Brunei
Location: Southeast Asia
Visas & Permits
Visas & Work Permits
Western passport holders can enter Brunei visa-free for periods of up to 90 days. Others can get visas on arrival at Brunei International Airport for periods of up to 30 or 14 days.
Please contact a local embassy, consulate or representative for more information. Alternatively, there are specialist companies that provide visa and immigration support to the media industry, and may be able to assist.
Film Location Permits
Most locations are possible given time, money and the right approach.
Customs
For productions looking to bring in film equipment, Brunei is not an ATA carnet country.
All camera, grip and lighting equipment will need to be brought in from abroad.
When to Film
When to Film
Brunei has a year-round hot and humid tropical climate.
October to December is the wet season, with rains generally heavier in the forest than coastal areas. The rest of the year offers warm, sunny days with occasional rainfall.
Visibility for underwater photography is good all year-round.
Brunei is a predominately Sunni Muslim country, so those holidays are observed.
Public Holidays
Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in Brunei.
Costs & VAT
In terms of local costs, Brunei is roughly the same price point as Singapore, which is more expensive than Malaysia. Since little to no filming infrastructure exists, all key crew and equipment must also be brought in from abroad. Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok are the closest major film production centres.
In most cases, travelling productions tend not to film in Brunei, unless the project specifically requires it.
At the time of writing, there is no VAT in Brunei.
Funding & Tax Incentives
At the time of writing, this country does not have any filming incentives. However, up-to-date information on global filming incentives may be found on the Entertainment Partners' Production Incentives Map.
Treaty Documents
At the time of writing, the UK does not have a trade agreement with this country. However, up-to-date information about UK trade agreements can be found on the GOV.UK website.