Indians need a visa for Brunei in 2026 — tourist visa in advance, BND 20 for 30 days, passport 6 months. Diplomatic passports exempt 14 days. VOA not for Indian tourists.
Cover image: Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in Brunei — photo by sam garza from Los Angeles, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Indians need a visa for Brunei in 2026. Ordinary Indian passports are not visa-free and are not eligible for visa on arrival — you must obtain a tourist visa in advance from a Brunei diplomatic mission for BND 20 (about INR 1,300) for 30 days, single entry. Your passport must be valid at least 6 months and you need a return or onward ticket. Diplomatic or official Indian passports are exempt for 14 days.
Brunei is a small, high-income sultanate on Borneo's north coast with strict entry compliance and a 24-hour airside transit without visa if you stay on the transit side at Brunei International Airport (BWN). For Indian holidaymakers, the process is straightforward but must be done before flying — airlines check at boarding in India and at regional hubs like Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Compared with Malaysia's visa-free for Indians until 31 Dec 2026 or Indonesia's e-VOA for Indians, Brunei is more restrictive but quick if you apply early.
Do Indians need a visa for Brunei?
Yes, for tourism, business and family visits on an ordinary passport.
- Visa-free in Brunei is limited to about 14-90 days for selected nationalities (for example, UK, EU, ASEAN neighbours) — India is not on the ordinary-passport visa-free list.
- Visa on arrival (VOA) for 30 days at BND 20 is restricted to 5 countries: Australia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia. India is not VOA-eligible for ordinary passports.
- Indian diplomatic/official passports are visa-free for 14 days.
The only tourist route for Indian ordinary passports is a pre-arranged visa from a Brunei mission — High Commission of Brunei in New Delhi or via the Brunei embassy in Kuala Lumpur or Singapore if you are already in the region. Processing is typically 3-5 working days for a straightforward tourist application.
Brunei visa types, fees and validity for Indians
| Visa type for Indians (ordinary passport) | Fee | Stay | Entries | Where to apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist visa | BND 20 (~INR 1,300) | 30 days | Single (multiple BND 30 where issued) | Brunei mission in New Delhi / KL / Singapore |
| Business visa | BND 20-30 | 30 days | Single/multiple | Mission with company letter |
| Transit (leave airside) | BND 20 or included with visa | 72 hours max | Single | Mission or on-arrival if pre-approved with sponsor |
Sticker visas are placed in the passport. 30 days is the standard tourist validity from entry, not 90 days. Overstaying Brunei's visa attracts daily fines and can affect future travel to ASEAN states. Extension inside Brunei at the Immigration Department in Bandar Seri Begawan is possible for compelling reasons but not guaranteed for tourists.
How to apply for a Brunei visa from India
- Contact the mission: High Commission of Brunei Darussalam, New Delhi (or Brunei missions in KL/Singapore if transiting). Download the tourist visa form.
- Documents: Passport valid 6 months beyond entry with one blank page, one passport photo (35x45mm, white background), return/onward flight, hotel booking or host address in Brunei, bank statement or proof of funds for the stay, and a cover letter stating purpose and dates.
- Fee: BND 20 payable in INR equivalent by demand draft or bank transfer as per mission instructions. Multiple-entry where offered is BND 30.
- Submit in person or via authorised agent (some missions accept post). Keep a photocopy of the visa and carry the original passport.
- Wait 3-5 working days. Do not book non-refundable internal flights in Borneo until the visa is in hand.
For families, each traveller including children needs a separate visa. E-visas are not broadly rolled out for Indian tourists in 2026 — rely on the embassy route rather than unofficial e-visa agents.
Entry points, transit and onward travel
Air: All international flights arrive at Brunei International Airport (BWN). From India, fly via Kuala Lumpur (AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines), Singapore (Singapore Airlines) or Bangkok. Royal Brunei Airlines connects BWN to KL, Singapore, Manila, London and Melbourne.
Land/sea: Brunei is surrounded by Malaysia's Sarawak and the South China Sea. Land entry is via Sungai Tujoh, Kuala Lurah and Labu from Miri/Limbang, and sea via Muara port. Indian tourists with a single-entry Brunei visa cannot exit to Miri and re-enter Brunei without a multiple-entry visa (BND 30) — plan Borneo loops accordingly.
Transit: You do not need a visa if transiting BWN within 24 hours and staying airside without passing immigration. If your layover needs leaving the airport (overnight hotel, city tour), you need a visa even for a few hours. The 72-hour transit visa requires a sponsor such as an airline for India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran and Sri Lanka nationals.
Brunei is outside the typhoon belt and immigration is orderly, but arrivals are checked for alcohol and tobacco limits (Brunei is dry — no alcohol sales) and for 6-month passport validity — officers enforce it strictly.
Tips for Indian travellers before you fly
Brunei is 30-45 minutes from Kota Kinabalu and Miri by air, so many Indians combine it with Malaysian Borneo. Book return flights and hotels first — they are required for the visa. Carry cash BND (pegged 1:1 to SGD) — cards work in Bandar but not in markets. Dress modestly for mosques, and avoid scheduling travel during Hari Raya Aidilfitri when government offices close for several days. For regional context, see Vietnam visa for Indians and Malaysia safety for Indians.
Frequently asked questions
Do Indians need a visa for Brunei?
Yes. Indian ordinary passport holders must get a Brunei visa before travel from a Brunei mission. Visa-free applies only to select countries — India is not visa-free for ordinary passports.
Can Indians get visa on arrival in Brunei?
No for ordinary tourist passports. VOA for 30 days at BND 20 is only for Australia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Indians must apply at an embassy.
How much is the Brunei visa and how long is it valid?
Single-entry tourist visa is BND 20 for 30 days; multiple-entry is BND 30 for 30 days where offered. Passport must be valid 6 months.
Can Indians transit Brunei without a visa?
Passengers transiting Brunei International Airport for under 24 hours without leaving airside do not need a visa. Leaving the airport requires a visa even for short transit.
Sources
- Wikipedia — Visa policy of Brunei (visa-free lists, VOA for 5 countries, BND 20/30, 30 days, 6 months passport, 24-hour airside transit, 72-hour transit with sponsor for India)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Brunei — Visa information (visa required, application via missions)
- UK FCDO — Brunei entry requirements (passport validity, visa, transit)
