Rokiah Mahmud
The Exit and Entry Charges Order 2020 comes into effect today. Under the Order, a Service Charge (CaP) of BND3 per person for a one-way trip and BND6 per person for a return trip will be imposed on citizens, residents and foreigners travelling through land border checkpoints, whether by vehicle or on foot.
Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah said this during a press conference yesterday.
He added that government officers conducting official duties on behalf of the Government of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam are exempt from paying CaP.
The exemption also applies to several categories, including children aged two and below; consular officers and staff, as stated in Article 1 in the First Schedule to the Consular Relations Act (Chapter 118) and their family members; and diplomatic agents, as stated in the Schedule to the Diplomatic Privileges (Vienna Convention) Act (Chapter 117).
Those planning to exit or enter the Sultanate through land immigration control posts will need to register and submit their application via the Exit and Entry System (EES) of the Royal Customs and Excise Department, which can be accessed at www.bdnsw.mofe.gov.bn.
Applicants must enter the drivers’ and passengers’ information. Payment can be made online.
Those who intend to travel through land immigration control posts are advised to register and make payments via the EES.
They will also need to have valid travel documents at least three months before the travel date, as stated by the Immigration and National Registration Department under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
For the Frequent Commuters Pass (FCP), applications can be made via the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Portal at www.pmo.gov.bn.
FCP applicants who have obtained permission from the PMO are required to register their passes online at www.bdnsw.mofe.gov.bn.
The application procedures for the FCP in the EES can be accessed at the Royal Customs and Excise Department’s website.
The minister reminded that travel restrictions for citizens and residents of Brunei Darussalam are still being imposed, on the Ministry of Health (MoH) advice.
“For those who need to travel abroad and who have already obtained permission from the PMO, a Service Charge of BND3 will be imposed per person for each one-way trip, starting today except for the categories that are exempt under the Exit and Entry Charges Order 2020.”
For information, contact the Royal Customs and Excise Department at the MoFE at 2382361 or 8323741, during office hours.
Queries can be addressed to info@customs.gov.bn.