Brunei Darussalam, the small but prosperous sultanate on the island of Borneo, is a fascinating destination for travelers seeking a blend of Islamic culture, pristine rainforests, and oil-funded grandeur. Whether you need a visa to enter Brunei depends on your nationality and the type of passport you hold.

Most visitors must obtain a visa in advance from a Bruneian diplomatic mission. However, citizens of a wide range of countries are eligible for visa-free entry or a visa on arrival. One universal requirement applies to all visitors: your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival.

1. Visa-Free Entry — Up to 90 Days

Citizens of the following countries and territories may enter Brunei without a visa and stay for up to 90 days. This group covers all EU member states and a selection of major Western economies:

All European Union Member States

All 27 EU member states are included in this 90-day visa-free category. EU citizens may enter Brunei on an ordinary passport without any prior visa arrangement.

Other Countries — 90-Day Visa-Free

• Canada
• Iceland
• Liechtenstein
• Norway
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom (British citizens and British subjects with right of abode in the UK only)
• United States

Note: The UK exemption applies specifically to British citizens and British subjects who hold the right of abode in the United Kingdom. Other classes of British nationality may not automatically qualify.

2. Visa-Free Entry — Up to 30 Days

Citizens of the following countries may enter Brunei without a visa for stays of up to 30 days on an ordinary passport:

• Japan
• Laos
• Malaysia
• New Zealand
• Oman
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Turkey
• Ukraine
• United Arab Emirates

3. Visa-Free Entry — Up to 14 Days

The following countries and territories are granted a shorter visa-free window of 14 days. This tier predominantly covers Southeast Asian nations and several other countries from Asia and Latin America:

• Cambodia
• China (for holders of People’s Republic of China passports, Hong Kong SAR passports, or Macao SAR passports only)
• Costa Rica
• Hong Kong (PRC, Hong Kong SAR, or Macao SAR passport holders only)
• Indonesia
• Kosovo
• Macao (PRC, Hong Kong SAR, or Macao SAR passport holders only)
• Maldives
• Myanmar
• Peru
• Philippines
• Russia
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Vietnam

Note: The China, Hong Kong, and Macao exemptions are restricted to holders of People’s Republic of China passports, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passports, or Macao Special Administrative Region passports. Holders of other travel documents from these territories may not qualify.

4. Non-Ordinary Passports — Diplomatic & Official/Service Passport Holders

Holders of diplomatic or official/service passports from additional countries may enter Brunei without a visa for 30 days, even if ordinary passport holders from those countries would require a visa. The following countries are covered (unless otherwise noted):

30 Days — Diplomatic/Official/Service Passport (Standard)

• All ASEAN member states except Cambodia, Myanmar, and Vietnam
• Bangladesh
• China
• Morocco
• South Korea
• Timor-Leste
• Turkey
• United Arab Emirates
• Ukraine
• Oman
• Pakistan
• Iran

14 Days — Diplomatic/Official/Service Passport

• Cambodia
• Costa Rica
• Hong Kong
• India
• Japan
• Macao
• Mongolia
• Myanmar
• Peru
• Russia
• Vietnam

15 Days — Diplomatic/Official/Service Passport

• Maldives
• Tajikistan

90 Days — Diplomatic/Official/Service Passport

• United Kingdom

5. Visa on Arrival

Citizens of five countries and territories are eligible to obtain a visa on arrival at all Brunei immigration checkpoints. All applicants may obtain a single-entry visa for B$20, valid for 30 days. Citizens of four of these countries are also eligible for a multiple-entry visa for B$30, valid for 30 days.

Country	Single Entry (B$20)	Multiple Entry (B$30)
Australia	Yes	Yes
Bahrain	Yes	Yes
Kuwait	Yes	No
Qatar	Yes	Yes
Saudi Arabia	Yes	No

All visa on arrival options are valid for a stay of up to 30 days.

Visa on Arrival for Diplomatic/Official Passport Holders

Holders of diplomatic or official/service passports from the following countries may also obtain a visa on arrival for up to 30 days:

• Bahrain
• Kuwait
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia

6. Transit Through Brunei

Passengers transiting through Brunei International Airport for less than 24 hours do not require a visa. However, those who need to transit for longer and are traveling onward to a third country may apply for a transit visa on arrival, which allows a maximum stay of 72 hours.

Important exceptions apply to transit visa on arrival eligibility:

• Nationals of Cuba, Israel, and North Korea are NOT eligible for a transit visa on arrival.
• Nationals of Bangladesh, India, Iran, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka may obtain a transit visa on arrival, but must have a sponsor such as an airline or a travel agent.

7. APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC)

Holders of a valid APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) containing the code “BRN” on the back may enter Brunei without a visa for business trips of up to 90 days. This arrangement is available to passport holders from the following APEC economies:

• Australia
• Chile
• China
• Hong Kong
• Indonesia
• Japan
• South Korea
• Malaysia
• Mexico
• New Zealand
• Papua New Guinea
• Peru
• Philippines
• Russia
• Singapore
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Vietnam

The ABTC is a pre-approved business travel facilitation document for frequent business travelers across APEC member economies. The card must carry the BRN code specifically for Brunei entry to qualify.

8. Israel — Entry and Transit Prohibited

IMPORTANT: Israeli nationals are not permitted to enter or transit through Brunei under any circumstances. This restriction applies even to passengers who do not intend to leave their aircraft and are continuing on the same flight. Israeli passport holders should plan their travel routes accordingly to avoid transiting through Brunei International Airport.

9. Visa Overstaying — Serious Consequences

Brunei takes immigration compliance extremely seriously. Overstaying a visa or entry permit is classified as an immigration offense under Bruneian law. Penalties for visa overstaying and other immigration violations include:

• Imprisonment
• Financial fines
• Caning

All visitors should ensure they depart Brunei before their authorized stay expires. There is no grace period. If you need to extend your stay, you must apply to the Brunei Immigration Department before your current permission expires.

10. Visa Required in Advance

All nationals not covered by the above visa-free, visa on arrival, ABTC, or diplomatic passport categories must obtain a visa in advance from a Bruneian diplomatic mission before traveling. Visitors who require a visa cannot obtain one on arrival.

Common countries whose ordinary passport holders require a visa in advance include (but are not limited to): India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, most African nations, and many others not listed in the visa-free categories above.

11. Quick Reference Summary

Category	Visa Required?	Key Details
All EU member states	No	Up to 90 days
Canada, US, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein	No	Up to 90 days
UK	No	Up to 90 days (British citizens & subjects with right of abode only)
Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand, South Korea, UAE, Turkey, Oman, Ukraine, Laos	No	Up to 30 days
Southeast Asian nations & others (China, Russia, Taiwan, etc.)	No	Up to 14 days
Australia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia	Visa on arrival	Up to 30 days; B$20 single / B$30 multi (where applicable)
Diplomatic/official passport holders (select countries)	No	14–90 days depending on country
ABTC holders (BRN code) from 18 APEC economies	No	Up to 90 days (business only)
Transit passengers (<24 hrs)	No	No visa required for airside transit under 24 hrs
Transit passengers (up to 72 hrs)	Visa on arrival	Transit visa on arrival; not for Cuba, Israel, North Korea
Israel	Entry prohibited	Cannot enter OR transit under any circumstances
All other nationalities	Yes	Must apply in advance at Bruneian diplomatic mission

Important Notice

Visa policies are subject to change. Always verify current requirements with the Brunei Ministry of Foreign Affairs (mfa.gov.bn) or the nearest Bruneian diplomatic mission before traveling. All visitors must hold a passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry. Overstaying your visa in Brunei carries severe legal penalties including imprisonment and caning.