Brunei

Last Updated: 2026-03-31

Official Portal: Immigration and National Registration Department

Embassy Finder: Brunei Diplomatic Missions

Quick Facts

Category	Details
Residency for naturalization	20 out of the preceding 25 years (12 out of 18 years for Malay race applicants)
Language requirement	Adequate knowledge of Malay language
Civics test	None formal; assessed through interview and knowledge of customs
Processing time	12—48 months (highly discretionary, controlled by the Sultan)
Naturalization fee	BND 20 (approximately USD 15) for the application
Dual citizenship	Not permitted
Citizenship by birth in Brunei	Limited jus soli — only if father is a citizen or permanent resident
Citizenship by descent	Through the father; mothers cannot independently transmit citizenship
Governing law	Brunei Nationality Act (Chapter 15, Laws of Brunei)

Dual Citizenship

Brunei does not permit dual citizenship. This prohibition is absolute and applies to all categories of citizens.

Key provisions:

Any Bruneian citizen who acquires the citizenship of another country automatically loses Brunei citizenship.
Foreign nationals applying for Brunei citizenship must formally renounce all other nationalities before the grant is finalized.
There are no exceptions for citizens of specific countries, investors, or other special categories.
Bruneian citizens who wish to acquire foreign nationality must first renounce their Brunei citizenship, though this is strongly discouraged by the government.

Acquisition of Nationality

By Birth (Jus Soli)

Brunei applies a restricted form of jus soli. Birth in Brunei does not automatically confer citizenship.

A person born in Brunei acquires citizenship if:

The father is a citizen of Brunei at the time of birth, OR
The father is a permanent resident of Brunei and the person was born before the 1984 independence (specific transitional provisions apply).

Children born in Brunei to non-citizen parents do not acquire Bruneian citizenship regardless of how long the family has resided in the country.

By Descent (Jus Sanguinis)

Citizenship by descent is transmitted through the father only. This is one of the few remaining purely patrilineal citizenship systems in Asia.

Rules:

A child born to a Bruneian citizen father (whether in Brunei or abroad) is a citizen by descent.
A child born to a Bruneian citizen mother and a non-citizen father does not acquire Bruneian citizenship automatically. The mother cannot independently transmit nationality.
Children born abroad to a Bruneian father must be registered at a Brunei diplomatic mission.

By Adoption

Adoption does not confer automatic citizenship. An adopted child of a Bruneian citizen may apply for citizenship through naturalization or registration, subject to the Sultan’s discretion.

By Marriage

Marriage to a Bruneian citizen does not automatically confer citizenship. A foreign wife of a Bruneian citizen may apply for registration as a citizen after:

2 years of marriage and residence in Brunei.
Demonstrating good character and adequate knowledge of Malay language and customs.
Renouncing any foreign citizenship.

Note: This provision is explicitly gendered — foreign husbands of Bruneian women have no equivalent pathway through marriage registration and must use the standard naturalization route (20 years residence).

By Naturalization

Requirement	Details
Residence	20 out of the preceding 25 years (general); 12 out of 18 years for applicants of Malay race
Age	18 years or older
Good character	Must be of good character
Language	Adequate knowledge of Malay
Intention	Intends to reside permanently in Brunei
Renunciation	Must renounce all foreign citizenships
Oath	Oath of allegiance to His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan
Approval	Entirely at the discretion of the Sultan; naturalization is a privilege, not a right

The ethnic preference (12 years for Malay applicants versus 20 years for others) reflects Brunei’s constitutional identity as a Malay Islamic Monarchy (Melayu Islam Beraja).

Loss and Renunciation

Voluntary Renunciation

A citizen of Brunei who is also a citizen or national of another country (in transitional cases) may renounce Brunei citizenship by declaration. However, the government may withhold registration of the renunciation during wartime.

Involuntary Loss

Ground	Details
Acquisition of foreign citizenship	Automatic loss upon voluntarily acquiring citizenship of another state
Use of foreign passport	Exercising rights available only to nationals of a foreign country may be treated as acquisition of foreign citizenship
Fraud	Citizenship obtained by fraud, false representation, or concealment
Disloyalty	Naturalized citizens who demonstrate disloyalty or disaffection by act or speech
Extended residence abroad	Naturalized citizens who reside outside Brunei continuously for 5 years without maintaining registration with a Brunei mission
Criminal conviction	Conviction of an offense carrying a sentence of 12 months or more within 5 years of naturalization

Restoration of Nationality

There is no formal statutory right to restoration of Brunei citizenship. A person who has lost citizenship may apply to the government for re-registration or re-naturalization, but this is entirely discretionary.

In practice, restoration requires:

A petition to the Sultan through the Immigration Department.
Evidence that the applicant has severed ties with any foreign nationality.
Return to Brunei and establishment of permanent residence.
The Sultan’s personal approval.

Stateless Persons and Foundlings

Brunei is not a party to the 1954 or 1961 Statelessness Conventions.

Foundlings: No explicit statutory provision. Children of unknown parentage found in Brunei may be granted permanent residence status but are not automatically citizens.
Statelessness: Brunei has a significant population of long-term permanent residents (many of Chinese descent) who do not hold Brunei citizenship despite multigenerational residence. These individuals hold International Certificates of Identity (ICI) issued by Brunei rather than passports. Estimates suggest 20,000—50,000 stateless or effectively stateless persons reside in Brunei.

Document Checklist

Completed citizenship application form (Form A, B, or C depending on category)

Birth certificate (certified copy)

Father’s citizenship certificate or identity card

Marriage certificate (if applying through spousal registration)

Proof of continuous residence in Brunei (residential records, employment records)

Malay language proficiency evidence

Two character references from Brunei citizens

Police clearance certificate

Passport-sized photographs (6 copies)

Renunciation certificate of foreign nationality

Identity card (yellow IC for citizens, green/red for permanent residents)

Sources

Brunei Nationality Act (Chapter 15) — Primary citizenship legislation. Available through the Attorney General’s Chambers. https://www.agc.gov.bn/
Constitution of Brunei Darussalam — Constitutional provisions on citizenship. https://www.agc.gov.bn/
Immigration and National Registration Department — Responsible authority for citizenship applications. https://www.immigration.gov.bn/
Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Brunei missions abroad. https://www.mfa.gov.bn/
UNHCR — Reporting on statelessness in Brunei. https://www.unhcr.org/

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