Brunei

Brunei has no digital nomad visa. Visitors come in on short stays set by nationality, listed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

• 90 days without a visa: all 27 EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada (MFA).
• 30 days without a visa: ordinary passport holders of Japan, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, New Zealand, Oman, Singapore, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates (MFA).
• 14 days without a visa: ordinary passport holders of Cambodia, China, Costa Rica, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Kosovo, Macau, the Maldives, Myanmar, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam (MFA).
• Visa on arrival: Australia and Kuwait (30 days), Bahrain and Qatar (14 days) and Saudi Arabia (14 days, single entry only). The fee is BND 20 for a single entry or BND 30 for multiple entries where offered (MFA).

Nationals not on these lists need a visa before travel; the MFA visa menu shows the category for each nationality.

For longer stays, the Immigration Department lists three long-term passes: a social visit pass for foreigners with family ties to a citizen or permanent resident, a business visit pass for company owners and foreign investors, and a professional visit pass for experts whose skills Brunei needs. None is aimed at remote workers, and the criteria, validity and fees are not published online; the Long Term Pass Secretariat at the department's headquarters handles inquiries (Immigration Department).

This guide does not print a monthly budget: no current, sourced figure for living costs in Brunei was available when it was checked in October 2026. Prices are in Brunei dollars (BND).

Two official rules shape a budget. Brunei levies no personal income tax (see below), and the sale of alcohol and tobacco is banned, so those costs largely drop out (UK travel advice). Health insurance with medical evacuation cover belongs in any long-stay budget, since complex cases can be referred to Singapore (UK travel advice).

Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital, has the main government offices, the main public hospital and the widest choice of housing, so it suits most stays.

Gadong and Jerudong are within reach of the capital; Jerudong has a private medical center, Jerudong Park (UK travel advice).

Kuala Belait and Seria, in the western Belait district, suit those who prefer smaller towns away from the capital.

The Speedtest Global Index for August 2026 puts Brunei's median fixed broadband download speed at 120.66 Mbps. It lists no mobile median for the country.

This guide lists no coworking spaces: none could be checked against a current source in October 2026. Most remote workers base themselves in the capital area, where services are concentrated.

• Tax on individuals: None: Brunei levies no tax on personal income, including earnings from employment, self-employment, dividends and interest, and no capital gains tax (Ministry of Finance and Economy).

Because individuals pay no income tax, no day count matters for income tax in Brunei. The question for remote workers is their home country: many countries keep taxing residents or citizens on income earned abroad, so the home rules and any tax treaty decide what is owed.

• Emergencies: ambulance 991, police 993, fire 995 (UK travel advice; UK travel advice).
• Health: care is generally acceptable, centered on RIPAS, the government hospital in Bandar Seri Begawan, and a private medical center at Jerudong Park. Some medicines sold freely elsewhere need a prescription in Brunei (UK travel advice).
• Law and custom: Islam is the official religion and modest dress is expected, for example in government buildings. Non-Muslims aged 17 and over may bring in a limited amount of alcohol, declared on arrival and drunk in private. During Ramadan, eating, drinking or smoking in public in fasting hours is against the law (UK travel advice).
• Safety: crime is generally low, though petty theft and house burglaries happen. Drivers often ignore red lights and speed, and animals can be on the road (UK travel advice).