Brunei Darussalam visas
Brunei administers immigration through the Immigration and National Registration Department, under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Headline routes include the employer-sponsored work pass, a new multi-year Long-Term Pass (effective December 2024) with social, business and professional sub-categories, and the Entry Permit route toward permanent residence. There is no golden visa or investment-based permanent residence, and permanent residence is slow and discretionary (around 15 years).
6 routes · 4 without a sponsor · 2 lead to settlement
Official portal
Primary source
Immigration and National Registration Department ↗ · Immigration and National Registration Department (Brunei)
Link last verified:
Regulators of immigration advice
- Attorney General Chambers (Brunei) (AGC) — Oversees the legal profession; advocates and solicitors are admitted by the Chief Justice. There is no dedicated immigration-adviser regulator; foreign-worker licensing sits with the Labour Department.
Visa routes (6)
Work Pass (employer-sponsored employment)
For you if a Brunei employer has offered you a job: the Work Pass is the standard, employer-sponsored route into paid employment, handled by the immigration department's Foreign Work Pass division alongside a valid visa.
Sponsor required · Non-settlement · Last reviewed 1 June 2026
Long-Term Pass (social, business or professional)
For you if you want a multi-year basis to stay in Brunei: the Long-Term Pass is a newer route with social, business and professional sub-categories - but please read the dated note, because it only took effect at the end of 2024.
No sponsor needed · Non-settlement · Last reviewed 1 June 2026
Entry Permit (route toward permanent resident status)
For you if you are working toward settling in Brunei: the Entry Permit is the document the immigration department processes for permanent resident status, so this is the formal route toward becoming a permanent resident.
No sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 1 June 2026
Permanent Residence (discretionary, long-term)
For you if you intend to settle in Brunei for life: permanent residence confirms a long-term right to live there - but please read the honesty note, because it is discretionary and typically takes around fifteen years.
No sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 1 June 2026
Dependent Pass (family of pass holders)
For you if your spouse or parent holds a Brunei work pass: the Dependent Pass lets close family live in Brunei for the validity of the main holder's pass - though it does not, by itself, let you work.
Sponsor required · Non-settlement · Last reviewed 1 June 2026
Student Pass (foreign students)
For you if you have a place to study in Brunei: the Student Pass lets you live in the country for the length of your course, linked to your enrolment at a recognised institution.
No sponsor needed · Non-settlement · Last reviewed 1 June 2026
Recent Brunei Darussalam policy changes
·material
Brunei introduces a multi-year Long-Term Pass
Brunei launched a multi-year Long-Term Pass effective 31 December 2024, with social, business and professional sub-categories.
Frequently asked questions
How many visa routes does Brunei Darussalam have?+
We cover 6 Brunei Darussalam visa routes across the work, study, family, business, and residence categories. Each one links to its primary government source and carries a last-reviewed date.
Which Brunei Darussalam visas do not need an employer sponsor?+
4 of the 6 Brunei Darussalam routes we cover can be pursued without an employer sponsor, which helps if you do not have a job offer yet. The remaining 2 are employer-sponsored.
Which Brunei Darussalam visas lead to permanent residence?+
2 of the 6 routes can lead to settlement or permanent residence; the others are temporary. Open each route for its settlement detail and qualifying period.
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We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
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