Moving & Living - Brunei - Complete Guide

01Choose your base around the workplace and school

Begin with the actual office, worksite or campus address. Bandar Seri Begawan and the surrounding Brunei–Muara area are a different housing search from Kuala Belait and Seria. Choose the right district before comparing an appealing house with one that makes the everyday journey practical.

The International School Brunei campus directory distinguishes its Bandar and Seria locations and inclusive-learning centres, including Panaga. Do not treat a school name as one interchangeable destination. Have the admissions team identify the actual campus serving the child before choosing a home.

1. Mark the workplace, school or university and essential household services.
2. Shortlist homes in the appropriate district, with the full address and map pin.
3. Test the proposed commute at the time you would make it.
4. Compare the total cost of home and transport, including the need for a second household journey.
5. Use temporary accommodation while viewing the final shortlist.

Learn the address terms early: kampung identifies a village and simpang identifies a road junction or access road in an address. Keep the full written address as well as a pin; the Dart operator's pickup guidance specifically suggests a landmark, kampung or simpang when its map cannot find a location.

02Select the pass for your actual purpose and sponsor

Visitor entry, permission to stay and permission to work are separate decisions. A nationality that can visit without arranging a visa does not thereby have permission to start employment. Give the sponsor your nationality, passport details, intended purpose and proposed arrival date so that it can organise the right application.

The Immigration Department's visitor and professional services explicitly says the business-visit visa, or BVV, is not for waiting on Labour's quota process or working for the company. Its professional application is presented by the sponsoring company. Use that distinction when an employer suggests travelling first and sorting out employment afterward.

For employment, assemble the work-visa/pass application with the sponsor. The published list includes a sponsor letter, passport with at least six months' validity, Form 23, two photographs and the relevant labour documents. Preserve the nationality-specific differences: the visa form is not required for Malaysian and Singaporean applicants, while identity-card copies are listed for those two nationalities.

Ask the sponsor to record the visa approval, mission endorsement where applicable, arrival instructions and subsequent work-pass endorsement as separate milestones. Keep the issued documents and dates together. For accompanying family, obtain each person's own answer before booking travel.

03Have the employer complete labour approval and define the job

The current Foreign Worker Licence procedure uses the National Labour Management System, or NLMS, for applications from 1 April 2023. The employer registers, obtains JobCentre Brunei verification, updates company and worker details and submits the application. New applications in the stated categories must be made by a licensed employment agency.

1. Obtain an offer identifying employer, position, workplace, pay and contract term.
2. Have the employer and agency complete the relevant JCB and LPA process through NLMS.
3. Give them the passport and role-specific information needed for the immigration application.
4. Agree who pays for recruitment, travel, accommodation, medical examinations and return travel.
5. Obtain the medical-insurance evidence before departure.
6. Begin the role only when the employer has completed the applicable work permission.

The Lesen Pekerja Asing, or LPA, is the foreign worker licence. The current labour checklist includes company registration, JCB clearance, passport, current employer/worker census receipt and address confirmations for business premises and workers' accommodation. That is why the employer must be involved; an individual cannot replace those organisational documents with a personal travel booking.

Business owners should use MOFE's One Common Portal for the appropriate company and ongoing business obligations, while separately resolving immigration and work authority. The long-term pass directory describes qualifying foreign owners, investors and professionals; incorporation alone does not demonstrate eligibility. No general remote-worker pass was established in the reviewed official services. An overseas client relationship should therefore be discussed as the actual proposed activity, rather than renamed tourism.

04Price the household and keep tax obligations separate

Budget in Brunei dollars. Start with the package the employer actually pays, then price the household's uncovered costs. A furnished house, school allowance and transport arrangement can change the calculation substantially. Avoid one national monthly figure: it would obscure the difference between a single worker with supplied accommodation and a family paying international-school fees.

