Azlan Othman
Citizens and residents of Brunei Darussalam will be allowed to make non-essential travel to 11 Travel Green List nations starting tomorrow.
Minister of Home Affairs Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong said this at the daily press conference yesterday, before listing the 11 nations as being Australia, Cambodia, China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia (air travel only), New Zealand, Singapore, United Kingdom (UK), United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia.
For Brunei residents and citizens, an exit travel approval from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) is no longer required, particularly for air travel to all countries – whether included in the Travel Green List or otherwise.
“However, exit travel is only permitted for citizens and residents who have completed three doses of the COVID-19 vaccination, or two doses of the vaccination within a three-month period prior to departure,” Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar said.
Proof of vaccination status must be produced when departing the country. Exemptions are given to those holding a COVID-19 Recovery Certificate with a 90-day validity, and children under the ages of 18 – provided they are travelling with an adult who fulfils the vaccination requirements.
Additionally, outbound travellers exiting the country for a period of less than 90 days are required to obtain travel insurance with COVID-19 treatment coverage. All Brunei nationals and permanent residents travelling out of the Sultanate are advised to register via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website at http://www.mfa.gov.bn/Pages/eRegister_desc.aspx to allow ease of communications in the event assistance is required.
Foreign nationals on inbound and outbound travel (via land or sea control posts) are still required to adhere to current measures enforced – exit travel approval for outbound travel and Entry Travel Pass for foreign nationals.
The Sultanate is currently in active discussions with neighbouring countries on inbound and outbound travel through land and sea control posts. Information of the inbound and outbound travel guidelines can be found on the PMO website, www.jpm.gov.bn/travelportal.
