smartraveller.gov.au - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
It's a must see destination.
It's a must see destination.
Brunei Darussalam
| Brunei Darussalam overall | This Advice is current for Sunday, 14 March 2010. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Be alert to own security | Exercise caution | High degree of caution | Reconsider your need to travel | Do not travel |
This advice has been reviewed and reissued. It contains new information under Local Travel (further information on petrol and diesel sales). The overall level of the advice has not changed.
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Terrorism is a threat throughout the world. You can find more information about this threat in our General Advice to Australian Travellers.
We advise you to exercise caution and monitor developments that might affect your safety in Brunei because of the risk of terrorist attack. Pay close attention to your personal security and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks. In planning your activities, consider the kind of places known to be terrorist targets which include embassies, hotels, schools, churches and other places of worship, and identifiably western businesses and interests.
Brunei has a relatively low incidence of serious crime. Foreigners are occasionally the victims of petty crime, such as burglaries and theft.
Since October 2007, a limit has been imposed on the sale of diesel and petrol for vehicles and vessels not registered in Brunei. Additional information on these measures is available at the Government of Brunei Darussalam’s Petroleum Unit website.
The standard of driving and adherence to road rules differs from that in Australia. Running red lights, speeding and the non-use of seatbelts is common. Vehicles are also sometimes driven by unlicensed or uninsured drivers. For more advice, see our bulletin on Overseas Road Safety.
If you are planning to visit the neighbouring eastern states of Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak), you should read our travel advice for Malaysia. If you are planning to visit nearby Indonesian provinces in Kalimantan, you should read our travel advice for Indonesia.
Passengers on international flights to and from Australia are only allowed to carry a small amount of liquids (including aerosols and gels) in their carry-on baggage. You can find out more information at the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government website. Similar restrictions apply to flights in an increasing number of countries, including Brunei. Passengers travelling through Brunei International Airport may be asked to surrender duty-free alcohol, perfume and cosmetics and other items exceeding 100ml in their carry-on baggage, including any such items bought duty-free at other airports before arriving in Brunei. Where possible, you should pack liquids, aerosols and gels in your checked baggage. Contact your airline for further information.
If you have concerns about the safety standards of a particular airline or aircraft, we recommend you research the airline or aircraft through organisations such as Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government has published fact sheets on security for air travellers. When staff at Australia's overseas missions are advised not to use particular airlines due to safety concerns, this will be included in the travel advisory.
The European Union (EU) has published a list of airlines that are subject to operating bans or restrictions within the EU. The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through its foreign assessment program focuses on a country's ability, not the individual airline, to adhere to international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance established by ICAO.
Flooding and mudslides are common during the wet season (September to January and May to July). Essential services, such as power supplies, can be affected at these times. If a natural disaster occurs, follow the advice of local authorities.
Australians are advised to respect wildlife laws and to maintain a safe and legal distance when observing wildlife, including marine animals and birds. You should only use reputable and professional guides or tour operators and closely follow park regulations and wardens' advice.
Before you go, organise a variety of ways to access your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques, cash, debit cards or cash cards. Australian currency and travellers' cheques are not accepted in many countries. Consult with your bank to find out which is the most appropriate currency to carry and whether your ATM card will work overseas. Singapore dollars are accepted in Brunei.
Make two photocopies of valuables such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.
While travelling, don't carry too much cash and remember that expensive watches, jewellery and cameras may be tempting targets for thieves.
As a sensible precaution against luggage tampering, including theft, lock your luggage. Information on luggage safety is available from Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian law to report a lost or stolen passport. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it online or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible.
You are required to pay an additional fee to have a lost or stolen passport replaced. In some cases, the Government may also restrict the length of validity or type of replacement passports.
For general information and tips on travelling with children see our Travelling Parents brochure.
If you are planning on placing your children in schools or childcare facilities overseas we encourage you to research the standards of security, care and staff training within those establishments. You should exercise the same precautions you would take before placing children into schools or childcare facilities in Australia.
Ideas on how to select childcare providers are available from the smartraveller Children's Issues page, Child Wise and the National Childcare Accreditation Council.
When you are in Brunei, be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you. If you are arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.
Information on what Australian consular officers can and cannot do to help Australians in trouble overseas is available from the Consular Services Charter.
Some drug offences carry a mandatory death penalty. Other penalties include lengthy prison sentences and corporal punishment.
Serious crimes, such as murder or kidnapping, may attract the death penalty. Other serious crimes, such as rape, robbery and visa offences, may attract corporal punishment.
Consensual homosexual acts between adults (of either sex) are illegal and penalties include prison sentences.
It is illegal to persuade or incite a Muslim to neglect their religious duties. It is illegal to preach religions other than Islam on television or radio or in advertisements.
Muslims should not teach Islamic doctrine outside their own home or to anyone outside their household without permission.
The sale of alcohol is prohibited in Brunei and laws governing the limited importation of alcohol are strictly enforced. Travellers should familiarise themselves with local requirements and be aware that they may be required to produce documentation showing that any alcohol was legally purchased and imported.
Possession of pornographic material is prohibited.
Smoking is banned in specific places, including government buildings, hospitals, recreational and educational centres, public transport and restaurants. Offenders could be fined.
It is an offence to photograph prohibited places, including government and military infrastructure and equipment, places used by security forces and communications and civil infrastructure, and areas in the vicinity of such places.
