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Brunei – Nationality Law No. 4 of 1961, as amended by S 43/00 and S 55/02

Sections 4, 5 and 9 of Brunei’s Nationality Law No. 4 of 1961, as amended by S 43/00 and S 55/02, do not allow a Bruneian woman to transfer her nationality to her children and foreign spouse on an equal basis with Bruneian men.

  • Country: Brunei
  • Law status: Discriminatory law in force
  • Law Type: Citizenship

Sections 4, 5 and 9 of Brunei’s Nationality Law No. 4 of 1961, as amended by S 43/00 and S 55/02, do not allow a Bruneian woman to transfer her nationality to her children and foreign spouse on an equal basis with Bruneian men.

Section 4. (1) On and after the appointed day the following persons, and no others, shall be subjects of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan by operation of law —

(a) any person born in Brunei Darussalam . . . and any person born outside Brunei Darussalam . . . whose father was, at the time of birth of such person, a subject of His Majesty the Sultan . . .

Section 5. (6) . . .  a woman who — (a) is not a subject of His Majesty the Sultan . . . ; and (b) is or has been married to a subject of His Majesty the Sultan . . . , shall  . . . be eligible to be registered as a subject of His Majesty the Sultan . . .

Section 9. (5) A person who has the status of a subject of His Majesty the Sultan . . . shall cease to have such status if —(b) being a woman who has acquired such status by registration [through marriage to a subject of His Majesty the Sultan and thereafter] she acquires by reason of her subsequent marriage the nationality or citizenship of her husband being the nationality or citizenship of any State or country outside Brunei Darussalam.

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