Is It Safe to Travel to Brunei in 2026?
Brunei - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
Brunei, officially Brunei Darussalam, formally known as State of Brunei, is a country in Southeast Asia, situated on the northern coast of the island of Borneo. Apart from its coastline on the South China Sea, it is completely surrounded by the Malaysian state of Sarawak, with its territory bifurcated by the Sarawak district of Limbang.
Is It Safe to Travel to Brunei in 2026?
Brunei is currently rated Level 1 — Exercise Normal Precautions by the U.S. Department of State. Exercise normal precautions in Brunei. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers may face minor risks related to cultural differences and limited English proficiency among locals, but overall safety is high.
Business travelers can expect reliable infrastructure and services, with minimal disruptions to operations.
Families with children can enjoy a safe environment, but should be cautious about healthcare access outside the capital.
Remote workers will find good connectivity in urban areas, but should be aware of limited options in rural regions.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for Brunei.
▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
Brunei has an overall threat severity of 0.7 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 2.0/10, terrorism risk 0.0/10, and kidnapping risk 0.0/10.
Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)
Political Stability▶
Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.
Rule of Law▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
Control of Corruption▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.
Government Effectiveness▶
Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.
Regulatory Quality▶
Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.
Voice & Accountability▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).
Freedom Status: Not Free — scored 28/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Check embassy for details
Currency
Brunei Dollar (BND)
Language
Malay
Vaccinations
Recommended:
Active health notices:
- watchGlobal Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to Brunei
▶What is the current travel advisory level for Brunei?
▶Is it safe to travel to Brunei right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit Brunei?
▶What vaccines do I need for Brunei?
▶Is Brunei safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in Brunei?
More Brunei Data
Not Free — 28/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.