Persons detected carrying firearms and related items, such as ammunition, including empty cartridge shells, can be detained by local authorities and may face criminal prosecution.
Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating to money laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism and child sex tourism, apply to Australians overseas. Australians who commit these offences while overseas may be prosecuted in Australia.
Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual exploitation of children by Australians overseas. Australians may be prosecuted at home under Australian child sex tourism laws. These laws provide severe penalties of up to 17 years imprisonment for Australians who engage in sexual activity with children under 16 while outside of Australia.
There are conservative standards of dress and behaviour in Brunei. You should take care not to offend. If in doubt, seek local advice.
During Ramadan, eating, drinking and smoking between sunrise and sunset is forbidden for Muslims. Though not illegal for non-Muslims, you should avoid these activities in public during Ramadan to avoid causing offence. For further information relating to Ramadan in Brunei Darussalam, visit www.pmo.gov.bn.
You should be cautious when making comments about local issues, particularly those relating to the royal family, as such comments could easily cause offence.
Brunei does not recognise dual nationality. Australian citizens entering Brunei with a Bruneian passport will be treated as Bruneian by local authorities. This may limit the ability of the Australian Government to provide consular assistance to Australian/Bruneian dual nationals who are arrested or detained. We strongly recommend you travel on your Australian passport at all times.
Our Travel Information for Dual Nationals brochure provides further information for dual nationals.
Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Brunei for the most up-to-date information.
Before travelling, you should confirm the minimum validity period of your passport with the nearest embassy or consulate-general of Brunei.
Transit visas (valid for 72 hours) and single and multiple entry visas can be issued to Australian passport holders on arrival. The visa fee must be paid in cash in either Brunei or Singapore dollars. There is a money changer in the arrival hall of the airport beyond the immigration control point, but no banking facilities.
You should check your entry stamp in your passport to confirm your permitted length of stay.
Immigration regulations are strict. Australians working in Brunei are strongly advised to closely monitor their immigration status and visa expiration dates.
A departure tax is payable in local currency at the airport and Muara sea port.
Make sure your passport has at least six months' validity from your planned date of return to Australia. You should carry copies of a recent passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas.
Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 has spread throughout the world. The World Health Organisation (WHO) provides useful information for individuals and travellers on its website. For further information and advice to Australians, including on possible quarantine measures overseas, see our travel bulletin on Pandemic (H1N1) 2009.
We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation, before you depart. Confirm that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away and check what circumstances and activities are not included in your policy. Remember, regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. The Australian Government will not pay for a traveller's medical expenses overseas or medical evacuation costs.
Your doctor or travel clinic is the best source of information about preventive measures, immunisations (including booster doses of childhood vaccinations) and disease outbreaks overseas. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides information for travellers and our Travelling Well brochure also provides useful tips for travelling with medicines and staying healthy while overseas.
Medical facilities in Brunei's public hospitals are reasonable. Private hospital facilities are of a high standard. In the case of a serious illness or accident, medical evacuation to Australia or Singapore may be necessary. Medical evacuation costs are considerable.
Dengue fever and other mosquito-borne diseases, including Japanese encephalitis, occur in Brunei. We recommend you take precautions against mosquito bites including using insect repellent at all times. We encourage you to consider having vaccinations before travelling.
The mosquito-borne disease Japanese encephalitis is found throughout many regions of North, South and South-East Asia and Papua New Guinea. A Japanese encephalitis vaccine is registered for use and is currently available in Australia. For further details please consult your travel health doctor.
Water-borne, food-borne and other infectious diseases (including HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, hand, foot and mouth disease and tuberculosis) are prevalent with more serious outbreaks occurring from time to time. We advise you to boil all drinking water or drink bottled water and avoid ice cubes and raw and undercooked food. Seek medical advice if you have a fever or are suffering from diarrhoea.
When red algae reaches certain levels, Bruneian authorities may issue Red Tide warnings which may advise against swimming in certain areas and eating certain types of seafood. The warnings, which vary from time to time depending on climatic conditions, are published in local English language and other newspapers.
There is smoke haze across some parts of Brunei usually during the July to October period. This haze can cause health problems for some people. Keep up-to-date with the advice of local authorities and seek medical advice on appropriate precautions.
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has confirmed cases of avian influenza in birds in a number of countries throughout the world. For a list of these countries, visit the OIE website. For information on our advice to Australians on how to reduce the risk of infection and on Australian Government precautions see our travel bulletin on avian influenza.
In Brunei, you can obtain consular assistance from the:
Australian High Commission
Level 6, Dar Takaful IBB Utama building
Jalan Pemancha
Bandar Seri Begawan BS 8711
Brunei Darussalam
Telephone: (673) 222 9435
Facsimile: (673) 222 1652
Email: austhicom.brunei@dfat.gov.au
Website: www.bruneidarussalam.highcommission.gov.au
If you are travelling to Brunei, whatever the reason and however long you'll be there, we encourage you to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. You can register online or in person at any Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. The information you provide will help us to contact you in an emergency - whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family issue.
In a consular emergency if you are unable to contact the High Commission you can contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or 1300 555 135 within Australia.
In Australia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra may be contacted on (02) 6261 3305.
While every care has been taken in preparing this travel information for travellers, neither the Australian Government nor its agents or employees including any member of Australia's consular staff abroad, can accept liability for injury, loss or damage arising in respect of any statement contained therein.
