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Brunei
Country Specific Information
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February 19, 2008
COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: 
Brunei Darussalam is a small Islamic Sultanate on the northwest coast of the Island of Borneo. It is divided into four
districts, Brunei/Muara, Tutong, Belait and Temburong. The capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, is its only major city. Brunei’s
official language is Malay but English is widely understood and used in business. Tourist facilities and services are generally
available throughout the country. For more information concerning Brunei, please see the Government of Brunei web site at
http://www.brunei.gov.bn.
Read the Department of State Background Notes on Brunei for additional information.
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: U.S. passport-holders must have at least six months validity remaining on their passport before entering or visiting Brunei for business or pleasure may obtain visas upon arrival for up to 90 days at no charge. There is an airport departure tax. For further information about entry requirements, travelers may consult the Consular Section of the Embassy of Brunei, 3520 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008, tel. (202) 237-1838, or visit the Embassy of Brunei web site at http://www.bruneiembassy.orgfor the most current visa information.As of June 12, 2004, immigration offenses are punishable by caning. Workers who overstay their visas can face jail sentences and three strokes of the cane. Those associated with violators, such as contractors or employers, are subject to the same penalties if found guilty.
Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our web site. For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information sheet.
SAFETY AND SECURITY: Following the October 2002, August 2003, September 2004 and October 2005 terrorist bombings in Indonesia, the Department of State continues to be concerned that terrorist groups, such as Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), that have transnational capability to carry out terrorist attacks, may do so in various Southeast Asian nations, including Brunei. JI is known to have cells operating in Southeast Asia and to have connections with Al-Qaeda, other regional terrorist groups and previous regional terrorist attacks. As security is increased at official U.S. facilities, terrorists will seek softer targets. These may include, but are not limited to, facilities where Americans and other Westerners are known to live, congregate, shop, or visit, including, but not limited to, hotels, clubs, restaurants, shopping centers, housing compounds, transportation systems, places of worship, schools, or outdoor recreation events. Americans in Brunei should continue to be vigilant with regard to their personal security, maintain a low profile, vary times and routes during their daily routines, and report any suspicious activity to the local police or to the U.S. Embassy's Regional Security Officer.For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs’ web site at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts, as well as the Worldwide Caution, can be found.
Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States, or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
The Department of State urges American citizens to take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling overseas. For general information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect themselves in an overseas environment, see the Department of State's pamphlet A Safe Trip Abroad.
CRIME: Though there is some crime, violent crime is rare. Burglaries and theft are on the rise. Americans are reminded to be prudent in their own personal security practices. INFORMATION FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME: The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for assistance. The Embassy/Consulate staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, contact family members or friends and explain how funds could be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed.See our information on Victims of Crime.
MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION: There is adequate care for basic medical conditions in Brunei; however, due to unpredictable shortages of materials and uncertain support staff, elective surgeries or complicated care is best obtained in Singapore or elsewhere.Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747); fax 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299), or via the CDC’s web site at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization’s (WHO) web site at http://www.who.int/en. Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith.
MEDICAL INSURANCE: The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and if it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation.Please see our information on medical insurance overseas
TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning road and driving conditions in foreign countries is provided for general reference only, and it may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.Brunei has an extensive network of roads throughout the country of generally good, though varying quality. Holders of foreign driving license are permitted to drive in Brunei Darussalam for 90 days only. For longer stays a foreign driving license must be endorsed to a Brunei driving license, available at any Land Transport Department office. Drivers must obey traffic rules at all the times and should take extra caution when approaching traffic signals. In urban areas, some local drivers have run through red lights, resulting in several deadly accidents in recent years.
Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information.
AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed Brunei’s Department of Civil Aviation as being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of Brunei’s air carrier operations. For more information, travelers may visit the FAA’s web site at http://www.faa.gov/safety/programs_initiatives/oversight/iasa. SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES:IMMIGRATION VIOLATIONS: Americans in Brunei are subject to the laws of the country and may be arrested for violation of the new immigration regulations, or any other law. In such cases, the Embassy will provide consular services to American citizens arrested in Brunei, in accordance with international law and U.S. regulations. However, the Embassy may not intervene in local judicial matters. Americans should be aware that the new immigration law is more stringent and less flexible than the previous one, with harsher penalties.
The Embassy strongly recommends that U.S. citizens on contract in Brunei be fully aware of their immigration status and of crucial dates regarding contract extensions and renewals, and have their employment documents in order. It would be wise to apply the same approach to any personal and domestic staff they may have hired, to ensure that they, too, do not run afoul of Brunei immigration regulations.
DUAL NATIONALITY: Brunei does not recognize or permit dual nationality. Brunei nationals are expected to enter and exit on their Brunei passports. Should Brunei authorities learn that a person is a dual national, they may require renunciation of United States or Brunei citizenship immediately.
CUSTOMS REGULATIONS: Brunei customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export of items such as firearms, religious materials, antiquities, medications, business equipment, currency, ivory, and alcohol. For non-Muslims, limited amounts of alcohol for personal consumption are permitted. It is advisable to contact the Embassy of Brunei in Washington, D.C. for specific information regarding customs requirements. In many countries around the world, counterfeit and pirated goods are widely available. Transactions involving such products are illegal and bringing them back to the United States may result in forfeitures and/or fines. Please refer to our Customs Information to learn more about customs regulations.
CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating Brunei's laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Brunei are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Brunei has a mandatory death penalty for many narcotics offenses. Under the current law, possession of heroin, ecstasy and morphine derivatives of more than 15 grams, cocaine of more than 30 grams, cannabis of more than 500 grams, syabu or methamphetamine of more than 50 grams, or opium of more than 1.2 kilograms carries the death penalty. Possession of lesser amounts can result in a minimum twenty-year jail term and caning. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United States. Please see our information on Criminal Penalties. CHILDREN'S ISSUES: For information on international adoption of children and international parental child abduction, see the Office of Children’s Issues web pages. REGISTRATION / EMBASSY LOCATION: Americans living or traveling in Brunei are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department’s Travel Registration web site and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Brunei. Americans withoutInternet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. The U.S. Embassy is located on the 3rd floor, Teck Guan Plaza, at the corner of Jalan Sultan and Jalan McArthur, Bandar Seri Begawan BS 8811, Brunei Darussalam. Mail sent from the United States can be addressed to the Embassy's FPO address: American Embassy, PSC 470 (BSB), FPO AP, 96507. The telephone number is (673) (2) 229-670, fax number (673) (2) 225-293 and e-mail address USEmbassy_BSB@state.gov. The Consular section's e-mail address is: ConsularBrunei@state.gov. The Embassy's after-hours number for emergency calls is (673) (8) 730-691. * * *This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated October 10, 2006, with no updates.
