Brunei digital nomad visa & residency (2026)

Brunei has not established any visa or pass specifically for remote workers or digital nomads, and the government has not announced plans to create one as of mid-2026. Visa categories listed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are: Social Visit, Business Visit, Professional Visit, Employment, Student, and Transit.

All standard work authorisations—Employment Pass (up to 2 years), Foreign Workers Licence, and Special Authorisation Work Pass (up to 6 months)—must be applied for by a registered Brunei entity on behalf of the foreign national. Self-sponsorship and foreign-employer arrangements have no dedicated route.

A new Long-Term Pass (valid up to 5 years, multiple-entry) was launched with three categories: (1) Family ties to citizens/PRs; (2) Company owners and investors demonstrating socio-economic contribution (local job creation, tax compliance, Sendirian Berhad-registered companies only); (3) Foreign experts and professionals in fields assessed as lacking local talent. None of these categories accommodate remote workers employed by overseas entities.

Brunei offers no formal golden visa or residency-by-investment programme. The Long-Term Business Visit Pass for investors requires active company ownership and economic contribution in Brunei, not passive capital investment.

Many nationalities receive a visa-free Social Visit Pass of 14–90 days on arrival, but this category explicitly prohibits remunerated activity. Working remotely while on a social visit is not legally authorised under Brunei immigration law.

Permanent residency requires a minimum of 15 years of continuous lawful residence on valid temporary permits (10 years if married to a Brunei citizen). There is no accelerated or investment-based route to permanent residency.