Brunei requires no visa for citizens of most countries for stays up to 14, 30, or 90 days depending on nationality. The official immigration website lists exact durations by country. Citizens of the United States, United Kingdom, European Union nations, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore receive 90 days visa-free. Malaysia and Thailand nationals receive 30 days. The single international airport is Brunei International Airport in the Brunei-Muara District, approximately eight kilometers from Bandar Seri Begawan. Royal Brunei Airlines operates the national carrier. No overland border crossing with Malaysia requires advance visa arrangements for most Western passport holders, as Malaysian visa policies apply separately at those checkpoints.
The Brunei dollar pegs at par to the Singapore dollar. Both currencies circulate legally in Brunei at a one-to-one exchange rate established in 1967 through the Currency Interchangeability Agreement. Singapore dollars are accepted in all transactions. ATMs dispense Brunei dollars and accept international cards. Credit cards function at hotels and larger restaurants but cash dominates daily transactions. Budget guesthouses and most food stalls accept cash only. No sales tax or value-added tax exists. Imported goods carry import duties. A modest hotel room in Bandar Seri Begawan ranges from 50 to 150 Brunei dollars. Nasi Katok at roadside stalls costs one to two Brunei dollars. Taxi rides within the capital range from five to fifteen Brunei dollars depending on distance.
Brunei prohibits the sale and public consumption of alcohol under Sharia law. The 2014 Syariah Penal Code Order reinforced this prohibition. Non-Muslim visitors may import two bottles of liquor and twelve cans of beer for private consumption by declaring them at customs. Hotels do not serve alcohol. Restaurants operate without liquor licenses. Smoking is banned in air-conditioned public spaces. Modest dress is required in government buildings and mosques. Women need not cover their heads outside mosques unless visiting a religious site. Shorts and sleeveless shirts are acceptable in tourist areas but long trousers and sleeved shirts show respect in formal settings. Public displays of affection are discouraged. Homosexual acts carry severe legal penalties under the Syariah Penal Code though enforcement focuses on Muslim residents.
The national language is Malay. English serves as a business language and is widely spoken in government offices, hotels, and tourist sites. Road signs appear in both Malay and English. Chinese dialects including Hokkien and Mandarin are spoken within the Chinese community, approximately 10 percent of the population. Indigenous languages including Dusun, Kedayan, Murut, and Iban persist in rural areas. Most service workers in Bandar Seri Begawan understand basic English. Menus in tourist restaurants include English translations.
Brunei follows left-hand traffic inherited from British administration. Rental cars are available at Brunei International Airport and in Bandar Seri Begawan. An international driving permit is recommended though not legally required for short-term visitors holding valid licenses from recognized countries. Fuel prices are subsidized and remain among the lowest in Southeast Asia at approximately 0.53 Brunei dollars per liter for RON95 petrol as of 2024. Road conditions on primary routes are excellent. The highway connecting Bandar Seri Begawan to Kuala Belait and Seria is paved and well-maintained. Reaching Temburong District by land requires transiting through Malaysian territory in Sarawak, necessitating two border crossings. Speedboat services cross Brunei Bay directly from Bandar Seri Begawan to Bangar in approximately 45 minutes, eliminating land border crossings.
Public buses operate in Bandar Seri Begawan and connect major towns but services are infrequent. Most routes run hourly during daylight hours. Bus fares cost one Brunei dollar for standard routes. Taxis lack meters. Fares are negotiated before departure or follow standard route prices known to drivers and regular users. Ride-hailing applications operate with limited coverage in the capital. Water taxis serve Kampong Ayer and cost one Brunei dollar for short crossings. Long-distance travel between districts relies on private vehicles or chartered taxis due to sparse public transport schedules.
Mobile networks provide 4G coverage across populated areas. The primary telecommunications providers are Progresif Cellular, Datastream Digital, and the government-owned Unified National Networks. Tourist SIM cards are available at the airport and in town shops. A prepaid SIM card with data allowance costs approximately fifteen to thirty Brunei dollars depending on data volume. Wi-Fi is available in hotels and some cafes but less ubiquitous than in neighboring Malaysia or Singapore. Internet censorship blocks access to certain websites deemed morally objectionable under Bruneian standards.