Obtaining A Brunei Passport: A Comprehensive Guide

If you are a citizen of Brunei, you are eligible for a Bruneian passport. The passport is valid for five years and allows you to travel internationally, with visa-free access to 165 countries and territories. The passport is red in colour and contains the holder's photo, signature, and biometric data. To enter Brunei from overseas, you will need a passport that is valid for at least six months after your arrival and may need to meet other requirements, such as vaccination certificates.

Passport validity

To enter Brunei, your passport must be valid for at least six months into the future from your date of arrival. It must not be damaged or have any pages missing. If your passport does not meet these conditions, you may be refused entry and detained.

Brunei passports are valid for a period of five years. They contain biometric features, including a chip that stores facial and fingerprint images. The passport is red in colour, with Brunei's coat of arms in the middle of the front, the name of the country above it, and "passport" below it.

When travelling to other countries, it is important to check the passport validity requirements of your destination, as these may vary. Some countries require passports to be valid for at least six months beyond the intended stay, while others may have different time frames or no specific requirements. It is always best to check with the relevant embassy or consulate before travelling to ensure you meet all the necessary criteria.

Visa requirements

To enter Brunei, your passport must be valid for at least six months after your date of arrival. It must not be damaged or have any pages missing. If your passport does not meet these conditions, you may be refused entry and detained.

As of 2024, citizens of Brunei had visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 165-168 countries and territories, according to the Henley Passport Index. Brunei is the only country whose citizens may travel without a visa to all permanent member countries of the UN Security Council (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States). It is also part of ASEAN and has visa-free access to these countries and vice versa.

Citizens of Brunei, Grenada, Mauritius, and the Seychelles are the only countries whose citizens may travel without a visa to China, Russia, the Schengen Area, and the United Kingdom.

British citizen passport holders may enter Brunei for up to 90 days without a visa as a visitor. However, if you have another type of British nationality, you should check visa requirements with Brunei's immigration authorities.

To stay longer or travel for work, study, or business, you must meet the Brunei government's entry requirements. Check which type of visa or work permit you need with the Brunei High Commission in the UK.

You will need to get your passport stamped when you enter Brunei and ensure you do not overstay your visa or violate the terms of entry. Penalties include detention and caning.

Brunei does not recognize dual nationality for Bruneians. The immigration authorities can refuse your entry if you hold a Bruneian passport and a passport of a different nationality. If you are a dual national, you should use the same passport to enter and exit Brunei.

| Country | Visa Requirements |

|---|---|

| Australia | 30-day visa on arrival |

| Canada | 14-day visa-free stay |

| European Union | 90-day visa-free stay |

| United States | 90-day visa-free stay |

| United Kingdom | 90-day visa-free stay |

Entry declaration

To enter Brunei, you must submit an e-arrival declaration form before travelling, as this may be requested at check-in. This does not apply if you are not passing through immigration. From 7 September 2024, all travellers into Brunei (via land, air or sea) must also complete the Health Declaration Form upon arrival, in response to the spread of the Mpox virus.

You must also declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty. This can be done through the Customs.BN app or on arrival at the airport.

Your passport must meet the following requirements:

• Valid for at least six months after the date of arrival
• Not damaged or missing any pages
• Stamped on entry and exit

If your passport does not meet these conditions, you may be refused entry and detained.

Health declaration

To enter Brunei, you must have a passport from a country with reciprocal visa-free access. As of 15 June 2024, Bruneian citizens 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.

Brunei is the only Muslim-majority country in the world whose citizens are allowed to enter the United States without a pre-arranged travel visa.

Since May 2008, all Brunei passports contain biometric features. The biometric passport contains a chip that stores facial and fingerprint images. The passport is coloured red, with the country's coat of arms in the middle of the front, with the name of the country above it and "passport" below it.

To travel overseas, a passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry. It must not be damaged or have any pages missing.

From 7 September 2024, in response to the spread of the Mpox virus, it is mandatory for all travellers into Brunei (via land, air or sea) to complete a Health Declaration Form upon arrival. This can be done through the 'BruHealth' mobile application or the Brunei Ministry of Health website within three days before arrival.

The 'BruHealth' app can be downloaded from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Prohibited goods

When travelling to Brunei, there are several prohibited goods that you cannot bring into the country. These include:

• Firearms and explosives: These items require permission from the Royal Brunei Police Force to be imported into the country.
• Knives and deadly weapons
• Cigarettes without health warnings on the packaging
• Domestic pigs exported from Thailand
• Plants and plant products: These require a special permit from the Agriculture Department.
• Meat and meat products: These also require a special permit from the Agriculture Department.
• Pets and other animals: These require an import license from the Agriculture Department, as well as health certificates.
• Radioactive and hazardous materials
• Gambling machines, such as slot machines
• Counterfeit money and coins
• Pornographic material
• Alcohol and tobacco products above legal limits: Non-Muslims over the age of 17 may import a limited amount of alcohol for personal consumption, but it must be declared to customs.

It is important to carefully review the list of prohibited and restricted items on the Royal Customs and Excise Department's website before travelling to Brunei, as attempting to bring prohibited items into the country can result in serious consequences.

Frequently asked questions