A summary for Bruneian travellers
Brunei Darussalam is one of the Southeast Asian countries on New Zealand's visa-waiver list. As a Bruneian citizen, you don't need a visitor visa for trips of up to 90 days. Instead, you apply online for an NZeTA, the New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, which has been compulsory since 1 October 2019.
In short
- Apply for an NZeTA online before your trip
- It lasts up to 2 years and covers multiple visits
- Each visit can last up to 90 days
- You can't work on an NZeTA
- Each traveller, including children, needs their own
Citizens and permanent residents
The NZeTA is linked to your passport. Bruneian citizens apply with their Brunei passport, which must be valid for at least 3 months after the date they plan to leave New Zealand.
Brunei also has permanent residents who are not citizens. Some travel on a Brunei International Certificate of Identity, and others hold passports from another country. Visa-waiver eligibility belongs to the passport, not to your residence, so permanent residents should check the rules for their own travel document. The same applies to expatriates working in Brunei.
If you renew your passport, your old NZeTA stops being valid. Apply again with the new passport before your next trip.
Malay names on the NZeTA form
Many Bruneian names follow the Malay naming pattern, with a personal name followed by bin or binti and the father's name. Some names also include honorific titles. Because there is no single family name in this system, it's easy to make mistakes on a Western-style form.
Follow these rules:
- Look at the machine-readable zone at the bottom of your passport photo page. The part before the double chevron (<<) goes in the family name field, and the part after it goes in the given names field.
- If your passport has no family name, follow the format shown in the machine-readable zone exactly.
- Include titles only if they appear in the machine-readable zone.
Our team reviews every application before submission and will contact you if the name looks inconsistent with your passport.
Flying from Bandar Seri Begawan
There are no direct flights between Brunei and New Zealand. Most travellers fly from Brunei International Airport to a regional hub such as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or an Australian city, and then on to Auckland or Christchurch. Royal Brunei Airlines' routes to Australia make that a convenient option for some trips.
- If you stop in Australia, you'll need an Australian travel authority as well.
- The airline checks your NZeTA when you check in at Brunei, so get approval before you leave home.
- New Zealand is 4 or 5 hours ahead of Brunei, depending on daylight saving. Jet lag is mild compared with travellers from Europe.
From the tropics to a temperate climate
Brunei is warm and humid all year. New Zealand has four distinct seasons, and the weather changes quickly. Bruneian visitors are often surprised by how cold it gets:
| Months | New Zealand season | What to pack |
|---|---|---|
| December–February | Summer | Light clothes, a warm layer and strong sunscreen |
| March–May | Autumn | Jacket and layers |
| June–August | Winter | Warm coat, gloves, waterproofs. There is snow in the South Island. |
| September–November | Spring | Layers and a rain jacket |
Families who want to see snow for the first time should plan a trip between June and September, when the ski fields near Queenstown and on Mount Ruapehu are usually open.
The application process
Start online
Enter your email address and choose a processing speed.
Passport details
Add up to 10 travellers. Enter names exactly as shown on each passport.
Photo and questions
Upload a face photo. A tudong or other religious head covering is fine if your face is fully visible. Then answer the health and character questions.
Pay and wait
Pay by card and receive your decision by email.
Processing options: Normal (48–72 hours), Emergency (24–48 hours) and Rush (12–24 hours). The fee includes the IVL tourism levy and is shown on the fees page.
Apply for an NZeTA with your Brunei passport
What can you do on your NZeTA? Holidays and family visits are covered in our tourist guide, and meetings and conferences in our business guide. Courses of up to 3 months are allowed. Work is not.
At the airport in New Zealand
A border officer will make the final decision on your entry. Have these documents in your cabin bag:
- Your Brunei passport
- A return or onward ticket
- Proof of funds, such as a bank card or statement
- Your accommodation details
- The New Zealand Traveller Declaration, completed before you arrive
Declare all food and plant products. Dried shrimp, sambal, spices, rice, fresh fruit and homemade snacks must be declared. Biosecurity officers will inspect them, and undeclared items can lead to a fine.
Travelling with friends from the region? See our Malaysia and Singapore pages. When you're ready, complete your NZeTA application online.
Questions from Brunei
No. Brunei is a visa-waiver country, so citizens on a Brunei passport can visit for up to 90 days without a visa. An approved NZeTA is required before travel.
Visa-waiver status is based on citizenship and the passport you hold. If you travel on a Brunei International Certificate of Identity or another country's passport, check the rules for that document before you book.
Copy your name exactly as it appears in the machine-readable zone of your passport, including "bin" or "binti" if they are shown there. Do not shorten or reorder it.
You must declare all food on arrival. Many packaged foods are allowed after inspection, and New Zealand has halal-certified restaurants and butchers in larger cities.
Only for courses of up to 3 months. Students on longer programmes need a student visa. Parents visiting them can use an NZeTA.
Apply at least 72 hours before your first flight. If you are leaving within a day or two, choose Emergency or Rush processing.