KUCHING, Dec 7: Effective Monday (Dec 12), the Brunei government will impose entry and exit charges on each vehicle for one-way trips, instead of per individual, entering and leaving the country through its land border checkpoints.
According to a statement from the Brunei Darussalam Covid-19 Steering Committee today, the new charges come following a revision by the Brunei Darussalam Ministry of Finance and Economy and will be imposed through the Royal Customs and Excise Department.
In the latest revision, a B$3 entry and exit charge will be imposed on vehicles with capacity not exceeding seven passengers including driver.
A B$6 fee will be charged for vehicles with capacity between seven to 25 persons including drivers, such as vans or minibuses as well as commercial vehicles that do not have to undergo inspection through the x-ray machine.
A B$10 fee will be charged for larger vehicles with capacity exceeding 25 persons including drivers, such as buses as well as for commercial vehicles that are required to undergo inspection through the x-ray machine.
The Brunei authority emphasised that the entry and exit service charges will apply to all vehicles intending to leave or enter the country through the land control checkpoints irrespective of vehicle registration, be it bearing Brunei registration or from outside the country.
However, fee exemption will be given to pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles and vehicles belonging to the Brunei government for official purposes, vehicles of staff of the Brunei government on official duty, vehicles of the Armed Forces of Brunei, special vehicles such as ambulances, Fire and Rescue Department Malaysia (Bomba) vehicles, police and funeral vehicles, as well as consular vehicles under Diplomatic Privileges (Vienna Convention) Act (Chapter 117) and Consular Relations Act (Chapter 118).
For travellers who have made fee payments in advance to cross the land control checkpoints on or after Dec 12, the Brunei Darussalam Royal Customs and Excise Department will make arrangements for a refund.
The Brunei authority also advised travellers intending to enter or leave Brunei Darussalam to register, apply and make payment online through the Royal Customs and Excise Department’s Exit and Entry System (EES) at https://login.bdnsw.gov.bn/ees/user/login and obtain a QR code in advance before the journey.
Travellers must also ensure they possess travel documents valid for at least three months.
For more information, the public may contact Brunei Darussalam Royal Customs and Excise Department at 2382361 or 8323741 during office hours or through email at info@customs.gov.bn. — DayakDaily
