Brunei Darussalam
BRNBrunei Darussalam is a small, oil-wealthy sultanate on the north coast of Borneo, flanked by the Malaysian state of Sarawak. It levies zero personal income tax on residents — a rare absolute exemption backed by hydrocarbons revenue rather than a special regime. Citizens and residents enjoy heavily subsidised fuel, utilities, and healthcare. The Brunei Dollar is pegged 1:1 to the Singapore Dollar, providing currency stability.
Naturalisation is extremely restrictive, requiring 20 years of continuous residence and Malay-language proficiency. Dual citizenship is not permitted, and long-term residency pathways for foreign nationals are limited. The country enforces Islamic law (Syariah) in certain civil matters, and alcohol is prohibited for Muslims and banned from public sale entirely.
- Naturalisation
- 20 years
- Tax system
- No Income Tax
- Currency
- BND
- Dual citizenship
- Not allowed
- Capital
- Bandar Seri Begawan
- Region
- asia
- Population
- 449,002
- Cost-of-living
- 44 /100
Passport Rank
#22
Visa-Free
167
destinations
Visa-free travel
A Brunei Darussalam passport has visa-free access to 136 destinations. See the full Brunei Darussalampassport breakdown →
Passports that enter Brunei Darussalam without a prior visa (63)
Visa-free, visa on arrival, or on an eTA.
Community-sourced (passport-index, synced 2026-08-18) — verify with the embassy before travel.
Country Details
- Capital
- Bandar Seri Begawan
- Currency
- BND
- Languages
- Malay, English
- Population
- 449,002
- Tax System
- No Income Tax
- Dual Citizenship
- Not allowed
- Naturalisation
- 20 years
- Schengen / EU
- No
- Climate
- Tropical equatorial; hot and humid year-round with heavy rainfall and no distinct dry season
- English Proficiency Rank
- #24
Indices
Cost of Living
44
Safety
74
Healthcare
59
Quality of Life
148
Tax Summary
- Tax System
- No Income Tax
- Territorial Taxation
- No — worldwide income taxed for residents
- Naturalisation
- 20 years of legal residency
- Dual Citizenship
- Not allowed
Cost of Living by City
← scroll the table →
| City | Rent 1BR centre | Rent outside | Groceries | Utilities | Transit pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bandar Seri Begawan | — | — | — | — | Free |
| Kuala Belait | — | — | — | — | Free |
| Seria | — | — | — | — | Free |
Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.
Climate
Bandar Seri Begawan
Rainfall range: 90–335 mm/month · Daylight 11.8h (winter) to 12.5h (summer)
Visa Categories & Immigration Authority
Major Visa Categories
- Tourist Visa (Visa-Free for Many Nationalities)
- Employment Pass
- Investor Visa
- Family / Dependent Visa
- Student Pass
- Permanent Residence
- Diplomatic / Official Visa
- Transit Visa
- Special Pass
- Authority
- Immigration and National Registration Department
- Official Portal
- www.immigration.gov.bn
- Phone
- +673 238 2788
- info@immigration.gov.bn
Naturalisation Details
- Residence Years
- Language Test
- Yes (level n/a)
- Civic Test
- Yes
- Oath Required
- No
- Dual Allowed
- No
- Fee
- $200
- Processing
- ~36 months
Safety
GPI Rank
#35
Global Peace Index ranking (lower is safer)
Common Risks
- ⚠Online purchase fraud
- ⚠Fake job offers targeting foreign workers
- ⚠Rental deposit scams
Related Guides
Zero and low-tax residencies: the real list
Countries with zero personal income tax, territorial-only taxation, or special expatriate regimes — and what each one actually requires from you to qualify as a resident.
Exit tax: countries that charge you to leave
Country-by-country reference of departure taxes, deemed-disposition rules, and wealth-locking regimes that trigger when tax residency ends.
Related on The Citizenship Desk
Sources & last verified
- Last verified