What are the travel requirements to enter Malaysia from Singapore?
Malaysia is a top travel destination for Singaporeans, offering a seamless getaway just across the border. Its close proximity allows for easy access via car, bus, or short flights, making it ideal for weekend trips or extended holidays.
To enter Malaysia from Singapore by land (Johor Bahru) or by air (any airports in Malaysia), you just need the following:
- A passport with at least 6 months validity
- A visa (if you require one, not required for Singaporeans entering Malaysia)
- Submit the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) within 3 days before arriving in Malaysia from 1 January 2024 onwards (Singapore citizens, diplomatic passport holders, Malaysian permanent residents and long term pass holders, Brunei General Certificate of Identity holders, Thai Border Pass holders, and Indonesia Cross Border Travel Document are exempted).
What are the transport options to travel from Singapore to JB?
- Public Bus from Singapore to JB / JB to Singapore
- Singapore Bus Operators
- 160 – Jurong East Interchange to JB Sentral Bus Terminal
- 170 – Queen Street Terminal to Larkin Terminal
- 170X – Opposite Kranji MRT station to JB Sental Bus Terminal
- 950 – Woodlands Temp Bus Interchange to Johor Bahru Checkpoint
- TS1 – Changi Airport to Johor Bahru CIQ via Woodlands Checkpoint
- TS6 – Buona Vista to Gelang Patah Sentral via Tuas Checkpoint
- TS8 – Resort World Sentosa to Johor Bahru CIQ via Woodlans Checkpoint
- Singapore Bus Operators
- Malaysia Bus Operators
- CW1 – JB Custom to Kranji MRT Station
- CW2 – JB Custom to Queen Street Terminal
- This route will operate 24 hours from 1 August 2022. The night service starts from 11:00pm to 4:00pm with an interval of 45 minutes. Payment via cash, Manjalink card or Visa card only.
- CW3 – Perling Mall to Jurong East Interchange
- CW3L – Perling Mall to CIQ second link
- CW3S – Taman Ungku Tun Aminah (TUTA) Terminal to CIQ second link
- CW4 – Pontian to Jurong East Interchange
- CW4G – Gelang Patah Terminal to CIQ second link
- CW4S – Sutera Mall to Jurong East Interchange
- CW5 – JB Custom to Newton Circus
- CW6 – Giant Nusa Bestari to Boon Lay Way Bus Stop
- CW7 – CIQ second link to Opposite Tuas Link MRT Station
- CW7L – Hotel Ramada Meridin to CIQ second link (CIQ In)
- CW7P – Hotel Jen to CIQ
- CWL – Larkin Sentral to JB Custom
- FC1 – Forest City to CIQ second link (CIQ In)
- Malaysia Bus Operators
- Shuttle Train from Singapore to JB / JB to Singapore
- Take KTM Shuttle Tebrau train service from Woodlands [Map] to JB Sentral [Map].
- Each trip can transport up to 320 passengers with a travel time of 5 minutes. The train frequency is 30 minutes.
- Ticket bookings can be made online via KTM Berhad’s KITS online system or physically at the counters.
- Ticket Prices
- Purchase at JB Sentral counter or Online – SGD 5 / trip from Singapore to JB. MYR 5 / trip from JB to Singapore.
- Purchase at Woodlands counter – SGD 5 / trip from Singapore to JB. SGD 5 / trip from JB to Singapore.
- Boarding Time
- Woodlands – Gate opens 40 minutes before departure time and closes 20 minutes before departure time.
- JB Sentral – Gate opens 30 minutes before departure time and closes 10 minutes before departure time.
- Notes:
- For trips starting 1 August 2024, Malaysians get to enjoy special rate of RM 5 / trip from Singapore to JB. However, eligible commuters have to create an account on KTMB mobile application KITS and verify their nationality at KTMB ticket counters for the first time. Rates apply only to bookings made online.
