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Brunei
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July 20, 2009
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 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. Read the Department of State Background Notes on Brunei for additional information.
REGISTRATION: U.S. citizens living or traveling in Brunei are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate at the Department of State travel registration page so that they can obtain updated information on local travel and security. U.S. citizens without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Registration is important; it allows the State Department to assist U.S. citizens in an emergency.
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: U.S. passport-holders must have at least six months’ validity remaining on their passport before entering Brunei for business or pleasure and are required to obtain a visa prior to arrival in Brunei for visits of 90 days or longer. Diplomatic and official passport-holders are also required to apply for a visa to enter Brunei Darussalam. There is an airport departure tax. For further information about entry or exit 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 for the most current visa information.
Immigration offenses are punishable by caning. Workers who overstay their visas can face jail sentences and three strokes of the cane. Persons associated with violators, such as contractors or employers, are subject to the same penalties if the violator is found guilty.
HIV/AIDS Restrictions: Brunei has imposed HIV/AIDS travel restrictions as part of a ban on communicable diseases. The Ministry of Health (MOH) of Brunei Darussalam requires all travelers entering Brunei to fill out a Health Declaration Card and submit it to the Officer-In-Charge (MOH) upon disembarkation. Under Section 7, Infectious Diseases Order 2003 of MOH, travelers may be subjected to a medical examination upon arrival in Brunei Darussalam. Travelers also may be quarantined if infected or suspected to be infected with an infectious disease or if travelers have had contact with such a person, under Section 15 of the same order of MOH. Please inquire directly with the Embassy of Brunei before you travel.
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.
THREATS TO 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 and other regional terrorist groups. JI also has been tied to 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 U.S. citizens 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. U.S. citizens 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, who can be reached at the phone number listed at the end of this information sheet.
For the latest security information, U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs' website, which contains the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts as well as the Worldwide Caution.
Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. and Canada, or by calling a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern 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 extensive tips and advice on traveling safely 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.
In many countries around the world, counterfeit and pirated goods are widely available. Transactions involving such products may be illegal under local law. In addition, bringing them back to the United States may result in forfeitures and/or fines.
Victims of Crime: If you are the victim of a crime abroad, you should contact the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate (see the end of this sheet or see the Department of State’s list of embassies and consulates). This includes the loss or theft of a U.S. passport. The embassy/consulate staff can, for example, help you find appropriate medical care, contact family members or friends and explain how funds may be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution of a crime are the sole responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed. In Brunei, the local equivalents to the “911” emergency line are: 993 for Brunei Police, 955 for Fire & Rescue and 998 for Search & Rescue.
Please see our information on victims of crime, including possible victim compensation programs in the United States.
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 those in the United States for similar offenses. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United States .
Persons violating Brunei laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession or use of, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Brunei are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences, heavy fines, and, possibly, death.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
Immigration Violations: Americans in Brunei are subject to the laws of the country and may be arrested for violation of immigration regulations or
any other law. In such cases, the U.S. 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 current immigration law is stringent and less flexible than the previous one, with harsher
penalties.
Dual Nationality: Brunei does not recognize or permit dual nationality. Brunei nationals are expected to enter and exit the country on their Brunei passports. Should Brunei authorities learn that a person is a dual national, they may require immediate renunciation of either the citizenship of the other nation or Brunei citizenship.
Customs Regulations: Brunei customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation 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.
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 surgery 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 (CDC) and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC website. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad, consult the infectious diseases section of the World Health Organization (WHO) website. The WHO website also contains additional health information for travelers, including detailed country-specific health information .
MEDICAL INSURANCE: The Department of State strongly urges U.S. citizens to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad. It is important to determine whether the policy applies overseas and whether it covers emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. For more information, please see our medical insurance overseas page.
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 Brunei is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.
Brunei has an extensive network of roads of generally good, though varying, quality. Holders of a foreign driver’s license are permitted to drive in Brunei Darussalam for 90 days only. For longer stays, a foreign driver’s license must be endorsed to a Brunei driver’s license, available at any Land Transport Department office. Drivers must obey traffic rules at all times and should take extra caution when approaching traffic signals. In urban areas, several deadly accidents have occurred in recent years when local drivers drove through red lights.
Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information. Also, we suggest that you visit the website of the Brunei National Tourism office and the web site of Brunei Land Transport Department for more details on road safety information.
AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the Government of 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. Further information may be found on the FAA safety assessment page .
CHILDREN'S ISSUES: For information see our Office of Children’s Issues web pages on intercountry adoption and international parental child abduction.
EMBASSY LOCATION:Local embassy information is available below and at the Department of State’s list of embassies and consulates. 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 from the United States can be sent to the Embassy's address: American Embassy, P.O. Box 2991, Bandar Seri Begawan BS8675, Negara Brunei Darussalam. Telephone number is 673-222-0384, fax number (673) (2) 225-293 and e-mail address. You may also contact the Consular section via e-mail. The Embassy's after-hours number for emergency calls is (673) (8) 730-691.
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This replaces the Country Specific Information for Brunei dated October 9, 2008, without substantive changes.
