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.
Passport Rank
#22
Visa-Free
167
destinations
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.
Sources & last verified
- Last verified 2026-06-15