Some useful verified reference points are a BND 20 new green-IC application fee in the current form, a BND 1,000 initial deposit for Baiduri's specified current account, and Imagine's Wish 2 postpaid plan at BND 10 per month. The bank amount remains money deposited in the account, not a relocation fee. Phone eligibility and contract terms still need to suit the holder.

For an electricity calculation, DES's currently published residential table, introduced in 2012 and reviewed13 October 2026, gives BND 38 for1,000 kWh. This is a specified-consumption example, not an average household bill. A hypothetical budget using that consumption and the BND 10 phone plan would allocate BND 48 to those two items alone; rent, water, food and other expenses are additional.

MOFE's investment overview states that Brunei has no personal income tax. This does not cancel home-country obligations, corporate taxation or the reporting associated with a business. Record the actual days and income relevant to your existing tax jurisdictions, and obtain advice where the move changes residence.

05Secure the right campus and complete admission

Contact schools while the employer is arranging immigration. Compare Jerudong International School on Jalan Universiti with International School Brunei's actual Bandar or Seria campus. Ask about the child's year group, available place, learning support, English-language needs, transport and intended start date. Do not promise a school place to the family before the school has decided.

1. Send an enquiry describing age, recent schooling, language and any support needs.
2. Use the institution's actual application service.
3. Provide its requested identity, academic and assessment documents.
4. Complete any assessment and obtain the decision.
5. Confirm all charges and the applicable fee category in writing.
6. Have the school or university identify the student's immigration process.

JIS's admission journey proceeds through online application, assessment and an admissions decision. Its fee page distinguishes standard rates for fully employer-funded parents from possible resident discounts for parents who are not fully subsidised. The school's 2026–27 standard schedule, dated26 March 2026, quotes BND 25,608 annually for Reception–Year 6 tuition; this is one school's specific fee category. The BND 200 application payment is credited against tuition if a place is offered, with the stated non-refund conditions otherwise. Books, examinations and other extras require separate budgeting.

For university, UBD's undergraduate application instructions ask for certified identity and academic documents, applicable English qualifications, and a security-clearance letter from the relevant home-country authority for international applicants. A saved application is not a submitted application. Use the actual intake's closing date.

UBD's 2026–27 general fees list BND 100 acceptance, BND 100 registration for candidature over one semester, and a BND 250 first-degree refundable deposit. Those listed items total BND 450; the calculation excludes tuition, housing and other charges. Obtain the programme's complete offer and fee terms.

06Plan retirement around the permission you actually hold

The reviewed official services do not establish an ordinary retirement visa based simply on pension income. Immigration's long-term pass categories concern qualifying family connections, investors and business owners, or needed professionals. Decide whether your own circumstances fit a real category before planning to remain after employment ends.

Put the work-pass end date beside the intended retirement date. Ask the sponsor how cancellation, dependent permissions and departure are handled. If applying under a different genuine basis, identify its documents and timing separately; an application should not be treated as permission to overstay the existing pass.

1. Record the residence basis held by each household member.
2. Establish the proposed lawful basis after employment.
3. Ask the pension provider about overseas payments, address changes and benefits.
4. Price health cover for the intended age and residence category.
5. Keep an alternative home and return arrangement if the new basis is not approved.

Brunei's Skim Persaraan Kebangsaan, or SPK, is not an automatic pension entitlement for every foreign worker. TAP's retirement-benefit page distinguishes citizens and stateless permanent residents from foreign-national members holding Purple ICs, who receive SPK Basic benefits under its rules. A temporary green-IC employee should not budget on receiving those permanent-resident benefits.

Obtain a written explanation of the retirement benefits in your actual employment contract, including any employer scheme outside SPK. Keep records of contributions and the rules for leaving employment. Savings arrangements and immigration eligibility solve different parts of retirement planning.

07Prepare documents, shipment and any pet import

Make one file for each person, with a shared household index. Include the passport used in the application, approval letters, appointment or admission documents, relationship records where relevant, and the insurance evidence. Ask the sponsor which originals, certified copies and translations its particular route needs before ordering them.

