Brunei Darussalam

Detains migrants or asylum seekers?

Yes

Has laws regulating migration-related detention?

Yes

International Migrants

112,000

2020

Population

500,000

2023

International Migrants as % of Population

22.4%

2020

Overview

Types of facilities used for migration-related detention
Administrative Ad Hoc Criminal Unknown

Brunei Darussalam: Covid-19 and Detention

There is little available information about the treatment of migrants or asylum seekers in Brunei. The government reports that the country has no asylum seekers or refugees, although in the past the country has reported that it has more than 20,000 stateless residents. On 17 March, the Health Ministry stated that “any individual arriving in […]

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DETENTION STATISTICS

Migration Detainee Entries
Not Available
2019

DETAINEE DATA

Total Number of Children Placed in Immigration Detention (Year)
0
2017

DETENTION CAPACITY

ALTERNATIVES TO DETENTION

ADDITIONAL ENFORCEMENT DATA

PRISON DATA

Criminal Prison Population (Year)
565
2015
549
2013
427
2011
453
2008
492
2005
454
2002
286
1999
307
1996
186
1993
Percentage of Foreign Prisoners (Year)
29.6
2015
29.5
2013
Prison Population Rate (per 100,000 of National Population)
134
2015
131
2013
105
2011
118
2008
136
2005
133
2002
89
1999
103
1996
68
1993

POPULATION DATA

Population (Year)
500,000
2023
400,000
2020
423,000
2015
International Migrants (Year)
112,000
2020
110,641
2019
102,700
2015
International Migrants as Percentage of Population (Year)
22.4
2020
24.3
2015
Refugees (Year)
0
2023
0
2016
Asylum Applications (Year)
0
2023
Stateless Persons (Year)
20,863
2023
20,863
2018
20,524
2016
20,524
2015

SOCIO-ECONOMIC DATA & POLLS

Gross Domestic Product per Capita (in USD)
40,979
2014
Unemployment Rate
2014
Human Development Index Ranking (UNDP)
31 (Very high)
2015

LEGAL & REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

Does the Country Detain People for Migration, Asylum, or Citizenship Reasons?
Yes
2023
Unknown
2022
Does the Country Have Specific Laws that Provide for Migration-Related Detention?
Yes
2023
Yes
1956
Detention-Related Legislation
Immigration Act (1956)
1956
Legal Tradition(s)
Common law
2017
Customary law
2017
Muslim law
2017
Federal or Centralised Governing System
Centralized system
2023
Centralised or Decentralised Immigration Authority
Centralized immigration authority
2023

GROUNDS FOR DETENTION

Immigration-Status-Related Grounds
Detention to effect removal
2023
Criminal Penalties for Immigration-Related Violations
Yes
2023

LENGTH OF DETENTION

DETENTION INSTITUTIONS

Custodial Authorities
Immigration and National Registration Department (INRD) (Ministry of Home Affairs) Interior or Home Affairs
2023
Apprehending Authorities
Immigration and National Registration Department (INRD) (Immigration agency)
2023

PROCEDURAL STANDARDS & SAFEGUARDS

COSTS & OUTSOURCING

COVID-19 DATA

TRANSPARENCY

MONITORING

NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS MONITORING BODIES

NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISMS (OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO UN CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE)

NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS (NGOs)

GOVERNMENTAL MONITORING BODIES

INTERNATIONAL DETENTION MONITORING

INTERNATIONAL TREATIES & TREATY BODIES

International Treaties Ratified
Ratification Year
Observation Date
CRC, Convention on the Rights of the Child
1995
2017
CEDAW, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
2006
2017
VCCR, Vienna Convention on Consular Relations
2013
2017
CRPD, Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
2016
2016
Ratio of relevant international treaties ratified
Ratio: 4/19
Treaty Reservations
Reservation Year
Observation Date
CRC Article 14 2015
2015
2017
Ratio of Complaints Procedures Accepted
Observation Date
0/2
2017

> UN Special Procedures

> UN Universal Periodic Review

Relevant Recommendations or Observations from the UN Universal Periodic Review
Observation Date
Yes 2010
2017
No 2014
2017
Yes 2019

> Global Compact for Migration (GCM)

GCM Resolution Endorsement
Observation Date
2018
2018

> Global Compact on Refugees (GCR)

GCR Resolution Endorsement
Observation Date
2018

REGIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS MECHANISMS

HEALTH CARE PROVISION

HEALTH IMPACTS

COVID-19

Country Updates
There is little available information about the treatment of migrants or asylum seekers in Brunei. The government reports that the country has no asylum seekers or refugees, although in the past the country has reported that it has more than 20,000 stateless residents. On 17 March, the Health Ministry stated that “any individual arriving in Brunei” would face a penalty of “imprisonment up to a period of 6 months, or a fine up to $10,000, or both” if they did not comply with the mandatory quarantine. As of 2 September 2020, there had been 144 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country.
Did the country release immigration detainees as a result of the pandemic?
Unknown
2022
Did the country use legal "alternatives to detention" as part of pandemic detention releases?
Unknown
2022
Did the country Temporarily Cease or Restrict Issuing Detention Orders?
Unknown
2022
Did the Country Adopt These Pandemic-Related Measures for People in Immigration Detention?
Unknown (Unknown) Unknown Unknown Unknown
2022
Did the Country Lock-Down Previously "Open" Reception Facilities, Shelters, Refugee Camps, or Other Forms of Accommodation for Migrant Workers or Other Non-Citizens?
Unknown
2022
Were cases of COVID-19 reported in immigration detention facilities or any other places used for immigration detention purposes?
Unknown
2022
Did the Country Cease or Restrict Deportations/Removals During any Period After the Onset of the Pandemic?
Unknown
2022
Did the Country Release People from Criminal Prisons During the Pandemic?
Unknown
2022
Did Officials Blame Migrants, Asylum Seekers, or Refugees for the Spread of COVID-19?
Unknown
2022
Did the Country Restrict Access to Asylum Procedures?
Yes
2021
Did the Country Commence a National Vaccination Campaign?
Yes
2021
Were Populations of Concern Included/Excluded From the National Vaccination Campaign?
Unknown (Unknown) Unknown Unknown Unknown
2022