Are you an international student wanting to work in Brunei? Do you want to know- are students allowed to work in Brunei? You have come to the right page! This blog covers everything you need to know about working in Brunei. You will understand if the country permits international students to work, the availability of post-study work permits, work permits and their requirements, and the Brunei work visa. Keep reading to get your answers.
This Blog Includes:
- Are Students Allowed to Work in Brunei? An Overview
- Can Students Work in Brunei?
- What is the Cost of Living in Brunei for Students?
- Is there a Post Study Work Permit in Brunei?
- Can Indians Work in Brunei?
- How Can I Get a Work Permit in Brunei?
- How Can I Get a Brunei Work Visa from India?
- Brunei Work Visa Requirements for International Students
- Brunei Work Visa Age Limit, Cost and Processing Time
- What is the Brunei Green Identity Card?
- Can Indians Settle in Brunei?
- FAQs
Are Students Allowed to Work in Brunei? An Overview
No. International students are not allowed to work in Brunei. A student visa holder is not legally allowed to undertake any form of work. However, if you want to work in the country you can apply for a work permit. This permit is valid for 2 years and can be renewed for 2 more years.
Can Students Work in Brunei?
Are Students Allowed to Work in Brunei? No. Under any circumstances, international students are not permitted to work. You cannot work in the country while you are studying. However, you can apply for a work permit later on and start to work.
What is the Cost of Living in Brunei for Students?
The average cost of living in Brunei is around USD 752.50 per month for 1 person. However, if you are staying with your family the cost of living would be USD 2,708.80 per month excluding rent. This makes Brunei a cheaper destination to study abroad. The cost of living in Brunei for different things is as follows:
Particulars | Average Cost |
Rent for 1 bedroom apartment in the city centre | USD 982.74 |
Rent for 3 bedroom apartment in the city centre | USD 1,684.82 |
Cost of an apartment in the city centre | USD 4,150.59 |
Taxi 1hour Waiting -Normal Tariff | USD 15.00 |
1-way ticket in the local transport | USD 1 |
Electricity, Cooling, Heating, Water, Garbage for 85m2 Apartment | USD 68.16 |
Internet | USD 117.36 |
1 Liter milk | USD 2.99 |
Eggs (regular) (12) | USD 3.23 |
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant | USD 6.69 |
Fitness Club | USD 56.97 |
Note- The exact cost of living depends on your lifestyle.
Is there a Post Study Work Permit in Brunei?
Are students allowed to work in Brunei? No. International students are not allowed to work in Brunei. Moreover, there is no post-study work permit. This means after completing your education you are required to return to your home country or apply for a work permit.
Can Indians Work in Brunei?
Yes. Indians can work in Brunei. However, to work in the country you need to get the following:
- A work permit– This is the authorisation to work in the country. It is called Lesen Pekerja Asing (LPA)
- A work visa- This is required to travel to Brunei
- A Green Identity Card- Acts as your residence permit. You require this if you are intending to work for more than 3 months.
How Can I Get a Work Permit in Brunei?
Are students allowed to work in Brunei? No. Students are not allowed to work in Brunei. However, after completing your studies you can get a work permit. The work permit is not applied by you. Your employer applies for the work permit on your behalf.
Brunei Work Permit Requirements | Description |
Completed application form | Foreign Workers License application form |
Passport | Owner’s and your passport copy |
Company registration certificate | To be submitted by the employer |
Copy of supporting/approval letters issued by government agencies (if required) | For example, a copy of the builder’s license |
Clearance letter | from JobCentre Brunei |
The following are the additional documents you might need based on your occupation:
Additional Brunei Work Permit Requirements | Description |
A copy Foreign Worker Recruitment License – Quota | If applicable |
Copy of valid and latest BUR 500/BUR 555 | Required for all foreign workers wherever relevant |
Construction and Maintenance/Cleaning activities | Copies of upcoming projects |
Copy of latest Employer and Employee Census Receipt | Not required if an employee is replaced |
Address Declaration Form | If there is any additional branch of the company |
Cancellation Form | To replace an employee |
Fact- Brunei issues work permits based on quotas
To learn more about Brune work permit, watch this video:
How Can I Get a Brunei Work Visa from India?
