Brunei Business Visa - Definitive Guide

Whenever an outsider is willing to visit Brunei for a particular purpose, the traveller will require a visa to be allowed to enter the country. A business visa to Brunei is a kind of permit or grant that is issued to the applicant who has plans to conduct business in the country. The permit is issued for attending business conferences, a business meeting for a branch of your own organization or a sister company, or attend client meetings, or others. The validity of the visa is for about 90 days and can be extended up to the same period after applying to the Immigration and National Registration Department.

The process of applying for a business visa to Brunei is mainly online. Before applying for the visa, you need to make sure what kind of visa you require. In order to apply for a visa, you will have to visit the official embassy website. The step by step procedure of how to apply Brunei business visa online is given as follows:

1. Download and print the Brunei business visa application form from the official Brunei embassy website.
2. Fill the form thoroughly will all the proper details.
3. Attach one photograph to the visa application form.
4. Proof of accommodation - hotel bookings, invitation letter, etc
5. Submit the form to the embassy along with all the supporting documents.

The application form along with the supporting documents can be submitted to the embassy personally, through an acquaintance or via an agency. After the submission is done and the visa application form is received, the Embassy will process the documents and the passport will be provided with the visa stamp for Brunei. The passport will be mailed back to you on your registered address if you opt for the delivery process. Else, you can collect the stamped passport yourself.

It is also important to take note that genuine documents must be provided as there are chances that with incorrect documents or unverifiable information the visa may get rejected. The visa refusal may affect your future visa applications.

There are eligibility criteria that you need to match in order to be able to apply for the Brunei business visa. The requirements are listed as follows:

• You must have proof of business ownership and purpose of visit
1. You must have proper proof of your business enterprise to show it to the authorities.
2. If you have been invited to a business conference or to attend a business or client meeting, an invitation letter from the company must be provided to the embassy.
• You must meet the health requirements
1. You must be healthy enough to travel to Brunei.
2. You must perform a medical test before travelling to the country and provide a relevant documentary proof.
3. You must be within the age limit to be able to apply for a work permit.
• You must meet the character requirements
1. You must be of good character and have genuine intentions behind working in Brunei.
2. You need to provide a relevant documentary proof for the same as well (if asked) in the form of a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC).
• You must have sufficient funds
1. You must possess or have access to sufficient funds to be able to cover your stay and other expenses in Brunei.
2. Bank statement or any equivalent document is to be submitted as well as proof of the same.

There are different kinds of documents that are required for the issuance of the Brunei visa. The Brunei business visa requirements are given as follows:

• Passport with a validity of at least six months
• Completely filled visa application form
• One/Two colored photographs as per the specifications
• Covering letter specifying all the important details
• Confirmed return and onward flight tickets
• Proof of accommodation - hotel reservation
• Copy of Income Tax Returns
• Proof of financial support - Bank account statement for the past six months
• Proof of purpose of visit - Invitation letter, exhibition or conference pass (if applicable)
• Identification proof - copy of Adhaar card, PAN card, etc.
• Travel insurance
• Copy of leave sanctioned letter from the employer (from institute if a student)
• Other additional documents if requested by the consular.

• Coloured photos
• Photo size: 40mm x 50mm
• 70% to 80% face coverage
• White background
• Neutral expressions on the face
• Head must be square to the camera
• Any kind of glasses are not allowed
• Headgears are prohibited except for religious reasons
• Photographs shouldn’t be older than 3 months

When the submission of the documents is completed, the embassy or the consulate takes time to process and verify the documents to provide a visa stamp on the passport. The time taken for the Brunei Darussalam visa process is about 7 working days. This time span may vary depending on the verification time required for visa documents or if there are any complications in the process.

The business visa fees for Brunei is dependent upon a variety of factors such as the type of the visa, the number of entries, service charges, and others. The fee will differ and is generally to be paid to the embassy after filling out the visa application form.

In order to check Brunei Darussalam visa status online, you can visit the website of the visa agency through which you have applied or the visa application centre website. You can even do it offline by calling the embassy with the visa application number and enquire about the status.

When the visa application process is completed successfully and you have the stamp on your passport, there are certain measures that are to be taken, for instance -

• Before you travel
1. Make a note of the visa expiry date, as well as the number of entries permitted. You must not stay in the country beyond this period.
2. You should travel to Brunei within the validity of your visa.
3. Make sure to carry a copy of your passport and other travel documents while you are in the country.
4. Issue health insurance and travel insurance from a certified company.
• At the Border
1. Get your documents checked and your passport verified.
2. Obtain the entry stamp on your passport.
3. Consult the airport authorities for any kind of assistance required.
4. Check your visa copy for other guidelines and rules to be followed.
• When you enter Brunei
1. Ensure not to get involved in any kind of employment. You can, however, do volunteer work.
2. The business visa does not permit you to employ the residents or reside in the country.
3. It is a permit that allows you to only perform business and business-related operations in the country. You are still permitted tourism.
4. The tourist prohibited areas must be stayed out of.
5. Make sure you don’t overstay and apply for the visa extension in time.