Singapore to Malaysia by land

Singapore and Johor are joined by two road crossings, and they are among the busiest routes in and out of Malaysia. For many visitors, a trip into Malaysia by land is the easiest way to see Johor Bahru, Desaru or Malacca, or to start a longer overland journey up the peninsula.

This guide covers the two crossings, the ways to get across, the busiest times and who needs a Malaysia Digital Arrival Card. Cross-border transport changes often, especially with a new rail link under construction, so the details here are as they stand at the time of writing.

Who needs an MDAC for the crossing

The arrival card applies at land borders just as it does at airports. At the time of writing:

• Singapore citizens are exempt from the MDAC, whether they cross by land, sea or air.
• Everyone else who is not otherwise exempt needs one, including Singapore permanent residents, people working in Singapore on a work pass, students and tourists visiting Singapore.

That catches out many foreign residents of Singapore who cross often. Each trip into Malaysia needs a card submitted within the three days before that crossing. On the form, choose "land" as your mode of travel and Singapore as your last port of embarkation, and enter the vehicle or bus details the form asks for.

The two crossings

The Causeway

The Causeway runs from Woodlands in the north of Singapore to Johor Bahru city centre. On the Malaysian side you clear immigration at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar complex, which is connected to JB Sentral, the city's main railway and bus station. It is the obvious choice if you are visiting Johor Bahru itself, or catching a train or long-distance bus onward from JB Sentral.

The Second Link

The Second Link runs from Tuas in the west of Singapore to Gelang Patah in western Johor, where immigration is at the Sultan Abu Bakar complex. It is often quieter than the Causeway and suits travellers heading to western Johor, the Iskandar Puteri area, Legoland Malaysia or the north-south expressway towards Malacca and Kuala Lumpur.

Ways to get across

Public buses

Several cross-border bus routes run from points in Singapore, such as Kranji, Woodlands, Queen Street and Jurong, to Johor Bahru and beyond. The routine is the same on all of them: you get off with your bags at the Singapore checkpoint, clear Singapore departure, get back on a bus (often a later one on the same route, so keep your ticket), cross the bridge, then get off again with your bags to clear Malaysian immigration and customs. Keep your bags with you at each stop.

Coaches

Long-distance coaches to Malacca, Kuala Lumpur and other cities leave from various points in Singapore. You follow the same two-stop process at the border, but your seat is usually kept for you. Coaches are a comfortable choice for longer journeys, though traffic at the border can add a lot of time.

The shuttle train

At the time of writing, a short shuttle train runs from Woodlands Train Checkpoint in Singapore to JB Sentral, taking only a few minutes once you are on board. Tickets are limited and sell out at popular times, so book ahead. A new rapid transit line, the RTS Link, between Woodlands North and Bukit Chagar in Johor Bahru, is due to start passenger service in February 2027, according to a joint announcement on 2 October 2026. The two governments have agreed that KTMB's train services in Singapore, including the shuttle, will stop within six months of the RTS Link opening. Check the current situation before you plan around either.

Driving

Driving across is popular, but it needs some preparation. At the time of writing, foreign-registered vehicles entering Malaysia must be registered for a Vehicle Entry Permit with Malaysia's Road Transport Department, and private cars pay a road charge of RM20 per entry using a Touch 'n Go card or e-wallet. Singapore has its own rules on how much fuel a Singapore-registered car must carry when leaving. Rental cars often cannot be taken across, so ask the rental company first. Car passengers clear immigration at drive-through booths, but everyone in the car still needs their own passport and, unless exempt, their own MDAC.

Taxis and ride-hailing

Licensed cross-border taxis run between set points in Singapore and Johor Bahru. Most ordinary taxis and ride-hailing cars do not cross the border, so a common pattern is to ride to a bus stop near the checkpoint, cross by bus, and book a Malaysian ride on the other side.

When to cross

The crossings are busiest when people commute and when Singapore heads to Johor for weekends and holidays. Typical peaks are:

• weekday mornings into Singapore and weekday evenings back into Malaysia, driven by commuters,
• Friday evenings and Saturday mornings into Malaysia,
• Sunday evenings back into Singapore,
• the start and end of school holidays and long weekends in either country.

On a bad day, crossing at a peak time can take several hours. If you can, travel mid-morning or early afternoon on a weekday. Singapore's transport authority and several apps publish live traffic camera views and estimated queue times, which are worth a look before you leave.

At the Malaysian checkpoint

• Have your passport ready before you reach the counter, open at the photo page.
• Have your MDAC confirmation saved on your phone in case you are asked for it.
• At the Johor checkpoints, the Immigration Department's guidance lists the autogates for Singapore citizens and members of its MACS automated clearance scheme, so most other visitors should expect a staffed counter.
• Go through customs after immigration. Declare anything you need to declare, including large amounts of cash.
• Buy a little Malaysian ringgit before you go or use a card; small vendors near the checkpoints may not take Singapore dollars.

Coming back the other way, Singapore has its own arrival requirements for visitors, which are separate from Malaysia's. Check them before your return trip.

Before you cross checklist

• Your MDAC is submitted within three days before the crossing, unless you are a Singapore citizen or otherwise exempt.
• On the card, mode of travel is "land" and last port of embarkation is Singapore.
• Your passport is valid for at least six months from the date you enter Malaysia.
• You know which crossing you are using and how you will get to it.
• If you are driving, the car is registered for a Vehicle Entry Permit and you have a Touch 'n Go card or e-wallet for the road charge.
• You have checked queue times and avoided the worst peaks if you can.

The MDAC is free on the official MDAC website. For frequent crossers who are not exempt, it is worth bookmarking.

Last reviewed on 5 October 2026. Entry rules change, so always check the official MDAC website and the Immigration Department of Malaysia before you travel.