Are students allowed to work in Brunei? No. You are not allowed to work while you are studying in the country. If you have already completed your studies from India you can apply for a work visa. The work visa application process is as follows-
- Visit your nearest visa application centre for Brunei
- Inquire about the Employment Visa application form, get it, and complete the same
- Schedule your visa appointment
- On the date of the appointment show up with your necessary documents
- Attend an interview (if required ), pay visa fees, and submit biometrics
- Your visa application will be processed
- A decision wil be made and you will be informed of the same.
Note- The Brunei work visa is called the Employment Visa. The visa is authorised by the authorised by the Department of Immigration and National Registration, and issued by the Brunei Embassy.
Brunei Work Visa Requirements for International Students
The Brunei Employment Visa requirements for international students are as follows:
Brunei Work Visa Requirements | Description |
Labour Department’’s quota license | Your employer must get it |
Immigration and National Registration Department issued approval letter | Your employer must get it |
Valid passport recognised by the Brunei Director of Immigration and National Registration. | You must have a passport that is valid for 6 months beyond the duration of stay |
Visa application fee payment | Pay BND20 as visa application fees |
Brunei Work Visa Age Limit, Cost and Processing Time
Are students allowed to work in Brunei? No. You can apply for a work visa to work. The following are the age limit, cost and the processing time for a Brunei work visa application.
Visa Name | Age Limit | Brunei Work Visa Cost | Brunei Work Visa Processing Time |
Brunei Employment Visa | Minimum 18, and Maximum 56 to 60 | BND20 | 5 working days |
Why Would a Work Visa Be Denied to Indians?
What is the Brunei Green Identity Card?
The Brunei Green Identity Card or Smart Card Identity Card is a valid immigration pass. It is required by anyone who wants to reside in the country for more than 3 months. To get this card, you must register with the e national registration identity card system.
- Ensure you have a passport, employment visa, and copies of the same to apply
- You also need to pay BND$204.
- Your employer must get JobCentre Brunei (JCB) approval, and Tabung Amanah Pekerja (TAP) endorsement. You must have these documents with you.
- The application can be submitted at Counter 1 in the District Office after you arrive in Brunei
- If you fail to register you will have to pay a fine.
Can Indians Settle in Brunei?
It is difficult to settle in Brunei. There are several reasons for it. Some of these reasons are provided below:
- Cannot work while studying– Are students allowed to work in Brunei? No. If you are an international student you cannot work in the country. This significantly limits of chances of finding a job after studies in the country.
- There is no post-study work visa– Not only you are not allowed to work, the country also does not issue a post-study work visa.
- Limited time with work visa– The work visa is issued for 2 years. It can be extended for up to 2 additional years. This means you can only stay for 4 years with a work visa.
- Long time required for PR– Lastly, you need to stay in the country for 10 years to get a visa. The duration of time required to settle in this country is equivalent to USA and Swizerland!
This means that Brunei is not a PR-friendly country. Therefore, Indians can find it difficult to settle here.
FAQs
Yes. It is easy to find a job in Brunei. This is mainly because the country prefers people who can speak English as a business language. You can find jobs in several sectors. For example, you can work in the teaching, human resources, administration, engineering, IT, finance, and service industry sectors.
Indian students or any other international student is not permitted to work in Brunei. You are required to solely focus on your studies during your stay.
To get a Brueni student visa you must have an offer letter from a recongised university. Apart from that you must have sufficient funds to cover your tuition fees and living expenses. You will have to meet additional requirements like provide proof of arrangement of accommodation in Brunei.
Contact your visa application centre to check the status of your visa application. You might receive SMS or email updates. You can also contact the Brunei High Commission or Embassy directly to know the status of your application. Ensure that you are contacting after the processing time is over.
We hope you now have the answer to your question- Are students allowed to work in Brunei? Want to apply for a Visa for your study abroad journey? Drop us a comment in the section below, or visit our visa page for more such articles. You can also connect with a visa expert at Leverage Edu, and we will guide you on your dream journey!
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