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Trade agreements with Brunei
The UK has joined the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a trade agreement including 12 countries (Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam and the UK), which entered into force between the UK and Brunei on 15 December 2024. This means the UK and Brunei have a free trade agreement for the first time.
CPTPP entry into force and ratification
As of 24 December 2024, CPTPP is in force between the UK and:
- Australia
- Brunei
- Chile
- Japan
- Malaysia
- New Zealand
- Peru
- Singapore
- Vietnam
This means that the UK can access CPTPP provisions with said countries.
The following countries have not yet ratified the terms of the UK’s accession:
Canada and Mexico.
This means that the UK cannot yet access CPTPP provisions with those countries.
This guidance will be updated following each of the remaining countries’ ratification of the terms of the UK’s accession to CPTPP and will include when CPTPP will enter in force between the UK and the relevant remaining country.
This guidance is an explanation of CPTPP Chapter 12: Temporary Entry for Business Persons. Key documents include Brunei’s schedule of commitments for temporary entry for business persons in accordance with Article 12.4 of the CPTPP agreement.
This guidance outlines how the temporary entry provisions in CPTPP supports the movement of skilled UK business professionals to Brunei to facilitate trade in goods and services, as well as investment. CPTPP is now in force with Brunei, and UK professionals can now benefit from the agreement. Please note, when applying for temporary entry to Brunei, you will not need to specify that you are entering under an FTA.
Please be aware that entry into Brunei is subject to meeting the relevant immigration and employment requirements set out in Bruneian legislation. For more details, read the UK government guidance on living in Brunei.
Temporary entry
Temporary entry provisions in FTAs help provide greater certainty and access for the temporary movement of professionals to:
- deliver services
- negotiate the sale of goods
- invest in businesses in person
The movement of skilled UK professionals supports economic growth, innovation, and collaboration between the UK and its international partners.
These commitments do not afford legal rights to business persons directly. They apply to British citizens only, and not to foreign nationals who reside in the UK. For example, they do not allow British citizens to enter a CPTPP country to look for employment, nor do they apply to measures regarding citizenship, nationality, residence or permanent employment.
FTA commitments on temporary entry do not necessarily lead to improvements in domestic legislation of CPTPP countries. However, they guarantee that CPTPP countries will treat covered business persons no less favourably than what is set out in the FTA. The domestic law of each CPTPP country remains the authoritative source of rights and obligations on temporary entry. Each CPTPP country must ensure that its domestic law conforms with its FTA commitments. If there is an inconsistency between the country’s FTA commitments and its domestic law (the latter is less favourable than the former), this needs to be brought to the attention of the UK government. See the contacts in the support section on this page.
Categories of business person
Under CPTPP, Brunei provides access for the categories of business persons listed below. A summary of the main categories and length of stay permitted is below. Please read the full CPTPP definitions in Annex 12-A Brunei Temporary Entry for Business Persons for each category to ensure you meet the criteria, including applicable sectors.
Please note that final visa names are set by the destination country and may vary from the FTA text. Prospective visa applicants should check the Brunei visa portal for full visa details and other immigration requirements.
Find information for:
In addition, for Intra-Corporate Transferees and Professionals, Brunei may allow accompanying spouses and dependents the ability to enter Brunei for the same length of time as the covered business person. Accompanying spouses and dependents may also be granted the right to work while residing in Brunei, subject to meeting the relevant laws, regulations, and policies of Brunei.
Business Visitors
Business Visitors are UK business persons seeking to travel to Brunei for a relatively short amount of time for business purposes.
Applicable business purposes comprise the following activities:
- the sale of goods or entering into a distribution or retailing agreement where such negotiations do not involve direct sales to the general public
- negotiating the sale of services as a service seller or representative of a service supplier so long as they are not engaged in direct sales to the general public or in supplying services directly
- attending meetings or conferences or engaging in consultations with business associates
- attending or participating in trade conventions and trade fairs as a goods seller
Business Visitors can stay in Brunei for up to 3 months, subject to meeting the relevant immigration requirements, and this can be extended for up to 12 months.
Example: Are you a representative of a service supplier, planning to travel to Brunei to negotiate the sale of a service? UK Business Visitors have the certainty that they can stay in Brunei for up to 3 months, subject to meeting the relevant immigration requirements, with a possible extension of up to 12 months.
Installers and Servicers
Installers and Servicers are persons who are employed or appointed by a business to install or service machinery or equipment that said business has supplied. The installation or servicing must be a condition of purchase of the machinery or equipment. The business person must not perform business activities other than installing or servicing the machinery or equipment and must receive payment from said business.
Installers and Servicers can stay in Brunei for up to 3 months, subject to meeting the relevant immigration requirements, and this can be extended for up to 12 months.
Example: Are you an employee of a business which requires you to travel to Brunei to install a piece of machinery? UK Installers and Servicers can stay in Brunei for up to 3 months, subject to meeting the relevant immigration requirements, with a possible extension of up to 12 months in order to complete the installation of the machinery.
Intra-Corporate Transferees
Intra-Corporate Transferees are UK nationals employed by an enterprise of the UK who are being transferred to a branch, subsidiary, or affiliate established in Brunei. These business persons must have been employed in their enterprise outside of Brunei for at least one year immediately preceding the date of their application for admission.
