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Travellers Advisory on the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19)

8 October 2020

As part of the national response to the ongoing 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation in Brunei Darussalam, the Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam have implemented measures as follows:

  • Body temperature screening and the use of Health Declaration Form at all points of entry into Brunei Darussalam;
  • Strengthening the capacity of the Virology Laboratory and the National Isolation Centre in the Tutong District;
  • Using BruHealth application to scan the QR code of every premise especially at public places; 
  • Contact tracing for every confirmed case in Brunei Darussalam; and
  • The implementation of self-isolation policy for individuals returning to Brunei Darussalam from any country.

Additionally, the following measures to control incoming visitors to Brunei Darussalam have been reviewed and are implemented as follows: 

Entry Travel Pass Applications To Enter Brunei Darussalam

  • Beginning from 15th September 2020, Entry Travel Pass will be issued for inbound travelers of foreign nationalities arriving in Brunei Darussalam. 
The Entry Travel Pass may be issued for the following individuals:

Essential business travel (including official travel)
Students
Individual primarily here for the purpose of medical treatment
Compassionate and other special circumstances, such as parents, spouse, or other immediate family members of Brunei Citizens or Residents

Applications will be reviewed for considerations on a case-to-case basis by authorities.

  • Important note for eligibility of Entry Travel Pass:

1. Travelers must have remained within the country of departure for the last 14 days prior to departure for Brunei 

2. Transit while en-route to Brunei is only permitted in a country with an equivalent or lower risk category as per Ministry of Health risk assessment. The traveler may not leave the airport while in transit.

  • Applications must be submitted at least 8 working days before intended date of travel by the sponsoring (receiving) agency or sponsoring family member in Brunei Darussalam on behalf of the traveler via Entry Travel Pass portal (https://www.form.gov.bn/ETPA/Pages/ETP-Registration-Form.aspx).  The contact person of the sponsoring agency or sponsoring family member must be available to be contacted at all times.

  • If the traveler is intending to make official travel to Brunei Darussalam, the sponsoring agency being a national authority or government agency must submit a supporting letter from the Permanent Secretary or Head of said agency.

  • If the traveler is intending to make business travel to Brunei Darussalam, the sponsoring agency being a private company must obtain and submit a letter of endorsement from the relevant Brunei Darussalam authority or government agency.

  • Upon arrival, travelers will be required to undergo self-isolation at hotel accommodation for a period of between 2 to 14 days depending on the self-isolation notice that is given upon arrival as determined by the Ministry of Health’s risk assessment. Accommodation for the duration of post-arrival self-isolation must be selected from the drop down menu on the Entry Travel Pass application page. It is the responsibility of the traveler or Sponsoring agency to book directly with hoteliers and secure such accommodation before arrival. It is advised to make a minimum booking duration of 6 days stay at the hotel and to refer to respective hotels on their refund/cancellation policies. Change of hotel during the determined isolation period is not allowed.

  • The guidelines of the Entry Pass applications to enter Brunei Darussalam can be accessed on The Prime Minister’s Office website www.pmo.gov.bn/travelportal.

Pre-Departure Covid-19 Test

  • Travelers are required to undertake pre-departure COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (SARS-COV-2 RT-PCR) testing within 72 hours prior to departure at a designated medical center that is recognized by the government of the country of departure. Travelers should refrain from leaving their place of residence for non-essential reasons during the period of time between undergoing the PCR test and departing the country for Brunei Darussalam.
  • Travelers should obtain a negative SARS-COV-2 RT-PCR test result from the authorities designated by the respective governments, before travelling to Brunei. The test result certificate must clearly state ‘RT-PCR’ in order to be authenticated. Where there are circumstances that the traveler is unable to obtain such test, the sponsor must obtain an exemption letter from Ministry of Health, Brunei Darussalam via e-mail at etp.health@moh.gov.bn.

Other Pre-Departure Requirements

  • Sponsoring agency (or sponsoring family member) are also required to make a payment for the post-arrival SARS-COV-2RT-PCR Test for the traveler before the date of arrival in Brunei Darussalam. For inquiries and further information regarding the requirement to make pre-payment for a post-arrival SARS-COV-2RT-PCR Test, sponsors may contact Ministry of Health via e-mail atetp.health@moh.gov.bn. As of 14 August 2020, the cost of COVID-19 laboratory testing is B$350.00 per individual.
  • The payment can be made online via this link: https://www.healthinfo.gov.bn/entrypayment/#/user/login or at Payment Unit (Ground Floor) in Ministry of Health on Monday-Thursday (8.00 AM – 11.00 AM & 2.00 AM – 3.00 AM) and Saturday (8.00 AM -10.00 AM).
  • Please obtain a ‘Government of Brunei Darussalam’ or ‘Ministry of Health’ payment receipt and provide a scanned copy for the traveler to present to authorities when required. Do ensure that the receipt states the name and passport number of the traveler
  • Travelers are also required to download the BruHealth App prior to departure where they must self-report daily for the first 14 days of their stay. Sponsoring agency must also prepare Brunei SIM cards for travelers ahead of their arrival to ensure smooth BruHealth registration upon arrival.

