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 12 July 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 12 July 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 12 July 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 the official categories set qualifying periods of up to twenty years of residence or marriage.
No sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 30 July 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 23 July 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 25 July 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.
·material
Brunei publishes updated permanent-resident category guidelines
Starting 31 December 2024, Brunei's Immigration and National Registration Department (JIPK) shared updated guidelines and eligibility requirements for the categories of application for permanent resident status. Where permanent residence was previously described only as discretionary and typically taking around fifteen years, the published categories now set explicit qualifying periods - up to twenty years of residence or marriage depending on the applicant's tie to Brunei. Foreigners hoping to settle in Brunei are affected.
Planning life after your move?
Organise documents, arrival money, housing and the practical steps after visa approval. Your route conditions remain the starting point.
Frequently asked questions
How many visa routes does Brunei Darussalam have?+
We cover 6 Brunei Darussalam visa routes in these categories: sponsored work, general residence, family, and study. 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.
Need tailored advice?
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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