1. Check names and passport numbers across the documents.
2. Separate originals carried personally from shipment paperwork.
3. Keep an accessible copy of approvals and sponsor contacts.
4. List shipped belongings and obtain a destination-specific customs quotation.
5. Confirm the accommodation accepts the delivery and any pet.
6. Arrange the relevant animal-import permission before transport is booked.

New foreign workers have a specific medical preparation task. The Ministry of Health's screening service says new workers undergo a comprehensive examination in their home country or country of permanent residence before arrival, including communicable-disease blood tests and a chest X-ray. Use the service's approved overseas facilities and forms with the employer rather than assuming any travel-health certificate is sufficient.

For pets, the Agriculture and Agrifood FAQ identifies the Veterinary Public Health and Animal Import Management unit at KKP Tungku as responsible for pet and livestock import permits. Give it the animal's species, origin, transit route and proposed date, and obtain the actual health and entry conditions. The reviewed page does not establish one universal quarantine period or current import fee, so those details need the unit's answer for the specific animal.

Keep veterinary-medicine arrangements separate: the same FAQ identifies a different responsibility for medicine import. Have the treating veterinarian and import authority resolve the required evidence rather than packing unidentified medication with the household shipment.

08Complete E-Arrival and arrange the first days

Use the Immigration Department's current E-Arrival instructions and its linked imm.gov.bn portal. Register an account using the stated one-time-password process, provide passport, journey and Brunei accommodation information, and retain the resulting reference. The arrival record does not replace a visa, work approval or the pass issued by Immigration.

1. Have the sponsor reconfirm the approved arrival date and reporting instructions.
2. Complete the relevant E-Arrival record with the actual accommodation.
3. Carry the passport, approval documents and reference at the border.
4. Inspect the permission and dates recorded on arrival.
5. Reach the temporary accommodation and notify the sponsor.
6. Arrange the medical and endorsement appointments applicable to the route.

For the airport-to-home journey, agree pickup with the employer or accommodation provider, or use the actual Dart airport-transfer and app procedure. The operator shows the fare in the app before booking and accepts cash or Dart Credits, with credits topped up through Visa or Mastercard. Availability depends on drivers; do not assume a fixed fare or instant pickup for every district.

Buy a correctly registered SIM rather than using someone else's line. AITI's registration guidance allows visitors to register with an original passport; foreign-worker documentation is addressed separately. Retain enough Brunei cash for immediate purchases and a backup contact method until the selected bank and mobile services work.

Use the first days to confirm the practical sequence with the employer: health clearance, contract or pass endorsement, local identity and banking. Record appointment references and outstanding documents so that an incomplete step is visible.

09Finish work-pass endorsement and obtain the green IC

The work-pass section's endorsement list includes the application and registration documents, visa approval, LPA, medical blood-test and X-ray evidence, and the valid passport. Have the employer organise the exact endorsement file for the role. Immigration's approval and the medical fitness certificate should be recognisable documents, not verbal assurances that someone will handle them.

For eligible foreign residents aged 12 and over, the green identity-card service requires a valid immigration pass with more than three months remaining. Apply at Immigration headquarters or a district branch using the correct current form. This is Kad Pengenalan Hijau; it is not citizenship or permanent residence.

1. Complete the applicable pass endorsement with the sponsor.
2. Use the current bilingual green-IC form and fill the requested sections.
3. For the worker application, bring passport and LPA originals and copies.
4. Ensure employer address and occupation match the approved labour licence.
5. Attend the counter for the photograph and pay the listed BND 20 new-application fee.
6. Keep the receipt and collection instructions, then update dependent services with the issued identity.

The form says changes to the employer-related details must be handled with Labour before IC registration. For a student or dependent without an LPA, have the counter confirm that category's evidence instead of pretending the worker checklist applies unchanged.

