Brunei has separate long-term passes for families, investors and professionals

Choose the category before requesting the application

Brunei’s Immigration Department lists three long-term-pass categories. The social category is for foreign nationals with family ties to citizens or permanent residents who do not yet meet permanent-residence criteria. The business category concerns qualifying foreign company owners and investors contributing to the country’s development. The professional category concerns foreign expertise needed for national development. This is a current guide, not a new November launch.

For forms and detailed requirements, the department directs social applicants to the Visa, Visit and Diplomatic Division on the second floor of headquarters or branch offices. Business and professional applicants use the Long Term Pass Secretariat on the third floor. Its published email is [email protected]. Use this route-specific resource to request the correct application instead of assuming that family ties, an investment or professional credentials all use the same assessment.

Professional expertise must match the assessed national need

An official parliamentary answer of 28 March 2026 confirms that the policy took effect on 31 December 2024. It explains that professional applications involve feedback and support from the relevant technical agencies about the expertise proposed. Some applications could not be considered because the occupation was not within a shortage category or the person was not actively practising it. A qualification alone therefore should not be treated as proof of acceptance.

The answer also describes preliminary review of investor cases through the relevant foreign-investment and industry bodies before the special long-term-pass committee considers them. It reported nineteen business and thirteen professional applications received by 28 February, with one approval in each category and other cases under assessment. Those dated figures are not a current approval rate or a promise of processing time. Use the parliamentary explanation to understand why the proposed investment or professional activity needs substantive assessment, while obtaining the present evidence checklist from Immigration. It does not publish a universal investment amount or salary threshold for every applicant.

Keep the visa and the immigration pass distinct

Brunei’s Foreign Ministry FAQ expressly distinguishes a visa from an immigration pass. It describes recognised travel documents and requires at least six months of passport validity on entry. A prospective long-term applicant should check the passport and any visa needed for the journey rather than assume that a form request or pending application authorises admission.

The FAQ says people entering for employment need the appropriate visa and employment pass before arrival. It separately identifies dependent passes for the relevant spouses and children under eighteen. Those ordinary categories should not be presumed identical to the long-term social category for family ties. Ask Immigration which permission and documents apply to the proposed activity and household.

The ministry lists BND20 for a single-entry visa and different multiple-entry charges. These are visa charges, not a verified price for issuing a long-term pass. The reviewed long-term guidance does not establish one complete fee schedule, guaranteed decision period or general application closing date. Obtain the category’s current charges and instructions before paying or relying on a relocation date.

Complete the arrival declarations without treating them as approval

Singapore’s High Commission in Brunei provides a separate official travel resource. It says foreign nationals using Brunei’s sea, air or land immigration control posts submit the electronic arrival card through the Brunei INRS portal, replacing the former paper arrival form. The page also directs travellers to complete the BruHealth arrival declaration within three days, including arrival day, before arrival. Check the current instructions through the named services before setting out.

These declarations serve a different purpose from applying for the long-term category. Completing travel information should not be treated as confirmation that the underlying pass has been granted. Keep the passport, relevant approval and travel records available for the actual journey.

For Singaporeans planning a stay exceeding six months, the High Commission recommends consular registration. It can provide consular assistance but says it cannot act as an immigration guarantor or sponsor, arrange accommodation or employment, or pay private bills. Use that nationality-specific service for consular support; use Brunei Immigration for the permission itself.