- Children under 4 years old travel for free but will need to register at ticket counter before departure.
- Individuals aged 4 and above need to purchase a ticket.
- Taxis or Private Hire Vehicles (PHVs) within Singapore to Woodlands Checkpoint only
- Take Taxi, Grab or GoJek to the checkpoint and walk to the Singapore immigration counters
- Drop off at Woodlands Checkpoint [Map]
- After clearing the immigration process, take one of the Singapore public buses to cross over to the Malaysian immigration complex.
- Cross Border Taxis from Singapore to JB
- Take one of the 240 approved taxis from Queen Street Taxi Terminal [Map] to Larkin Taxi Terminal in Johor Bahru [Map]
- SGD 48 per taxi / trip (authorities are in process of reviewing price adjustment to SGD 15 per person or SGD 60 per taxi / trip)
- Note: Taxis at this terminal are licensed to offer cross border services. It is illegal for unlicensed taxis and PHVs to offer cross border service. Penalty is a fine up to SGD 3000, jail term of up to 6 months, and possibility of vehicle being forfeited.
- Private vehicles from Singapore to JB
- From 1 October 2024, if you are driving a Singapore-registered vehicle (motorcycles, cars, vans, lorries, etc.) into peninsula Malaysia, you will need to have a Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) before you are allowed to drive across the border.
- Learn how to apply for a Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP).
How to avoid queues at JB checkpoint?
Choose the date and time of departure and return wisely
All immigration checkpoints on both Singapore and Malaysia sides operate 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Choosing the right hours for to depart and return is key to avoid joining unnecessary queues at the checkpoints.
As a casual traveler going to JB for a short break or holiday from Singapore, it will be best to avoid the peak hours below if you do not want to be involved in long snaking queues at the custom.
There are two large groups of travelers that usually crowd the immigration and custom counters:
- Weekdays – Mondays to Fridays: Malaysian workers and students commuting daily to Singapore
- Hundreds of thousands of Malaysians cross the border into Singapore daily to attend school and work. To avoid this crowd, refrain from:
- Departing from Malaysia to Singapore between 5:00am to 8:30am
- Return from Singapore to Malaysia between 5:30pm to 9:00pm
- Hundreds of thousands of Malaysians cross the border into Singapore daily to attend school and work. To avoid this crowd, refrain from:
- Weekends – Saturdays and Sundays: Singaporeans visiting JB over weekends with family and friends for social activities
- Thousands of Singaporeans go to JB on a day trip to enjoy good food, top up petrol, buy groceries, get a haircut and engage in a myriad of social activities with family and friends. To avoid this crowd, refrain from:
- Depart from Singapore to Malaysia between 8:30am to 1:00pm
- Return from Malaysia to Singapore between 4:30pm to 9:00pm
- Thousands of Singaporeans go to JB on a day trip to enjoy good food, top up petrol, buy groceries, get a haircut and engage in a myriad of social activities with family and friends. To avoid this crowd, refrain from:
Use the automated e-gates
Since January 2023, Singapore citizens can now use the automated e-gates at the two land checkpoints in JB and skip the queues at the immigration counter. However, for first time user, there will be pre-registration required. Read more on the requirements and how to apply here.
Where to get early breakfast near JB customs?
Although the two major malls adjacent to JB Customs, City Square and JBCC, open at 10:00am, select restaurants within them, such as McDonald’s and Oriental Kopi, open earlier at 7:00am and 8:00am, respectively.
If you arrive in JB early, you can dine at these restaurants or take a 5 to 10-minute walk to nearby eateries outside the shopping malls.
Here are a few options we have compiled for you:
- McDonald’s KOMTAR JBCC (Western – Halal)
- Operating Hours: 7:00am – 11:00pm
- Location: Ground Floor, Komtar JBCC (Beside CIQ), Johor Bahru, 80000 [Map]
- Note: JAKIM halal certified as of March 2025.
