Minister of Home Affairs, YB Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr.) Haji Awang Abu Bakar Haji Apong during a press conference at the Ministry of Health. Image: Rafidah Hamit

The government has rolled out more travel restrictions, banning the arrival of all foreign nationals travelling into the country via land, sea and air, beginning March 24, announced the Minister of Home Affairs in a press conference earlier this afternoon.

The directive will also include foreigners who are in transit, said Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Hj Abu Bakar Hj Apong, as he detailed the categories and processes that will be affected during the travel ban.

The changes are as follows;

– Grants for visa on arrivals that are issued by the nation’s control posts will be suspended.

– Applications for travel visas, student visas and dependent visas will be suspended including those lodged with the Immigration and National Registration Department.

– Authorisation letters for travel visas, student visas and dependent visas that have been issued by the Immigration and National Registration Department will be suspended.

– Authorisation letters for travel visas, student visas and dependent visas that have been issued by embassies and high commissions of Brunei overseas will be suspended.

– Foreign nationals that have been granted travel visas, student visas and dependent visas that are still residing in their home country are to delay their travel to Brunei.

– Foreign nationals who have been granted a re-entry visa, who are still residing in their home country are to delay their travel to Brunei.

Students arriving at Brunei International Airport. Image: Fazizul Haqimie

YB Pehin Dato Hj Abu Bakar went on to say that the Immigration and National Registration Department will make special considerations should it involve matters of great importance to the country.

Applications that may require special consideration can be downloaded through the department’s website at www.immigration.gov.bn and emailed to info@immigration.gov.bn

For more information, the public can contact the Immigration and National Registration Department at 2383106 or log on to their website www.immigration.gov.bn

The Bruneian | BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN