Visas to Brunei: what travelers need to know

Brunei — a small state on the northern coast of Borneo Island. Despite the small area of Brunei, traveling here opens up the opportunity to see a rare combination of modern infrastructure and carefully preserved traditions. Brunei is a country with a high level of security, clear rules, a stable economy, and a stable political system. Before traveling, it is important to understand the visa requirements — they are simple, but require accuracy.

Main visa information about Brunei

• Entry into the state of Brunei is regulated by strict rules that depend on the purpose of the trip.
• Most foreigners apply for a visa in advance, as visa-free entry is available to a limited number of countries.
• Applications are processed through consulates and diplomatic representations, including the embassy of Qatar, if there is no representation of Brunei in the region.
• The processing time depends on the season and type of visa.
• All documents must be submitted in originals and copies.

Among the countries whose citizens usually do not need a visa to enter Brunei (for various periods) are:

ASEAN countries (for 14 days):

• Indonesia
• Laos
• Malaysia
• Myanmar
• Singapore
• Thailand
• Philippines
• Vietnam
• Cambodia

Countries with visa-free access for up to 90 days:

• United Kingdom
• Schengen Area countries (for example, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Italy, France, Czech Republic, etc.)
• South Korea
• Japan

Countries with visa-free access for up to 30 days (or 14 days for some):

• China (14 days)
• Canada
• Australia
• New Zealand
• Russia (14 days)
• USA

Other countries (for various periods):

• Argentina
• Brazil
• Chile
• Mexico
• Turkey
• Ukraine

Electronic visa (e-Visa)

• The electronic visa allows you to arrange entry into Brunei entirely online, without the need to visit the consulate. It is suitable for tourist, business, and short-term transit trips.
• Entry frequency: single or multiple, depending on the type of visa.
• Duration of stay: usually 14–30 days.
• Validity period: valid for 1–3 months from the date of issue.
• Note: submitting documents online speeds up the processing, and the decision comes in electronic form to the specified email address.

Consular visa

• The consular visa is processed through the consulate or embassy of Brunei in your country. It is used for all types of visas — tourist, business, work, and student.
• Entry frequency: single or multiple, depends on the purpose of the trip.
• Duration of stay: tourist — 14–30 days, work or student — up to 2 years.
• Validity period: depends on the type of visa and the date of document submission.
• Note: requires a personal visit to the consulate or submission through a visa center, providing all original documents and a photograph of the established sample.

Travel Authorization / Visa on Arrival

Travel Authorization allows entry into Brunei without prior visa acquisition for citizens of countries that fall under the simplified entry program. This is most often transit or a short-term visit.

• Entry frequency: single.
• Duration of stay: usually up to 72 hours (3 days).
• Validity period: the issued authorization is valid only for the period of the specific visit.
• Note: obtaining authorization may require confirmation of the further route and the presence of a return ticket.

1. Tourist visa

• Entry frequency: most often single, sometimes it is possible to obtain a multiple visa for repeated trips within a year.
• Purpose of entry: rest, sightseeing, visiting friends or relatives.
• Duration of stay: usually 14–30 days, in rare cases up to 90 days, depending on agreements with a specific country.
• Visa validity: a tourist visa is valid from 1 to 3 months from the date of issue.
• Note: processing is relatively fast, usually 3–7 business days.

2. Business visa

• Entry frequency: can be single or multiple depending on the purpose of the visit.
• Purpose of entry: participation in business meetings, conferences, negotiations, contract signing, visiting partner offices.
• Duration of stay: usually 14–30 days, with a multiple visa, the stay can total up to 90 days during the visa validity period.
• Visa validity: from 3 to 12 months, depending on the volume of business trips.
• Note: an official invitation from a partner company in Brunei and documents confirming business activity are required.

3. Transit visa

• Entry frequency: usually single.
• Purpose of entry: a short stopover in Brunei when flying to a third country.
• Duration of stay: up to 72 hours (3 days) from the moment of entry.
• Visa validity: valid only for the transit period.
• Note: confirmation of the further route is required for obtaining a transit visa — air tickets to the next country.

4. Work visa

• Entry frequency: usually multiple, allowing to leave the country and return during the validity period of the visa.
• Purpose of entry: legal work in Brunei.
• Duration of stay: depending on the contract, usually from 6 months to 2 years, with the possibility of extension.
• Visa validity: coincides with the employment contract and the validity period of the work permit.
• Note: an invitation from the employer is mandatory, as well as coordination with the immigration authorities of the country. Additional medical certificates and qualification confirmation may be required.

5. Student visa

• Entry frequency: usually multiple, so the student can return to the country's territory throughout the entire period of study.
• Purpose of entry: studying at universities, colleges, or specialized educational institutions.
• Duration of stay: corresponds to the duration of the educational course, from 6 months to several years.
• Visa validity: valid for the entire period of study, with the possibility of extension if the course is extended.
• Note: official confirmation of enrollment, financial support, and medical certificates are required.

• Foreign passport valid for at least 6 months
• Completed visa application form
• Photo of established sample
• Confirmation of hotel reservation or invitation
• Plane tickets (round trip or to a third country)
• Bank account statement
• Insurance policy
• Confirmation of the purpose of the trip
• For business — letter from the company
• For transit — confirmation of further itinerary

The cost of a visa depends on its type, the number of entries, and the validity period. Usually, tourist visas are the most accessible option, as they imply a short duration of stay. Business and work visas may cost more due to additional document checks and the need to coordinate with the host side. When applying for a visa, it is worth considering that consular fees are non-refundable, even if the applicant is denied.

You can find out the current cost of a visa in Brunei at any time from our managers. They will also consult you on current changes in Brunei's visa policy, help you collect a full package of documents, and fill out the visa application form.

Obtaining a visa to Brunei through our visa agency buch-dein-visum.de — is a simple, safe, and fully online process. We accompany you at every step, provide detailed instructions, and check documents to ensure your application is approved without delays.

On our website, you can choose the appropriate type of visa, find out the processing times, validity period, and conditions of stay. After choosing, you submit an application online, and we take over all the further work: checking documents, processing, and receiving the visa.

Your visa to Brunei in 5 steps

• Select the required type of visa.
• Fill out the online application form.
• Send us the necessary documents.
• We process and issue your visa.
• Receive your ready visa within the set deadlines — quickly and without errors.