Language: The official language of the Sultanate is Malay although English is spoken widely and is the medium of instruction in secondary and tertiary education.
Currency: The official currency is the
Brunei Dollar (BND), divided into 100 cents. The Brunei Dollar is linked to the Singaporean Dollar which is accepted as legal tender throughout Brunei. All major credit cards are accepted in larger hotels, restaurants and shops. Cash is best advised for smaller establishments and when transacting in remote areas. ATMs are widespread especially at major banks which are concentrated
along Jalan Sultan in the capital. To cash travelers cheques or change money use the major banks as they offer far better rates than hotels. Money can also be converted at the informal moneychangers that operate from booths at most transport hubs. If you choose to use this channel ensure you shop around for the best rate.
Time: Local time is GMT +8.
Electricity: Electrical current is 250 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are of the 3-pin, rectangular blade type, commonly referred to as the British 3-pin plug.
Communications: The international country dialing code for Brunei is +673. The outgoing code is 00, followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the
United Kingdom). City/area codes are in use e.g. 2 for
Bandar Seri Begawan. Mobile phone GSM 900 and 3G 2100 networks operate throughout the country. High speed internet access is widely available in the main towns and large hotels.
Duty Free: Travelers over the age of 17 may import the following into Brunei without having to pay customs duty: 200 cigarettes or 250g tobacco; 1l bottle of spirits or 1l bottle of wine (by non-Muslims and for personal consumption only); 60ml of perfume and 250ml eau de toilette. It is strictly prohibited to import firearms, drugs and pornography. The penalty for trafficking drugs is death while possession of any quantity of drugs carries a mandatory 20-year jail sentence. All medication must be declared and relevant prescriptions presented. Curiously there is also a strict ban on entering the country in possession of amulets or lucky charms made from bullets.
Tourist OfficeBrunei Tourism office, Bandar Seri Begawan: +673 2 382 832 or www.tourismbrunei.com
EmergencyEmergencies: 993 (Police); 991 (Ambulance); 995 (Fire)
Embassies
Brunei Embassy,
Washington DC,
United States: +1 202 237 1838
Brunei Embassy,
London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7581 0521
Brunei Embassy,
Ottawa,
Canada: +1 613 234 5656
Brunei Embassy,
Canberra,
Australia: +61 (02) 6285 4500
United States Embassy, Brunei: +673 2 220 384
British Embassy, Brunei: +673 2 222 231
Canadian Embassy, Brunei: + 673 2 220 043
Australian High Comission, Brunei: +673 2 229 435
