Risk level

Safety and security

Crime

Violent crime is rare.

Petty crime, such as break-ins and theft, occurs. Crime increases in July when school is out of session, and during the December holidays.

Ensure that your personal belongings, including your passport and other travel documents, are secure at all times. Do not leave possessions in unattended vehicles.

Trekking

If you intend on trekking in the rainforest:

• use recognized and well-known guides
• stay on the footpaths
• ensure that your physical condition is good enough to meet the challenges of your activity
• ensure that you’re properly equipped and well informed about weather and other conditions that may pose a hazard
• inform a family member or friend of your trekking area, including when you expect to return from your activity
• obtain detailed information on trekking routes before setting out and do not venture off marked paths

Brunei Tourism – Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism

Road safety

Road conditions and road safety are good throughout the country.

Speeding, running red lights and distracted driving are common traffic infractions. In case of an accident, remain at the scene and do not move your vehicle until police arrive.

You can get a self-drive rental or chauffeur-driven car from major hotels and the airport. You should make arrangements for this before you arrive.

Public transportation

Buses

Buses operate between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. but are infrequent.

Public bus route – Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications

Taxis

You can usually get a metered taxi at hotels, shopping centres and the airport. Your hotel can arrange for a taxi or provide a taxi driver’s cell-phone number. Some drivers will negotiate a fare.

Water taxis are the most common form of transport to and from Kampong Ayer. Fares are negotiable.

Brunei Metered Taxi - Land Transport Department of Brunei

Air travel

We do not make assessments on the compliance of foreign domestic airlines with international safety standards.

Information about foreign domestic airlines

Entry and exit requirements

Every country or territory decides who can enter or exit through its borders. The Government of Canada cannot intervene on your behalf if you do not meet your destination’s entry or exit requirements.

We have obtained the information on this page from the Bruneian authorities. It can, however, change at any time.

Verify this information with the Foreign Representatives in Canada.

Passport

Entry requirements vary depending on the type of passport you use for travel.

Before you travel, check with your transportation company about passport requirements. Its rules on passport validity may be more stringent than the country’s entry rules.

Regular Canadian passport

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date you expect to leave Brunei.

Passport for official travel

Different entry rules may apply.

Official travel

Passport with “X” gender identifier

While the Government of Canada issues passports with an “X” gender identifier, it cannot guarantee your entry or transit through other countries. You might face entry restrictions in countries that do not recognize the “X” gender identifier. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Other travel documents

Different entry rules may apply when travelling with a temporary passport or an emergency travel document. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Useful links

• Foreign Representatives in Canada
• Canadian passports

Visas

Tourist visa: required for stays of more than 90 days
Business visa: required for stays of more than 90 days
Student visa: required

If you need a visa, you must have at least 6 blank pages in your passport.

Visa information – Ministry of Foreign Affairs Brunei

Other entry requirements

E-Arrival Card

You must register and get approved for an E-Arrival Card before arriving in Brunei by air, land or sea. If you arrived in Brunei before February 9, 2023, and didn't get an E-Arrival Card, you will need to get one before leaving Brunei. The E-Arrival Card is separate from any visa requirements.

You are exempt from this requirement if you are transiting through Brunei.

Arrival Declaration Form

To enter Brunei, you must fill out the Arrival Declaration Form through the BruHealth application up to 72 hours before arrival. The BruHealth app can be downloaded from the Google Playstore and Apple App Store.

Health screening

You will not be allowed entry into Brunei if you have HIV/AIDS or any other communicable disease. You will be asked to complete a health declaration form upon entry.

Useful links

• Register for the E-Arrival Card online – Brunei's Immigration and National Registration System portal
• Guidelines for E-Arrival Card – Government of Brunei
• Download BruHealth – Ministry of Health, Brunei
• Arrival Declaration Form – Ministry of Health, Brunei

Children and travel

Learn more about travelling with children.

Yellow fever

Learn about potential entry requirements related to yellow fever (vaccines section).

Health

Routine vaccines

Be sure that your routine vaccinations, as per your province or territory, are up-to-date before travelling, regardless of your destination.

Some of these vaccinations include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, varicella (chickenpox), influenza and others.

Pre-travel vaccines and medications

You may be at risk for preventable diseases while travelling in this destination. Talk to a travel health professional about which medications or vaccines may be right for you, based on your destination and itinerary. 

Safe food and water precautions

Many illnesses can be caused by eating food or drinking beverages contaminated by bacteria, parasites, toxins, or viruses, or by swimming or bathing in contaminated water.

• Learn more about food and water precautions to take to avoid getting sick by visiting our eat and drink safely abroad page. Remember: Boil it, cook it, peel it, or leave it!
• Avoid getting water into your eyes, mouth or nose when swimming or participating in activities in freshwater (streams, canals, lakes), particularly after flooding or heavy rain. Water may look clean but could still be polluted or contaminated.
• Avoid inhaling or swallowing water while bathing, showering, or swimming in pools or hot tubs. 

Insect bite prevention

Many diseases are spread by the bites of infected insects such as mosquitoes, ticks, fleas or flies. When travelling to areas where infected insects may be present:

• Use insect repellent (bug spray) on exposed skin
• Cover up with light-coloured, loose clothes made of tightly woven materials such as nylon or polyester
• Minimize exposure to insects
• Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in buildings that are not fully enclosed

To learn more about how you can reduce your risk of infection and disease caused by bites, both at home and abroad, visit our insect bite prevention page.

Find out what types of insects are present where you’re travelling, when they’re most active, and the symptoms of the diseases they spread.

Animal precautions

Some infections, such as rabies and influenza, can be shared between humans and animals. Certain types of activities may increase your chance of contact with animals, such as travelling in rural or forested areas, camping, hiking, and visiting wet markets (places where live animals are slaughtered and sold) or caves.