- Oriental Kopi 华阳 City Square (Malaysian – Halal)
- Operating Hours: 8:00am – 10:00pm
- Location: Level B1, Johor Bahru City Square (Beside CIQ), Johor Bahru, 80000 [Map]
- Note: JAKIM halal certified as of March 2025.
- Reaz Corner (Indian Muslim – Halal)
- Operating Hours: 24 hour
- Location: 23 Jalan Dhoby, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 [Map]
- Signature Dishes: Nasi Kandar, Roti Prata (Roti Canai), Teh Tarik
- Note: ⚠️ This restaurant is not JAKIM halal certified as of March 2025.
- Restoran Syed Ali Pasar Karat (Indian Muslim – Halal)
- Operating Hours: 24 hour
- Location: Bangunan Tokio Marine, 33 Jalan Segget, Johor Bahru, 80000 [Map]
- Signature Dishes: Nasi Goreng Pattaya (Fried Rice with Egg), Roti Canai (Roti Prata), Nasi Kandar (Rice with Side Dishes)
- Note: ⚠️ This restaurant is not JAKIM halal certified as of March 2025.
- Warung Pokok Cherry (Malay – Halal)
- Operating Hours: 7:00am – 10:00pm daily
- Location: Jalan Dato Dalam, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 [Map]
- Signature Dishes: Grilled fish, Kelantanese economic rice
- Note: ⚠️ This restaurant is not JAKIM halal certified as of March 2025.
- Roast & Coffee – Retro Garden 1968’s (Local Kopitiam)
- Operating Hours: 7:00am – 5:00pm
- Location: 62/63, Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 [Map]
- Signature Dishes: Rendang Nasi Lemak, Kaya Toast, Chwee Kueh, Mee Diam, Mee Rebus, Polo Bun
- JB Vegetarian Stall (Chinese – Vegetarian)
- Operating Hours: 6:00am – 2:30pm daily
- Location: 98 Jalan Trus, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 [Map]
- Signature Dishes: Vegetarian economic rice
- Johor Bahru Kam Long Curry Fish Head (Chinese – Curry Fish Head)
- Operating Hours: 8:00am – 4:00pm daily
- Location: 74 Jalan Wong Ah Fook, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 [Map]
- Hock Chiang Hin (Chinese – Dim Sum)
- Operating Hours: 7:30am – 2pm daily, except Sunday
- Location: 18, Jalan Siu Nam, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 [Map]
- Signature Dishes: Siew Mai, Fan Choy
- Restoran Kin Hua (Local Kopitiam)
- Operating Hours: 5:30am – 5:00pm daily, except Tuesday
- Location: 8, Jalan Trus, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 [Map]
- Signature Dishes: Kopi, Mee Rebus, Nasi Lemak, Popiah, Soft-boiled Egg
If you are venturing out of the shopping malls, visit these Singaporeans’ favourite Instagram-worthy shops, restaurants and cafes in JB:
- Hiap Joo Bakery & Biscuit Factory (Jalan Tan Hiok Nee) [Map]
- Bev C’afe (Jalan Tan Hiok Nee) [Map]
- Roast & Coffee – Retro Garden 1968’s (Jalan Tan Hiok Nee) [Map]
- Palates & Bagels by T.A.M (Jalan Dhoby) [Map]
- Flowers in the Window (Jalan Dhoby) [Map]
- IT Roo Cafe (Jalan Dhoby) [Map]
- Adam Hawa Cafe (Jalan Ngee Heng) [Map]
- Ah Ma Teochew Kuih (Jalan Trus) [Map]
Most shops and restaurants in Johor Bahru city center near the CIQ close by 5pm on regular days, except during special occasions. After 5pm, shopping options are limited to KOMTAR JBCC, City Square, and nearby malls, which remain open until 10pm.
However, you can still visit the pasar malam (night market) near Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, starting around 7pm. Drop by to experience the lively nighttime atmosphere in JB!