Once the physical IC is available, BruneiID's published eligibility includes valid green-IC holders. Use its current registration guide for digital access. The service expressly does not replace the requirement to possess the physical identity card. Keep pass, card, address and bank records consistent when later changes occur.

10Open the selected account and test everyday payments

Choose an account by its real eligibility, balance requirements and fees. Baiduri's current account provides one documented starting point for resident foreigners: age18 or over, a BND 1,000 initial deposit, original identity card, passport with valid entry pass, and proof of residential address. The bank accepts an employer's address declaration in an employment letter or a utility bill not over three months old for that evidence.

1. Ask the bank to confirm the appropriate account for the immigration status.
2. Prepare the original identity, passport, pass and address evidence.
3. For Baiduri's online application, have a valid email and Brunei mobile number ready.
4. Submit the application and retain the acknowledgement.
5. Attend the arranged branch appointment with originals for verification.
6. After opening, activate the selected payment services, test them and provide the payroll details securely.

Submission is not a guarantee that the account will open. If the home utility bill is in the landlord's name, resolve acceptable evidence with the bank before the appointment rather than assuming it establishes your residence. Ask about debit-card, transfer and minimum-balance charges for the chosen product.

Carry some BND cash for smaller purchases. BDCB's currency guidance explains that BND and SGD have equal value and the relevant authorities and licensed banks exchange them at par without charge. Retailers are not obliged to accept the other country's currency. Do not treat that agreement as a promise that every shop will accept SGD notes or coins.

Keep receipts for the rental deposit and initial payments, and separate household funds from business accounts where applicable. Test the account before relying on it for the next salary or an urgent bill.

11View the home and put the rental obligations in writing

Compare the exact home rather than a district-wide advertised price. Identify the authorised landlord or agent, visit the premises and confirm the full kampung, simpang, postcode and unit details. If the employer rents the home, ask whether you are the tenant or an authorised occupant and which decisions remain with the employer.

1. Test the commute and inspect the rooms, fixtures, air-conditioning and water supply.
2. Obtain the written tenancy terms and itemised initial payment request.
3. Agree rent, deposit, included furnishings and utility responsibility.
4. Record maintenance duties, permitted occupants, pets and notice provisions.
5. Arrange the applicable stamp-duty assessment and payment.
6. Sign, receive keys and complete a dated condition-and-inventory record.

Discuss the deposit as a contract term: amount, permitted deductions, return process and evidence of payment. No universal two-month deposit or Malaysian rental rule is asserted here. Ask what happens if employment or the immigration pass ends early; a work appointment should not silently leave the family paying rent beyond the authorised stay.

The Revenue Division's stamp-duty FAQ identifies tenancy and lease agreements as chargeable instruments. Arrange assessment and stamping before execution where possible. Its later timing language uses different triggers in the deadline and penalty explanations; obtain the instruction for your instrument rather than relying on an unqualified14-day rule copied from one paragraph.

At handover, record both electricity and water meter details and any existing account balance or arrears. Decide who funds top-ups and who reports a fault. Keep the tenancy, inventory, receipts and meter evidence together so that the departure reconciliation uses the same record.

12Match insurance to the pass and register for healthcare

Foreign residents should budget for charged healthcare. The MOH scheme updated8 July 2025, effective1 July 2025, distinguishes yellow-IC citizens and stateless purple-IC residents from foreign-national purple-IC and green-IC categories. Green-IC government contract officers have terms-specific exceptions. Marriage to a citizen does not make the foreign-national spouse's treatment automatically free.

The Employment Amendment Order2024 requires the employer, before the immigrant employee's departure, to purchase and maintain at least BND 100,000 medical-treatment and surgery cover for the employment period. Its definition excludes outpatient treatment. The official rollout notice gives phase 1 commencement as1 July 2025 and phase 2 as1 January 2026. An older BND 10,000 worker figure should not be reused as the current requirement.

