A small sovereign state located on the island of Borneo in the South China Sea, Brunei is completely surrounded by the state of Sarawak, Malaysia. With the second-highest Human Development Index in Southeast Asia behind Singapore, Brunei is ranked by Forbes as the fifth richest nation in the world.
Whatever your reasons for relocating to Brunei-Darussalam, whether it's for employment, for family or just for a change of scenery, you'll need to be properly prepared when entering the country through customs. Here's what you need to know when preparing to travel to Brunei-Darussalam from the United States:
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR ENTRY
Anyone entering Brunei-Darussalam through customs will have to present customs officials with documents required to gain entry. These documents should be packed separately from the rest of your moving shipment and kept on you at all times during the move. Here are the documents you'll need in order to clear customs in Brunei-Darussalam upon your arrival:
- Passport
- Inventory (one original and one copy in English, legible with contents of individual cartons specified)
- Proof of employment
SHIPPING AND CUSTOMS REGULATIONS
Bringing a large shipment of your belongings with you on your move to Brunei-Darussalam? You might want to check out the current regulations in Brunei-Darussalam:
- Customer's presence at customs clearance is required
- All shipments are inspected
PROHIBITED ITEMS
Attempting to import prohibited items through customs in your destination country can result confiscation of the items--and even land you in legal trouble. It's best to acquaint yourself with the prohibited items before embarking on your move to make sure your shipment is free of any contraband:
- Alcoholic beverages (including beer and wine)
- Narcotics
- Pornographic material
- All weapons including antiques or replicas, BB and toy guns, pellet guns, and ammunition
- Hand-held radio and transmitting devices
- Fire crackers
- Cigarettes without health warnings written on the packages
- Domestic pigs exported from Thailand
- Radioactive and hazardous materials
- Pin schedule, fruit machines, slot machines and any other schedule or machines of a like nature whether involving an element of chance or not
- Counterfeit money and coins
RESTRICTED ITEMS
While some items are prohibited from being imported into Brunei-Darussalam, other items may be restricted and require certain authorization from customs officials before they can clear customs. Here is the list of items that may be restricted or dutiable upon entering Brunei-Darussalam:
- Items less than one year old (including furniture and electrical goods) are subject to import duty
- Linens, fabrics, rugs, and cosmetics
- All bicycles new or used are subject to import duty
- Video tapes and films will be held and screened by the Brunei Censor Board and are subject to import duty
- All fax machines will be held by Telecommunications Department Brunei pending approval and are subject to import duty and license fee
- Books and magazines (will be held and screened by customs)
- Plant and plant products require authorization
- Meat and meat products require authorization
MOTOR VEHICLE REGULATIONS
Moving your car to Brunei-Darussalam? Every country has different regulations for shipping a motor vehicle, so take some time to familiarize yourself with the shipping regulations in your destination country:
- Land transport and customs permit required before auto can be shipped
- Subject to import duty
PETS AND ANIMAL REGULATIONS
Shipping animals overseas can be a complicated process . Here are the requirements for shipping pets and animals to Brunei-Darussalam when you move:
- Prior authorization from a health inspector in Brunei-Darussalam
- A certificate of health from a licensed veterinarian
- Import license must be obtained well in advance of arrival
- Quarantine required, length of time varies depending on country of origin
INTERNATIONAL MOVES
International moves are unique in the amount of preparation and planning that is required to relocate from one country to another. In addition to securing the services of an international moving, packing your belongings and planning your moving budget, you must also consider the customs regulations in your destination country. These regulations often vary from country to country and are subject to change.
To help you prepare for your move, we've provided you with a few helpful links to learn more about the complicated international moving process: