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Do Bruneians need a visa for Japan?

No. Bruneians do not need a visa for a short stay in Japan of up to 30 days. Brunei is on the Japanese foreign ministry's list of 74 visa-exempt countries and regions, revised 1 September 2025. The stay cannot include paid work.

Updated

30days visa-free

No visa for short stays

The rule for Bruneian passports

What the Japanese foreign ministry lists for Brunei.

Short-stay visa
Not needed
Visa-free stay
30 days
Japanese missions
1
Visa for a short stay
Not required
Longest stay granted
30 days
Passport
Valid ordinary passport
What a short stay covers
Tourism, business, visiting friends or relatives. No paid work.
Group on the ministry's list
Asia
List last revised
1 September 2025
The official wording
MOFA: visa exemption listThe period of stay granted upon landing permission will be "15 days" for Indonesia and Thailand, “30 days” for Brunei and Qatar, and "90 days" for other countries and regions.Exemption of Visa (Short-Term Stay)
MOFA(A stay of up to 90 days for tourism, business, visiting friends or relatives, etc. that does not include remunerative activities)VISA
Embassy of Japan in Brunei DarussalamNational of Brunei Darussalam may enter Japan without a visa for a period of saty not exceeding 30 consecutive daysVisa

Other passports from Asia

Short-stay visa rules for passports from Asia (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, exemption list revised 1 September 2025)
PassportShort-stay visaVisa-free stay
BruneiNot needed30 days
ChinaNeededNo visa-free stay
Hong KongNot needed90 days
South KoreaNot needed90 days
TaiwanNot needed90 days
ThailandNot needed15 days

Passport conditions

A valid passport is the starting point for every traveller.

You must hold a valid passport to enter Japan (Immigration Control Act, Article 3).

The foreign ministry's list attaches no extra passport condition to Brunei.

Working, studying or staying longer

Visa-free entry covers short stays only.

Paid work is outside a short stay. To work for pay, or to stay more than 90 days, you need a visa. The foreign ministry says to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility from the Immigration Services Agency first, in principle.

Digital nomad status

Brunei is on the Immigration Services Agency's list for Japan's digital nomad status: remote work from Japan for up to 6 months, with no extension.

At the airport in Japan

The same steps apply to every foreign visitor.

On arrival you complete the Disembarkation Card for Foreigner (online through Visit Japan Web, or on paper), give your fingerprints and a facial photograph, and an immigration officer decides whether you can land.

JESTA, Japan's travel authorisation

Not yet. JESTA is the electronic travel authorisation Japan is creating for visa-exempt visitors. The Immigration Services Agency gives its start only as a date set by Cabinet Order, no later than 31 March 2029.

Living in Brunei with another passport

Visa applications go by where you live, not only by nationality.

You can apply at the Japanese embassy or consulate in your own country or in the country where you live. You cannot apply while travelling in a third country.

The foreign ministry's eVISA list does not include residents of Brunei, so applications go to the embassy or consulate, or to the channel it names.

What the Embassy of Japan in Brunei Darussalam says

Embassy of Japan in Brunei DarussalamVisas are issued in the Japanese Embassy, and cannot be obtained at the port of entry in Japan.Visa
Embassy of Japan in Brunei DarussalamEach visa applications takes 5 working days for processing, however in certain cases it may take longer. … There is no express services for visa application.Visa

Visa fees at the Embassy of Japan in Brunei Darussalam

Visa fees published by the Embassy of Japan in Brunei Darussalam (checked 5 October 2026)
VisaWhoFeeFrom
Single entryGeneral132.00 BND Source1 July 2026
Single entryIndian nationals7.00 BND Source1 July 2026

Japanese embassy for Brunei

The missions the foreign ministry lists for Brunei. The rules on this page can change, so confirm with the mission before you book.

This page is compiled from the official pages below and was last checked on 5 October 2026. It is not legal advice. The embassy or consulate has the final word on your case.

Frequently asked questions

Do Bruneians need a visa for Japan?

No. Bruneians do not need a visa for a short stay in Japan of up to 30 days. Brunei is on the Japanese foreign ministry's list of 74 visa-exempt countries and regions, revised 1 September 2025. The stay cannot include paid work.

How long can Bruneians stay in Japan without a visa?

Up to 30 days. That is the period of stay the foreign ministry lists for Brunei on its visa exemption list, revised 1 September 2025.

Can Bruneians work in Japan on a visa-free stay?

No. A short stay does not include paid work. The Immigration Services Agency says Temporary Visitors cannot work in Japan in principle, apart from short business trips.

Do Bruneians need JESTA to enter Japan?

Not yet. The law creating JESTA passed on 29 May 2026. It starts on a date to be set by Cabinet Order, no later than 31 March 2029.

Related items

Sources for this page

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Compiled by Japan Japan !! · Updated October 5, 2026