OFFICIAL NAME: Negara Brunei Darussalam (The Country of Brunei, Abode of Peace)
LOCATION: Located on the northern shore of the island of Borneo, which it shares with the Indonesian provinces of West, East, South and Central Kalimantan and the Malaysian States of Sabah and Sarawak; bordered by the South China Sea to the north, with a coastline of 161 km.
LAND AREA: 5,765 sq. km.
POPULATION: 372,360 (2005 est.)
LANGUAGE: Bahasa Melayu (Malay) is the official language but English is widely spoken. Mandarin, Chinese dialects and native languages of Borneo are also spoken by segments of the population.
RELIGION, CULTURE AND NATIONAL PHILOSOPHY: Brunei has adopted the national philosophy of the Malay Islamic Monarchy, a system that encompasses strong Malay cultural influence, stressing the importance of Islam in daily life and governance and respect for the monarchy as represented by His Majesty The Sultan. It is a philosophy of tolerance which allows other cultures to follow individual traditions and to practice other religions.
CLIMATE: Temperate equatorial climate year round, characterised by temperatures ranging between 23 to 32 degrees Celsius, and an average annual rainfall of 320 cm. There is no distinct rainy season, though the period from November to March tends to bring heavier rains.
CAPITAL CITY: Bandar Seri Begawan
HEAD OF STATE: His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam. His Majesty is the 29th ruler of his line, which began with Sultan Muhammad in 1405.
GOVERNMENT: Independent sovereign constitutional Sultanate, with His Majesty The Sultan as the supreme executive authority.
INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT LINKAGES: Brunei enjoys a convenient location at the heart of Southeast Asia and is well-connected to destinations worldwide.
Air: Royal Brunei Airlines, the nation's flagship carrier, flies non-stop or direct to most major Asia-Pacific destinations and the Middle East, as well as Europe via London and Frankfurt. Meanwhile, Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Dragonair and Thai Airways serve Bandar Seri Begawan and offer one-stop connections to the rest of the world through their hubs in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Hongkong and Bangkok.
Sea: Ferries link Brunei with the Malaysian island of Labuan off the coast of Sabah, and to the Malaysian towns of Limbang and Lawas in Sarawk.
Road: An extensive overland road network also connects Brunei to Sarawak and Sabah, while the Indonesian province of Kalimantan can be reached by road, air, boat via Sarawak or Sabah.
HEALTH, SAFETY AND SECURITY: Brunei is free of malaria and other tropical diseases, is outside the typhoon belt, has no volcanoes and is not prone to earthquakes. The country also enjoys government stability and economic prosperity, resulting in a very low crime rate.
ENTRY FORMALITIES
Visas: The government of Brunei Darussalam requires all visitors to have a valid passport and onward tickets or sufficient funds to support themselves while in the country. Visa requirements vary by nationality.
Austria, Germany, Ireland, Malaysia, Oman, Singapore, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and New Zealand: 30 days entry with no visa.
USA: 90 days entry with no visa.
Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Maldives, the Netherlands, Norway, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Thailand: 14 days entry with no visa.
Australia: Visas granted on arrival for visits not exceeding 30 days.
All other nationals entering Brunei must obtain visas from any Brunei Darussalam diplomatic mission abroad.
A 72-hour transit visa on arrival is available to all nationalities except for Israeli passport holders.
Please consult with Brunei diplomatic missions abroad for the latest updates and changes.
Application for Professional/Business Visit Visa should be lodged personally at the Visa Section of the Immigration and National Registration Department, together with a recognised passport with 6 months validity before entering Brunei Darussalam, introductory or sponsorship letters from associated companies, business representatives, government agencies or other authority and two passport-size photographs.
For more information regarding visa requirements, you may visit www.immigration.gov.bn.