1. Obtain the employer's policy certificate and schedule before travel.
2. Confirm insured name, period, Brunei coverage and the relevant pass category.
3. Read exclusions, hospital authorisation, direct billing and claim procedures.
4. Arrange separate outpatient or household cover where needed.
5. Establish the family's local healthcare registration and retain its reference.
6. Identify the assistance contact and keep medication and clinical records accessible.

For dependents, students or another non-employment category, obtain the current category-specific insurance requirement from Immigration and the institution; the employment minimum alone does not answer their case. Use the MOH service's Bru-HIMS registration resource where applicable to the worker's medical process, and establish routine care for each family member separately.

As an actual charged-service reference, Schedule A lists BND 5 registration for the “others” category and BND 15 general outpatient consultation during working hours, or BND 25 outside them. These are separate items, with investigations, medicines or other treatment potentially additional. The employee's statutory inpatient cover does not establish that those outpatient expenses are reimbursed.

13Register the phone and establish utilities and transport

AITI's current prepaid rules allow physical registration at the operator or authorised reseller, or the operator's electronic platform. A foreign worker uses an original green IC or an original passport with employment pass; a visitor uses an original passport. Children under 12 are registered through a parent or legal guardian. Use the current new-registration process rather than the ended2025 re-registration timetable.

1. Choose the operator and plan, then register in the actual holder's name.
2. Test calls, data and the authentication messages needed for banking.
3. Identify the home's actual meter and existing account arrangements.
4. Use the corresponding DES or USMS payment method.
5. Test the work and school journeys with the chosen transport.
6. Resolve driving-licence eligibility before renting or buying a vehicle.

Imagine's prepaid terms list a BND 8 starter pack with BND 5 credit,2GB,20 local minutes and20 local SMS, initially valid30 days. The credit is included, not an extra BND 5 charge. Compare continued use with the current postpaid plans and obtain the actual foreign-resident eligibility and contract terms.

DES's service directory links Paybill, PowerKad, USMS top-up and MeterKu. Use the method belonging to the meter installed at the home. Record separate electricity and water responsibilities and retain each payment receipt.

The Land Transport Department's licence guidance distinguishes private-vehicle licences from 1949 Geneva Convention countries for stays up to one year from longer residence and commercial driving. It also gives IDP guidance. Have LTD confirm your issuing country and vehicle class; the Sungai Akar licensing complex handles foreign-licence endorsement. For journeys without a car, use the operator's actual availability and fare rather than assuming service in every area.

14Build the weekly routine and finish the first-month checks

Use the first month to make the routine repeatable. Decide where the household buys its regular food, how children reach school, when bills and top-ups are handled, and where medical appointments are arranged. Gadong Night Market provides one named everyday starting point in the capital; your own receipts, not a photograph of a menu, should determine the food budget.

The Information Department's local-services guide notes the Friday noon–2pm commercial closure. Plan errands around it, while using the specific office's current hours for an appointment. A government counter can have different arrangements from a shopping centre or school.

• Week 1: confirm arrival records, sponsor appointments, mobile registration and temporary accommodation.
• Week 2: reconcile medical clearance and pass endorsement, and submit the eligible IC application.
• Weeks3–4: complete banking, test payroll and settle the tenancy and utility records.
• Before the month ends: verify school arrangements, healthcare cover, daily transport and the return or renewal plan.

These are planning stages, not official processing guarantees. Follow the actual permission and appointment dates if a step takes longer. Put passports, passes, ICs, insurance and tenancy notice periods into one household calendar, with a named person responsible for each renewal.

Meet people through the workplace, school and activities you actually join. Ask local colleagues how addresses, service appointments and shared spaces work, and learn the useful Malay terms appearing in your documents. Keep the family's administrative record concise enough that someone else can find the controlling form or receipt when you are away.

Revisit the budget after a month of actual spending. Separate one-off deposits and application charges from recurring bills, compare them with the employer's reimbursements, and correct any gap before it becomes a continuing expense.