Bandar Seri Begawan Entry Requirements
Visa, immigration, and customs information
Visa Requirements
Entry permissions vary by nationality. Find your category below.
Passport holders from ASEAN member states, most European Economic Area countries, Switzerland, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Oman, Turkey, UAE, USA, Canada and Australia receive a stamp on arrival.
Entry stamp is free. Overstay fines are BND 25 per day.
Citizens of China, India, Russia, Ukraine, Serbia, Montenegro, Kazakhstan and most Middle-Eastern states must obtain an eVisa before boarding flights to Bandar Seri Begawan.
Cost: mid-range government fee
eVisa is tied to the passport used in the application. Changing passport requires a new eVisa.
Travelers holding passports not listed above (notably most African, South Asian and Central American states) must secure a sticker visa from the nearest Brunei diplomatic mission.
Visa issuance is discretionary. Applicants are advised to apply at least one month before travel.
Arrival Process
Bandar Seri Begawan's airport terminal is small. You will walk from the gate to immigration in under five minutes.
Documents to Have Ready
Tips for Smooth Entry
Customs & Duty-Free
Brunei enforces a strict alcohol ban and limits duty-free concessions. Declarations are made verbally. There are no paper forms.
Prohibited Items
- Alcoholic beverages, confiscated and destroyed
- Pork products, banned for personal import
- Firearms, ammunition, explosives, zero tolerance policy
- Narcotics, death penalty for trafficking quantities
- Remote-controlled drones, require pre-arrival permit from Department of Civil Aviation
Restricted Items
- Medicines containing codeine or morphine, carry doctor's letter and original packaging
- Religious materials for distribution, must be vetted by Ministry of Religious Affairs
- Satellite phones, require approval from Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry
Health Requirements
Brunei does not demand COVID-19 tests or vaccination. But routine and region-specific vaccines are advised.
Required Vaccinations
- Yellow fever, travelers ≥1 year old arriving from Angola, Brazil, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Nigeria, Peru, Uganda or other countries with active transmission
Recommended Vaccinations
- Hepatitis A & B
- Typhoid
- Tetanus-diphtheria
- Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR)
- Japanese encephalitis for rural visits
Health Insurance
Not mandatory. Yet medical evacuation to Singapore is expensive. Complete travel insurance is strongly advised.
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Important Contacts
Essential resources for your trip.
Special Situations
Additional requirements for specific circumstances.
Bring the child's passport and, if only one parent is present, a notarized consent letter from the non-traveling parent. Immigration officers occasionally ask to prevent child abduction cases.
Dogs and cats need an import permit from Department of Agriculture & Agrifood (apply 14 days ahead), rabies vaccination ≥30 days but ≤12 months before arrival, and a vet health certificate issued ≤7 days before the flight. Pets arrive as manifest cargo, not in the cabin.
Tourists can extend once for 30 days at the Immigration counter on Jalan Stoney, Bandar Seri Begawan. Bring passport, departure card, BND 25 fee, and a local sponsor letter or confirmed hotel booking covering the extra days.