Izah Azahari & Syazwani Hj Rosli
With 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’s consent, special consideration can be made for foreign travellers needing to enter Brunei Darussalam.
This was announced by 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 during a press conference yesterday.
The minister said conditions include official duties and essential travel; foreign students studying in the sultanate under government or private scholarships; foreigners undergoing medical treatment in Brunei; and any special consideration given in a case-by-case basis subject to governmental evaluation.
The minister said the travellers must be guaranteed or sponsored before entering Brunei and application for Entry Travel Pass must be made through the Prime Minister’s Office portal on www.pmo.gov.bn/travelportal. The guarantor, either from a government agency, private company or individual can make the application; the guarantor must enclose supporting documents; the application will be considered based on the category and requirements of travel to Brunei as well as the risk assessment of the country they are in; and if the application is approved, the guarantor is required to pay for the COVID-19 (RT-PCR) swab test which will be conducted upon arrival.
Those permitted entry are required to have a negative COVID-19 (RT-PCR) swab test result before entering Brunei. The test must be conducted within 72 hours before departure.
Foreigners will be required to undergo a second COVID-19 (RT-PCR) swab test and mandatory self-isolation upon arrival.
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The minister said guarantors are required to book accommodation in selected hotels for mandatory self-isolation. The cost of these hotels are according to their respective hotel rates which include meals, transportation from the airport to the hotel and transportation from the hotel to the COVID-19 (RT-PCR) swab test site. The transportation should be in accordance with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) outlined by the Ministry of Health (MoH) such as the use of face masks for drivers.
The minister added that hotel booking confirmation is among the supporting documents required for entry application and the period of self-isolation is between two to 14 days depending on MoH’s risk assessment.
Detailed guidelines are available on the website.
The conditions and procedures for the entry of foreigners into the country will be effective starting September 15.
The minister underlined that the application is only open for foreigners that need to travel to the country for essential matters. The minister also highlighted that travel restrictions for Brunei residents are still being enforced and foreigners are generally not allowed entry into the country.
Brunei residents returning to the country after making a ‘non-essential’ personal trip will be required to book a hotel before arriving in the country and finance the cost of accommodation privately. The cost of these hotels are according to their respective hotel rates which includes the cost of accommodation, food and drink, transportation from the airport to the hotel and transportation from the hotel to the COVID-19 (RT-PCR) swab test site. However, the cost of the COVID-19 swab test (RT-PCR) will be covered by the government.
For Brunei residents that returned after ‘essential’ travel, such as on official business, following school graduation abroad and medical treatment at the expense of the government, will be housed in designated hotels funded by the government. The cost of the COVID-19 swab test (RT-PCR) will also be funded by the government.
Brunei residents intending to return are advised to make Arrival Declaration starting September 15 to facilitate logistics management during their arrival. The declaration form and guidelines can be found on the website.
Touching on the delay of implementation of entry and exit fees, the minister said the government need to discuss the matter further with neighbouring countries. He hopes it will be sorted out this month.
“It is going ahead and we might implement it in full force on October 1”, the minister said.
Regarding re-opening of borders for non-essential travels, the minister said the timeline remainsl uncertain.
“While the border is not open, we have seen our businesses doing well with a lot of activities within the country. Even domestic tourism has picked up significantly,” the minister said.