Within CPTPP, Brunei captures 3 types of Intra-Corporate Transferees:
The first are managers who:
- direct the organisation, or a department or sub-division of the organisation
- supervise and controls the work of other supervisory, professional, or managerial employees
- have the authority to hire and fire or commend hiring, firing or other personnel actions
- exercise discretionary authority over day-to-day operations
- are not first-line supervisors, unless the employees supervised are professionals, nor does it include employees who primarily perform tasks necessary for the provision of the service
The second are executives who:
- direct the management of the organisation
- exercise wide latitude in decision-making
- receive only general supervision or direction from higher-level executives, the board of directors or stockholders of the business
- do not directly perform tasks related to the actual provision of the service or services of the organisation
The third are specialists who:
- possess knowledge at an advanced level of expertise
- possess proprietary knowledge of the organisation’s service, research equipment, techniques or management
- may be, but are not limited to being, professionals
Intra-Corporate Transferees can stay in Brunei for up to 3 years, subject to meeting the relevant immigration requirements, and this may be extended for up to 2 years for a total term not to exceed 5 years.
Upon application, Brunei shall grant temporary entry and stay for accompanying spouses and children of Intra-Corporate Transferees for the same length of time as the covered business person, subject to meeting the relevant immigration requirements.
For spouses and dependants working as professionals supplying highly specialised services and core services in the energy sector the right to work is up to 2 years, subject to the laws, regulations and policies of Brunei. For spouses and dependants working as other types of professionals the right to work is up to 12 months or the duration of the contract, whatever is shorter, subject to meeting the relevant immigration requirements. Extensions beyond these periods are possible but are subject to economic needs tests.
Example: Are you a UK based business looking to transfer a manager to a branch office in Brunei? Your employee can stay in Brunei for up to 5 years, subject to meeting the relevant immigration requirements, alongside their spouse and children.
Investors
Investors are business persons who seek to make or have made investments in Brunei, and seek temporary entry for the purpose of dealing with any matters concerning that investment.
Investors can stay in Brunei for up to 3 months, subject to meeting the relevant immigration requirements, which can be extended for up to 12 months.
Example: Are you a UK business person seeking to make an investment in Brunei? As an investor you will have the certainty that you can stay in Brunei for up to 3 months with a possible extension of up to 12 months, subject to meeting the relevant immigration requirements.
Professionals
Professionals are business persons who seek to travel to Brunei temporarily to carry out professional activities. The professional must possess the appropriate educational and other qualifications relevant to the service.
Professionals that fall under the highly specialised services and core services categories in the energy sector can stay in Brunei for up to 2 years, or the duration of their contract, whichever is less, subject to meeting the relevant immigration requirements.
Other professionals can stay in Brunei for up to 12 months, or the duration of their contract, whichever is less, subject to meeting the relevant immigration requirements. The initial entry period is for 3 months and may be extended in increments of up to 3 months.
Upon application, Brunei shall grant temporary entry and stay for accompanying spouses and children of Professionals for the same length of time as the covered business person, subject to meeting the relevant immigration requirements.
Example: Are you a business person seeking to travel to Brunei to carry out professional activities? You will qualify as a professional and will be eligible to stay in Brunei for up to 12 months or the duration of the contract, whichever is less, subject to meeting the relevant immigration requirements.
Additional information for temporary business travel
As set out in CPTPP, Brunei has committed to ensuring all relevant information related to visas and other relevant documentation for business persons is available online, where possible. Brunei has also committed to ensuring that visa applications are processed quickly, with reasonable fees, and that applicants can receive updates on the status of their applications.
For more information, visit the Bruneian government webpage.
Department for Business and Trade support
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) helps businesses export, drives inward and outward investment, negotiates market access and trade agreements, and champions free trade. Helpful links, tools and services available from DBT and wider government include:
Export Support Service (ESS) team
Get support on how to do business abroad. You may also be eligible for 1-2-1 support from a local International Trade Adviser. Businesses in Wales can also access support from Business Wales.
Export Support Service – International Markets (ESS-IM)
DBT's overseas in-market export support service for SMEs with high-export potential. Our International Market Advisers provide tailored support and market introduction information to new and current UK exporters looking to enter or expand into new markets. The service may be accessed globally with International Markets teams in South Asia, China, the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe, North America and Latin America.
Sign up to access free training on how to grow your international sales.
Information on finance and insurance for UK exports.
Trade and investment factsheets
The latest statistics on trade and investment between the UK and individual overseas partners.
Overseas business risk profiles
Information for UK businesses on political, economic and security risks when trading overseas.
Advice and warnings about travel abroad, including entry requirements, safety and security, health risks and legal differences.
Check or report a trade barrier
If you encounter an issue when exporting to any country – report the issue and UK government officials will be able to assess the issue and consider the options we have open to addressing it as appropriate
Search for your specific product to find applicable tariffs for each market, explore rules of origin and step-by-step help on customs procedures
Check import duties and allows you to check the status of available tariff rate quotas
Useful resources
You can find more information about export opportunities, business culture and any existing trade barriers on our Brunei market guide.
Prior to export, you must be aware of local regulations and import conditions in Brunei that apply to your goods or services. This can include tax considerations, labour laws, intellectual property rules, labelling and packaging regulations, among others.
To seek further information related to local regulations, business culture, or to find a local lawyer, translator, importer or distributor, you can use the following contacts:
- DBT’s Export Support Service International Markets team
- get in touch with the British High Commission in Brunei
- get in touch with the British Chambers of Commerce
- get in touch with the Britain Brunei Business Forum
To see information on political, economic and security risks when trading with Brunei, please see: