them to obtain a visa upon arrival at their destination, streamlining their travel preparations.

The strength of the Bruneian passport is a testament to the country's positive international relations and its commitment to facilitating the travel of its citizens. With such extensive visa-free access, Bruneian citizens can explore and experience a diverse range of cultures, landscapes, and opportunities across the globe.

Visa requirements for entry to countries

As of June 2024, citizens of Brunei had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 168 countries and territories, ranking the Bruneian passport 22nd in the world according to the Henley Passport Index. This makes Brunei's passport one of the strongest in the world in terms of travel freedom.

Visa-free countries

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

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

Visa on arrival

Citizens of Brunei can obtain a visa on arrival in the following countries:

• Central African Republic
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom
• Sao Tome and Principe
• Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
• Central African Republic
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Czech Republic
• Liechtenstein
• North Macedonia
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Czech Republic
• Liechtenstein
• North Macedonia
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom
• Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
• Central African Republic
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Czech Republic
• Liechtenstein
• North Macedonia
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom
• Sao Tome and Principe

Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) or eVisa

To enter the following countries, citizens of Brunei need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) or eVisa online in advance:

• China
• Russia
• Schengen Area
• United Kingdom
• South Korea
• Trinidad and Tobago
• United Arab Emirates
• Australia
• New Zealand
• India
• Sri Lanka
• Turkey
• Iran
• Azerbaijan
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Honduras
• Montenegro
• Nauru
• Moldova
• New Zealand
• Iceland
• Liechtenstein
• Norway

The passport's biometric features

The Brunei passport is a biometric passport, also known as an e-passport or digital passport. It contains a chip that stores biometric information, including facial and fingerprint data, which can be used to authenticate the identity of the passport holder. The chip is located in the front or back cover, or centre page, of the passport. The critical information is printed on the data page of the passport, repeated on the machine-readable lines, and stored in the chip.

The Brunei passport has complied with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards since May 2008. The ICAO defines the biometric file formats and communication protocols to be used in passports. The chip includes a minimum of 32 kilobytes of EEPROM storage memory and runs on an interface in accordance with the ISO/IEC 14443 international standard. These standards ensure interoperability between different countries and manufacturers of passport books.

The biometric features of the Brunei passport provide enhanced security and protection against fraudulent identification. The data on the chip is protected by various security mechanisms, such as non-traceable chip characteristics, Basic Access Control (BAC), Passive Authentication (PA), Active Authentication (AA), and Extended Access Control (EAC). These mechanisms encrypt and protect the communication channel between the chip and the reader, detect modifications to the chip data, prevent cloning, and add functionality to check the authenticity of the chip and the reader.

The Brunei passport is valid for five years and must be valid for at least six months when travelling overseas. It is coloured red and features the country's coat of arms on the front, with the country's name above it and "passport" below it. The passport holder's photo must adhere to specific dimensions, including a width of 40mm and a height of 52mm, with the head height up to the top of the hair measuring 35mm.

The passport's physical attributes

The Bruneian passport is a powerful travel document, ranking highly on several passport indexes. But what does it look like?

The passport is red in colour, with Brunei's coat of arms displayed in the middle of the front cover. Above the coat of arms is the name of the country, and below it, the word "passport".

The biometric passport, introduced in 2008, contains a chip that stores the holder's facial image and fingerprint data. This adds a layer of security to the document, ensuring that only the authorised individual can use it.

In terms of physical dimensions, the Bruneian passport is a standard size, with a width of 40mm and a height of 52mm. The photo of the passport holder must adhere to specific size requirements, with a head height of up to 35mm and a distance of 6mm from the top of the photo to the top of the hair.

The passport includes the standard identification information, such as the type ("P" for passport), serial number, surname and first name of the holder, date of birth, gender, date of issue, signature, and expiry date. Notably, the data page is printed in both Malay and English, reflecting the country's official language.

Frequently asked questions