Brunei Relocation Index

How Brunei scores

Generally stable governance and typically functional services for residents.

• Peace and conflict safety65
• Immigrant safety60
• Visa accessibility36
• Residence permit realism31
• Labor market access58
• Healthcare55
• Civil rights45
• Discrimination safety52
• Status security31
• Infrastructure reliability66
• Cost of living sustainability60

Recent news impact

Recent reporting points to active immigration enforcement (“Operasi Kakas”) and ongoing border-control attention. This can slightly worsen the near-term relocation outlook for would-be migrants via heightened enforcement risk and uncertainty around immigration status, but it is not evidence of broader instability or a new restrictive policy framework.

• Deportation Policy Change

  Brunei Immigration Department reported an active “Operasi Kakas” enforcement operation aimed at immigration offenders under JIPK, indicating heightened enforcement activity.

• Border Restriction

  Government-linked reporting described ongoing 2026 “Operasi Kakas” enforcement targeting various immigration violations, reinforcing the near-term risk of scrutiny at entry/stay.

Sources

• US Department of State – Brunei Country Report on Human Rights Practices (restrictions, penal code)U.S. Department of State
• Human Rights Watch – Brunei’s Pernicious New Penal CodeHuman Rights Watch
• Freedom House – Freedom in the World 2024: BruneiFreedom House
• Department of Councils of State (Reforms streamline business, foreign worker processes)Department of Councils of State
• Department of Labour, Ministry of Home Affairs - Policies and Strategies (foreign worker recruitment approach)Department of Labour, Ministry of Home Affairs
• Ministry of Health Brunei (HSI MP Framework: universal health coverage cornerstone)Ministry of Health Brunei
• OPERASI KAKAS JIPK 87/2026Immigration Department (Brunei Darussalam)
• OPERASI KAKAS Jabatan Imigresen dan Pendaftaran Kebangsaan (JIPK) 2026 terus giat dilaksanakan… (Operasi Kakas)Pelita Brunei (Government-linked news portal)