Brunei flag

Brunei — Complete Emigration Guide 2026

455,500 people · Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan · South-Eastern Asia

Updated H2 2026 · Compiled from official government sources, re-checked on a rolling basis

Safety
82/100 (good)
Cost of Living
€1,065/mo
Healthcare
58/100 (average)
Career
68/100 (average)
English Level
high
Visa Pathways
13

Overview

Population
455,500
Capital
Bandar Seri Begawan
Currency
BND $
Language
Malay
Timezone
UTC+08:00
GDP per Capita
$33,153
Unemployment
5.2%

Brunei is located in South-Eastern Asia, with a population of 455,500. Its currency is the Brunei dollar. Our database tracks 13 visa pathways for Brunei, each linked to a named source.

See also: Brunei country profile

Compiled from official government sources, re-checked on a rolling basis. See our methodology and data sources.

Visa Pathways (13)

Sponsored Employment (4)

ProgrammeMin IncomeFeeDurationProcessing
Application For An Employment Pass
PASS LONG-TERM PROFESSIONAL VISIT
Professional Visit Visa
Work Pass

Study (1)

ProgrammeMin IncomeFeeDurationProcessing
Student Visa

Family Reunification (3)

ProgrammeMin IncomeFeeDurationProcessing
Dependent Pass
Dependent Visa
Long-Term Social Visit Pass

Spouse & Partner (1)

ProgrammeMin IncomeFeeDurationProcessing
Husband of a Citizen of Brunei Darussalam under Chapter 5(6)

General Residence (2)

ProgrammeMin IncomeFeeDurationProcessing
APPLICATION FOR TEMPORARY RESIDENCE PERMIT€68
Entry Permit€3412 mo

Business Visit (2)

ProgrammeMin IncomeFeeDurationProcessing
Business Visit Visa
PASS LONG-TERM BUSINESS VISIT
Get Your Free Verdict →

Cost of Living

ItemBruneiW. Europe AvgDiff
Rent (1BR)€650€1,200-46%
Rent (3BR)€1,100€2,000-45%
Groceries€250€350-29%
Transport€45€80-44%
Utilities€120€150-20%
Dining (meal)€8€15-47%
Baseline monthly cost (1BR rent + groceries + transport + utilities)
€1,065/mo

Salary & Employment

Average Salary
€2,375
EUR/month gross
Minimum Wage
€340
EUR/month gross
Unemployment
5.2%
SectorMedian (gross, €/yr)
Construction€26,000
Education€28,000
Engineering€38,000
Finance€40,000
Healthcare€35,000
Hospitality€18,000
IT€42,000
Retail€16,000

Shortage Occupations

  • Software Engineer (ICT)
  • Petroleum Engineer (Energy)
  • Healthcare Professional (Healthcare)
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Tax

Tax System
None
Top Income Rate
15%
Effective Rate @€90k
0%
VAT
0%
Net Monthly @€90k
€6,433

Healthcare

Healthcare Index
58/100
System Type
mixed
Spending per Capita
$733
Life Expectancy
75.5 years
Emergency Number
991
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Education

Total Universities
4
UniversityQS RankEnglish ProgsTuition (Intl)
Universiti Brunei Darussalam42€4,500
Institut Teknologi Brunei28€3,800
Politeknik Brunei15€2,500
Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali35€4,200
Brunei Institute of Teacher Education20€2,800

Practical Info

Banking

Wise: No   N26: No
Access difficulty: medium

Driving

Drives on: left

Phone & Internet

Operators: Progresif
Internet: 62.6 Mbps

Credentials

Recognition: Case_by_case

Quality of Life

Safety
82
Climate
tropical
27°C summer / 26°C winter
English Proficiency
high
Score: 72/100
Expat Satisfaction
7.2/10
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Official sources

The visa data on this page is compiled from official government sources — 13 of the 13 pathways link directly to the government page they were verified against, and 7 financial requirements below carry the exact quote from the official source. Values that fail verification are removed, not guessed — see the live verification freshness index.

Verified requirements — exact official citations

Each figure below was verified verbatim against the official page linked, on the date shown.

Student Visa · 2 verified requirements

Requirement: “Visa processing fee: BND 20 per application. (Official MFA consular-services page listing Student Visa among visa types; standard single-entry Brunei visa fee is BND 20, multiple-entry BND 30.)” mfa.gov.bn, 2026-07-07

Savings / proof of funds: “Official Student Visa page publishes no student savings threshold; sufficient-funds wording appears only for transit/visitor categories.” mfa.gov.bn, 2026-07-07

Dependent Visa · 1 verified requirement

Minimum income: “Dependent visa/pass application ... An application letter from an employer or guarantor is required (página é da Foreign Work Pass Division, lista procedimentos gerais; não menciona requisito de rendimento)” immigration.gov.bn

PASS LONG-TERM BUSINESS VISIT · 1 verified requirement

Requirement: “Long-Term Business Visit Pass: no fee published.” immigration.gov.bn, 2026-07-07

Business Visit Visa · 1 verified requirement

Requirement: “Business Visit Visa page publishes no visa fee (the 'issued free' note refers to the form, not the visa).” immigration.gov.bn, 2026-07-07

Dependent Pass · 1 verified requirement

Minimum income: “página lista 'Dependent visa/pass application' e documentos ('An application letter from an employer or guarantor is required'); não menciona requisito de rendimento mínimo” immigration.gov.bn

Long-Term Social Visit Pass · 1 verified requirement

Minimum income: “This pass is specifically for foreigners who have family ties with citizens or Permanent Residents of Brunei Darussalam — page does not mention any income/means requirement” immigration.gov.bn

Frequently Asked Questions

How many visa pathways does Brunei have?

Our database tracks 13 visa pathways for Brunei across 6 categories, the largest being Sponsored Employment, Family Reunification, General Residence. Each entry links directly to an official government source.

What is the average salary in Brunei?

The average gross salary in Brunei is EUR 2,375 per month. The statutory minimum wage is EUR 340 per month.

How much does rent cost in Brunei?

A one-bedroom apartment in Brunei averages EUR 650 per month, and a three-bedroom apartment averages EUR 1,100 per month.

What is the top income tax rate in Brunei?

The top personal income tax rate in Brunei is 15%.

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