According to the World Travel Guide, Nationals of the United States are exempt from requiring a visa for up to 90 days for social and business visits only. If travelling on official business, however, diplomatic and official visitors--as well as ordinary passport holders--do need a visa.
There are two types of visit visas: a Professional Visit Visa and a Short/Social Visit Visa. The processing of a visa lasts one to three working days, and a visa remains valid for up to three months.
Applications to apply for a Short/Social Visit Visa are to be submitted to a Brunei Consular Office in the United States (see Resources) and require three working days to process, although applications that need to be referred to Brunei may take up to two months for processing.
All visitors are required by the government of Brunei Darussalam to have a valid passport and either onward tickets or sufficient funds to support themselves while in the country. All passports must be valid for at least six months from the date of departure.
The World Travel Guide cautions that the legal system in Brunei is partially based on Shariah law and consequently may apply to non-Muslim visitors in certain situations. As a result, visitors need to be aware that penalties for all drug offenses are severe and that women must make sure that their head, arms and knees remain covered.