Travellers are cautioned to avoid contact with animals, including dogs, livestock (pigs, cows), monkeys, snakes, rodents, birds, and bats, and to avoid eating undercooked wild game.

Closely supervise children, as they are more likely to come in contact with animals.

Person-to-person infections

Stay home if you’re sick and practise proper cough and sneeze etiquette, which includes coughing or sneezing into a tissue or the bend of your arm, not your hand. Reduce your risk of colds, the flu and other illnesses by:

•  washing your hands often
• avoiding or limiting the amount of time spent in closed spaces, crowded places, or at large-scale events (concerts, sporting events, rallies)
• avoiding close physical contact with people who may be showing symptoms of illness 

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV, and mpox are spread through blood and bodily fluids; use condoms, practise safe sex, and limit your number of sexual partners. Check with your local public health authority pre-travel to determine your eligibility for mpox vaccine.  

Medical services and facilities

Medical facilities are good, but medical evacuation to Singapore may be necessary for serious medical problems.

Make sure you get travel insurance that includes coverage for medical evacuation and hospital stays.

Health and safety outside Canada

Laws and culture

You must abide by local laws.

Learn about what you should do and how we can help if you are arrested or detained abroad.

Drugs

Penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are severe. Death is the mandatory penalty for many narcotics offences, including trafficking controlled drugs, even in very small amounts.

Drugs, alcohol and travel

Alcohol

You can't purchase alcohol in Brunei and the import of alcohol is strictly regulated.

Useful links

• Narcotics Control Bureau - Government of Brunei
• Import regulations - Ministry of Finance of Brunei

Illegal activities

The following activities are illegal and convicted offenders can face severe penalties:

• possession of pornographic material
• possession of firearms, weapons and related accessories
• photography of government and military establishments or equipment
• gambling
• persuading or inciting a Muslim to neglect their religious duties
• promoting any religion other than Islam

Overstaying a visa

Immigration regulations are strict. Foreign workers who overstay their visas face harsh penalties, including jail sentences and caning. If you’re working in Brunei, closely monitor your immigration status and visa expiration dates.

Extramarital relations

Extramarital relations and public displays of affection between a Muslim and non-Muslim may be considered a crime in Brunei.

Sharia penal code

The Sharia penal code applies regardless of a person’s religion or nationality. Penalties for certain offences can be severe, and can include physical punishment and the death penalty. Penalties may be applied for certain offences that would not be considered criminal in Canada. Brunei’s existing civil penal code and civil courts will continue to function in parallel with the Sharia penal code and Sharia Court.

Sharia penal code - Attorney General’s Chambers

Ramadan

In 2024, the lunar month of Ramadan is expected to begin on or around March 10.

In public, between sunrise and sunset, refrain from:

• drinking
• eating
• smoking

Discussing royal family

Avoid any public criticism of His Majesty the Sultan or other members of the Bruneian royal family.

2SLGBTQI+ persons

Bruneian law prohibits sexual acts between individuals of the same sex. Those convicted can face severe penalties, including the death penalty.

2SLGBTQI+ persons should carefully consider the risks of travelling to Brunei.

Travel and your sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics

Dual citizenship

Dual citizenship is not legally recognized in Brunei.

If local authorities consider you a citizen of Brunei, they may refuse to grant you access to Canadian consular services. This will prevent us from providing you with those services.

Dual citizens

International Child Abduction

The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is an international treaty. It can help parents with the return of children who have been removed to or retained in certain countries in violation of custody rights. It does not apply between Canada and Brunei.

If your child was wrongfully taken to, or is being held in Brunei by an abducting parent:

• act as quickly as you can
• consult a lawyer in Canada and in Brunei to explore all the legal options for the return of your child
• report the situation to the nearest Canadian government office abroad or to Global Affairs Canada by calling the Emergency Watch and Response Centre

If your child was removed from a country other than Canada, consult a lawyer to determine if The Hague Convention applies.

Be aware that Canadian consular officials cannot interfere in private legal matters or in another country's judicial affairs.

Useful links

• International Child Abductions: A guide for affected parents
• Children and travel
• Canadian embassies and consulates by destination
• Request emergency assistance

Driving

Traffic drives on the left.

Foreigners holding a driving permit issued by a country that is party to the Geneva Convention may convert that permit to a Brunei permit that can be used for up to one year.

You should carry an International Driving Permit.

International Driving Permit

Land Transport Department - Government of Brunei

Money

The currency in Brunei is the Brunei dollar.

Natural disasters and climate

Earthquakes

Brunei is located in an active seismic zone. However, earthquakes and volcano activity are not common.

Rainy/monsoon seasons

The rainy (or monsoon) seasons occur from September to January and from May to July. During these periods, even small storms can quickly develop into major ones. These severe rainstorms can put you at risk and hamper the provision of essential services. They may also cause flooding and landslides.

If you decide to travel to Brunei during the monsoon seasons:

• know that you expose yourself to serious safety risks
• be prepared to change your travel plans on short notice, including cutting short or cancelling your trip
• stay informed of the latest regional weather forecasts
• carry emergency contact information for your airline or tour operator
• follow the advice and instructions of local authorities

Useful links

• Tornadoes, cyclones, hurricanes, typhoons and monsoons
• Large-scale emergencies abroad
• Local weather updates - Brunei Meteorological Department

Pollution

Unrestricted burning in neighbouring Indonesia periodically causes atmospheric pollution to rise to unhealthy levels. Pollutant standard index levels (PSI reading) change quickly and you should closely monitor them by consulting local news and weather reports.

PSI readings - Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation of Brunei