Registration since 2024: what a tourist hands over
The Authority for Infocommunications Technology Industry, AITI, says its Code of Practice has made the recording of subscriber details compulsory for licensed mobile service providers since 4 September 2024. For tourists and visitors, AITI's page lists one document: a valid original passport from the country of origin. Citizens and permanent residents use identity cards, and foreign workers use a green identity card or a passport with an employment pass.
Registration is done in person at the provider's or an authorised reseller's storefront, or online through the provider's platform. People must be at least 12 years old with valid national identification, and for younger children a parent or guardian registers the SIM. The page does not state deadlines or penalties, so do not buy a SIM from an unlicensed seller. Carry the original passport, not a photocopy or a photo on a phone.
DST's Easi Tourist SIM
DST's Easi Tourist page describes a package costing BND 15 valid for 7 days from activation, with 3 GB of local data and BND 3 of bonus credit for local calls and SMS. DST says it is exclusively available to international visitors and markets it as the nation's number one tourist SIM. The page directs buyers to an online order portal and to branch locations through a store locator; it does not mention airport counters or ID rules, so confirm both.
DST's homepage describes Easi Tourist and a Travel eSIM, and says 5G is available on eligible plans. The Travel eSIM is a separate product: DST describes it as a prepaid international data roaming service for Easi and Mobi customers, bought in the MyDST app, with regional packs for Asia, Europe and other areas. It is for DST customers travelling abroad, not for visitors arriving in Brunei, so do not confuse the two.
Progresif and eSIM registration
Progresif's eSIM page says new customers get an eSIM free upon successful registration, existing customers pay a one-time BND 10 to switch from a physical SIM and a replacement costs BND 5. It says all its prepaid and postpaid plans are available as eSIM, that setup uses a QR code emailed during registration, and that a switch can be done online or in a store. It lists iPhone XS to iPhone 16, recent Samsung Galaxy S, Google Pixel 3 and later and some other devices as supported.
Progresif's prepaid page we opened lists a BND 10 plan with BND 10 of pre-loaded credit and flexible add-ons, without data allowances or visitor-specific terms. We therefore do not describe a Progresif tourist plan; ask a store. Because registration is mandatory, expect the passport check described above even for an eSIM.
The e-arrival declaration and entry rules
The UK Foreign Office says visitors must submit an e-arrival declaration form before travelling, as it may be requested at check-in, and complete a Health Declaration Form before or on arrival through the Ministry of Health. It says British citizens can visit for up to 90 days without a visa, that a passport must be valid for at least six months beyond arrival and that yellow fever certificates may be needed from affected countries. Entry rules vary by nationality.
It adds a warning on overstaying, with penalties including detention and caning. Because both forms need an internet connection, do them at home and keep the confirmations offline.
Local laws that matter to a phone
The UK Foreign Office says public criticism of the royal family causes great offence and may result in legal action, that possession of pornography is illegal and that during Ramadan it is against the law to be seen eating or drinking in public during fasting hours. A visitor's phone can hold or post content that touches these rules, so think before sharing or storing sensitive material. These are descriptions of the Foreign Office's advice, not legal advice.
The same page lists severe penalties for drug offences and a ban on firearms, ammunition, explosives and fireworks. It also warns of saltwater crocodiles near rivers and beaches and of venomous snakes, so tell someone your route before an outdoor trip.
Emergency numbers
The UK Foreign Office lists 991 for an ambulance, 993 for police, 995 for fire and 998 for search and rescue in Brunei. DST's Easi Tourist includes bonus credit for local calls and SMS, so a voice-capable plan is available, and a test call to a local number after activation is the way to confirm it. Our Brunei plan page is an alternative if you prefer data before you land.
Networks our Brunei plans use
These are the operators named on our plans for Brunei, taken from the plan data, so the list follows the catalogue.
- DS5G
- DST3G
- DST Communications5G
- DST Communications Sdn Bhd4G
- DSTCom5G
- UNN5G