Business entities in Brunei in 2024

We can assist our Clients to do business in Brunei by registering a local entity, subject to local tax. Please read the page below for further information available on the different types of business entities available in Brunei, and their best uses.

• Doing business outside of Brunei with a local entity

  The Brunei international limited partnership (Brunei ILP)

  • The Brunei international limited partnership consists of general partners, amongst whom at least one must be a licensed entity in Brunei, and limited partners, who can all be foreigners. General partners’ approval is required for all business activities of the partnership;
  • Best uses: while we will assist our Clients to register a Brunei ILP if required, Healy Consultants recommends to use Brunei IBCs for most trading and holding activities.

• Doing Brunei in Brunei with a local entity

  The Brunei limited liability company (SDN BHD)

  • The Brunei limited liability company (or Brunei private limited company) requires i) at least 2 shareholders at incorporation, who can be of any nationality and country of residence and ii) only US$1 of share capital. However, half of the company’s directors must be either Bruneians or Brunei permanent residents. If needed, Healy Consultants will be pleased to provide our Clients with a nominee resident director. For further information on this service, please refer to our Brunei resident director page;
  • All Brunei LLCs must also submit their annual financial statements to a statutory auditor and then file them with the Ministry of Finance;
  • Best uses: Brunei local companies are the most commonly used vehicle to do business with Bruneian residents.

  The Brunei free zone company

  • Foreigners can register limited liability companies in the single free trade zone of Brunei, the Pulau Muara Besar Free Trade Zone. Such companies can benefit from up to 15 years of tax holidays;
  • Best uses: Brunei free zone companies are usually conducting repackaging or light manufacturing activities for products then re-exported in Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and Singapore.

  The Brunei public limited company (BHD)

  • Although the Brunei PLC only requires US$1 of share capital, all its shareholders and half its directors to be Bruneians or Brunei PR. This entity is not differentiated from a branch;
  • All Brunei PLCs must submit their annual financial statements to a statutory auditor and then file them with the Ministry of Finance;
  • Best uses: Foreigners are usually not interested to setup a Brunei PLC. If our Clients are willing to raise capital, a better alternative is to register a Singapore or Hong Kong PLC.

  The Brunei branch

  • Brunei corporate law allows foreign companies to open 100% foreign-owned branch office, provided they have 1 resident company secretary and a registered office in Brunei. The scope of operations for this Brunei legal entity will be defined by the parent company. Branch offices in Brunei are subject to standard corporate tax and withholding tax and must file their annual financial statements with the Registrar of Companies;
  • Best uses: Branch registration is a good alternative for Clients who are not comfortable with the requirement to appoint resident directors when setting up a local limited liability company. However, the foreign company will be subject to unlimited liability against losses and debt incurred by its Brunei branch.

  The Brunei representative office

  • This entity is not differentiated from a branch.

• Table of comparison between Brunei resident entities

  Operations and logistics	Brunei International Partnership	Brunei LLC	Brunei free zone company	Brunei PLC	Brunei branch
  Locally known as	ILP	SDN BHD	Brunei FTZ	BHD	Branch office
  Doing business in Brunei permitted?	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
  Allowed to sign contracts with local Clients?	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
  Allowed to invoice local Clients?	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
  Can rent local office premises?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
  Allowed to import raw materials?	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
  Allowed to export goods?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
  Accounting and tax
  Corporate tax rate?	0%	18.50%	0%	18.50%	18.50%
  Corporate bank account?	HSBC UK	HSBC Brunei	SBC Brunei	HSBC Brunei	Citibank Bank Brunei
  Statutory audit required?	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
  Annual tax return to be submitted?	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
  Access to DTAAs?	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
  Company law
  Issued capital required?	US$2	US$1	US$1	US$1	None
  Resident director required?	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
  Resident bank signatory required	No	No	No	No	No
  Local shareholder required?	No	No	No	Yes (100%)	No
  Minimum number of directors?	1	2	1	2	1
  Minimum number of shareholders?	1	2	1	7	Parent company
  Individual shareholders allowed?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
  Corporate director(s) allowed	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
  Corporate shareholders allowed?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
  Public register of shareholders and directors	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
  Immigration
  Can the entity hire expatriate staff?	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
  How long to get work permit approved?	3 months	3 months	3 months	3 months	3 months
  Fees and timelines
  How long to set the entity up?	2 weeks	3 months	5 months	3 months	14 weeks
  How long to open corporate bank account?	1 month	1 month	1 month	1 month	1 month
  Estimate of engagement costs	Contact us	US$18,215	US$21,380	US$26,730	US$14,780
  Draft invoice	Contact us	View invoice PDF	View invoice PDF	View invoice PDF	View invoice PDF