Entry at Land Checkpoints To Enter Brunei Darussalam

  • All foreign nationals passing through land checkpoints are required to undertake pre-departure COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (SARS-COV-2 RT-PCR) at least fourteen days from their arrival in Brunei and a copy of their negative test results must be submitted to the Immigration and National Registration Department at border control posts.
  • This new requirement also applies to transit passengers and commercial vehicle drivers.
  • Commercial vehicles that are registered with the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism can only enter Brunei three times a week – Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
  • Those who wish to travel via the land checkpoints can register, apply, and pay online on Exit and Entry System (EES) on www.bdnsw.mofe.gov.bn
 
On Outbound Travel Restrictions:
  • Following the outbound travel restrictions, citizens, permanent residents, and long-term visa holders of Brunei Darussalam (including valid Green I.C holders) are restricted from leaving Brunei Darussalam from all ports of entry (land, sea, and air) with the exception of undergoing urgent medical care overseas, attend court hearings or resuming study abroad; and
  • Tourists or those on a social visit pass currently in Brunei Darussalam are not subjected to the outbound travel restrictions from any ports of entry.

For further information on travel restrictions, members of the public can visit the Prime Minister’s Office’s website at http://www.pmo.gov.bn/travelportal/Home.aspx

Fourth De-escalation of Coronavirus Restrictions

Commencing on 28th September 2020, fourth de-escalation of coronavirus restrictions are executed as follows:
 
Escalating the following activities from level 2 to Level 3:
i.  Arcade and playground (indoor and outdoor)

Maintaining the following activities at Level 3:
i.  Internet café
ii. Cinemas
iii. Mass gathering

Escalating the following activities from Level 3 to Level 4:
          i.  Swimming pool

Maintaining the following activities at Level 4:

i.     Schools
ii.    Technical, vocational and higher education
iii.   Tuition schools and music schools
iv.   Driving school
v.    Gym and fitness center
vi.   Sports facilities (indoor & outdoor)
vii.  Golf course
viii. Restaurants, cafes and food courts
ix.   Stalls and markets
x.    Mosques, surau and praying halls
xi.   Other places of worship besides mosques and suraus
xii.  Special needs classes
xiii. Child care centres
xiv. Museums, galleries and libraries
xv.  Activity centres for elderly

Organised sports events will also be allowed but only for recreational sports such as walking, running and cycling and exercise activities such as aerobics and tai chi. To organize such events, organisers are required to obtain the government permission and submit their COVID-19 control measures in line with the Ministry of Health’s guidelines. However, sport competitions are still banned.

From September 28, six sports tournaments are allowed to be organised, which are tennis, squash, badminton, table tennis, speak takraw and golf. However, no spectators will be allowed and organisers must obtain permits from the relevant authorities.
 
Meanwhile, exposition and trade fairs will also be allowed to take place under certain conditions.

For further information on the de-escalation plan implementation, members of the public in Brunei Darussalam can visit the Ministry of Health’s website at http://www.moh.gov.bn/SitePages/De-escalation%20Plan%20Implementation.aspx

BruHealth Application

Premises will operate according to the capacity allowed with the use of the BruHealth application. It is mandatory for business owners to print and display their respective QR BruHealth Codes at their premises and for the users to scan the code when enter and exit any premises starting from 7 September 2020. QR BruHealth Code is a digital introduction for business premises that allows business owners to ensure BruHealth app users that have visited the premises are within the quota as set by the Ministry of Health.

In this regard, members of the public who have not registered are encouraged to download and register to the BruHealth App. Public's cooperation in the use of the Bruhealth App and the scanning of the QR Code at the entry and exit point in premises will help ensure the safety of the public including merchants and customers, as well as to facilitate the Ministry of Health to conduct contact tracing in case there is an outbreak of the infection. 

All of the additional measures above are on a temporary basis and will be reviewed from time to time.

As a precautionary measure, members of the public are reminded to maintain the following good practices at all times:

  • Avoid contact with sick live animals including poultry and birds, and consumption of raw and undercooked meats;
  • Avoid close contact with people who are unwell or showing symptoms of illness such as high fever, cough or breathing difficulties;
  • Observe good personal hygiene;
  • Practice frequent hand washing with soap (e.g. before handling food or eating, after going to toilet, or when hands are dirtied by respiratory secretions after coughing or sneezing);
  • Wear a mask if you have respiratory symptoms such as a cough or runny nose;
  • Cover your mouth with a tissue paper when coughing or sneezing, and dispose the soiled tissue paper in the rubbish bin immediately;
  • Avoid visiting people who are unwell if you feel unwell or have symptoms of infection; and
  • Seek medical attention promptly if you are feeling unwell.

The Ministry of Health of Brunei Darussalam continues to maintain high vigilance, working alongside the World Health Organization (WHO) and neighbouring countries to control the spread of COVID-19.

In this regard, the public is advised to continue to remain calm and to not panic. The Ministry of Health, from time to time, will endeavor to update the public on any current developments and measures being implemented in the country. Members of the public are advised to keep up-to-date with the latest and accurate information on the COVID-19 situation in Brunei Darussalam from trusted sources, especially only from the Ministry of Health Brunei Darussalam. The public are advised not to be easily deceived and believe information or news spread via the internet or other media platforms such as WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook without first verifying the information.

For further information, members of the public in Brunei Darussalam can contact Talian Darussalam 123 (24 hours) or visit the Ministry of Health’s website at http://www.moh.gov.bn/SitePages/COVID-19.aspx for further updates.

If you suspect that you may have been in contact with an infected individual and if symptoms of fever and other respiratory symptoms appear, seek medical attention urgently and inform your healthcare provider of your recent travel history. Call the Ministry of Health’s Advice Line on 148 for further advice and instructions (Operation hours:  Monday - Thursday & Saturday: 7.45am - 12.15noon |1.30pm - 4.30pm, Friday: 8.00am - 12noon *Closed every Sunday and public holidays*).