Brunei

Official formalities overview

Foreign travellers entering or leaving Brunei through sea, land or air immigration checkpoints must register an E-Arrival Card. It does not constitute vessel port clearance. Since 20 March 2025, owners, agents or masters have been required to submit vessel arrival, stay and departure declarations through the Maritime Single Window (MSW). Customs law also requires non-exempt vessels to present the previous port's clearance on arrival and obtain customs clearance before departure. Confirm specific documents or exemptions for private recreational vessels with the Maritime and Port Authority of Brunei Darussalam (MPABD) and Royal Customs and Excise Department (RCED).

Officially listed maritime landing places

The Ministry of Finance customs page lists Muara Port, Serasa Passenger and Vehicle Ferry Terminal, Putat Control Post and Belait Wharf. It concerns lawful landing places for goods and customs supervision; it does not establish that all of them admit or berth private yachts. Before departure, ask MPABD Port Clearance and customs which entry port, berth, appointment arrangements and border services apply to the vessel.

Pre-arrival vessel declarations

An MPABD notice requires owners, agents or masters of all vessels entering or leaving Brunei ports to file through the Brunei Maritime Single Window from 20 March 2025. Once approved, the same port-clearance declaration need not also be filed through BDNSW. Follow current system instructions for arrival reports and MSW procedures. Official information does not specify private-yacht advance-notice hours, account registration for unrepresented vessels or reporting for calls outside ports. Confirm directly with MPABD Port Clearance.

Crew and passenger entry

The Immigration Department's E-Arrival Card FAQ says all foreigners entering and leaving through sea, land and air immigration checkpoints must register through the official portal before arrival. Confirm individual visa eligibility, permitted stay and any special crew/yacht procedures with immigration and the intended port's immigration desk. Do not assume tourist-visa procedures are crew procedures.

Vessel customs and port clearance

Section 33 of the Customs Order 2006 requires masters or agents of non-exempt vessels arriving at a customs port to present the previous port's clearance, or a comparable document customarily issued there. Section 34 requires customs-issued clearance before a non-exempt vessel leaves a Brunei port. If it has not sailed within 48 hours of clearance, the master must explain the delay to customs and may have to clear again (section 35). Separately, an MPABD notice requires owners, agents or masters to file vessel port-entry/departure declarations through MSW from 20 March 2025. These are general official vessel requirements, with statutory exemptions; no dedicated foreign-private-yacht checklist was located. Confirm exemptions, arrival documents and MSW arrangements with MPABD and RCED before sailing.

Food, plant and animal quarantine

Customs' restricted/controlled-goods list includes plants, planting material, live animals, fruit and vegetables, and aquatic organisms requiring permission or oversight by the relevant agencies. Food may also require approval. Before sailing, ask agriculture and agrifood authorities, BDFA or fisheries about permits, reporting and inspection for food, plants, animals and related products carried aboard or intended for landing. No uniform yacht-stores quarantine/disposal procedure was found; do not unload before approval.

Restricted and controlled items

The official customs list places live plants and planting material, live cattle and birds, meat and poultry, alcohol, tobacco/e-cigarettes, fireworks, medicines/poisons, radioactive material and other goods in prohibited, restricted or controlled categories. Many require prior customs or agency permission. It is not a complete yacht inventory checklist; restrictions may depend on the item, origin and use. Obtain written confirmation from customs, police or the relevant agency before carrying firearms, ammunition, radio equipment, food or pets.

Port formalities

MPABD notices require MSW applications for inward and outward port clearance. The master, owner or agent must provide the information requested and await system approval. Published contacts include Port Clearance Section +673 8142809, Muara +673 8182809, Serasa +673 8362809 and Kuala Belait +673 8197289. Ask MPABD about the intended port's berthing, pilotage, agency requirements, opening hours and private-yacht procedures.

Port charges and departure

MPABD's contact page lists payment counters for registration, service fees, service charges/light dues and annual tonnage dues. Port notices in 2026 also announced revised towage tariffs and a fuel-surcharge mechanism. Public information did not establish uniform private-yacht clearance, berth, light-dues, pilotage or departure amounts, or whether each charge applies to yachts. Use MSW for outward clearance. Obtain the current tariff applicable to the vessel and services, and confirm departure steps with the port authority.