Brunei: Officials to lift COVID-19 medical insurance requirement for international travelers from Dec. 1 /update 47

Event

Authorities in Brunei will lift a requirement for short-term international travelers to purchase COVID-19 medical insurance before entering or leaving the country from Dec. 1. The change will apply to both Brunei citizens and foreign nationals. Additionally, citizens traveling overseas are no longer required to complete an e-registration form with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Authorities will also extend the operating hours of Kuala Lurah, Labu, Sungai Tujoh, and Ujong Jalan land border checkpoints from 06:00-22:00.

Domestic Measures
Offices and factories can operate at full capacity. Most public facilities, including dining establishments, markets, and sales exhibitions, can open at maximum capacity or a cap of 300 people, whichever is lower. Facemasks are not required in most indoor and outdoor settings, but remain compulsory in healthcare facilities, at events where the organizers require attendees to use facemasks, and for symptomatic individuals who need to leave their residence. Authorities continue to encourage people to wear facemasks, particularly in crowded locations. Officials allow business owners or event organizers the discretion to require visitors or program attendees to scan a QR code. Business owners and customers must download the BruHealth application. Violators could face a BND 10,000 fine and six months imprisonment; businesses flouting rules may face closures. Enforcement of the curbs varies across the country.

COVID-19 cases and close contacts must report themselves through the BruHealth app. Individuals that test positive for COVID-19 must self-isolate for at least six days and can exit quarantine after obtaining a negative rapid antigen test (RAT) result on day 6 and when their Bruhealth code turns green. Close contacts must undergo RATs on day 1 and 5 and report the results through the BruHealth app. People who do not comply with mandatory isolation orders may face a fine of BND 10,000 and a prison sentence of up to six months. For a detailed list of quarantine and testing requirements, click here.

International Travel Restrictions
All inbound passengers, including unvaccinated individuals, are no longer subject to on-arrival COVID-19 test and quarantine requirements. Brunei citizens and PRs no longer need to be fully vaccinated to travel overseas but are encouraged to complete an e-registration form with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The operating hours of immigration control posts at the land border are from 06:00-22:00.

Advice

Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Consider delaying traveling if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions.

Resources

Prime Minister's Office
BruHealth application
On-Arrival Health Declaration Form
e-Registration for Outbound Travel of Bruneian Citizens and PRs
World Health Organization (WHO)