Johor Bahru Day Trip from Singapore: Getting There and Back

Before you go: arrival cards and passports

Entering Malaysia: MDAC

• Since 1 January 2024 the MDAC has been mandatory, and it must be submitted within 3 days before you arrive in Malaysia, except for exempted categories. [3]
• Exempt: all citizens of Singapore; holders of diplomatic and official passports; Malaysian Permanent Residents and Malaysian Long Term Pass holders; and some Brunei, Thai and Indonesian border-pass holders. [3]
• Submit it only on the official portal: https://imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main [3]

Returning to Singapore: SG Arrival Card (SGAC)

• All travellers must submit the SGAC with its electronic health declaration before arriving in Singapore. The exceptions are travellers in transit who don't clear immigration, and residents (Singapore citizens, PRs and Long-Term Pass holders) travelling through Woodlands and Tuas Checkpoints. [1]
• Submit it within 3 days before you arrive, counting the day of arrival. It is free. Use ICA's SGAC e-Service or the MyICA Mobile app. [1]
• One submission can cover up to 3 trips, which helps if you cross more than once in 3 days. [1]
• The SGAC is not a visa. [1]

QR code at Woodlands and Tuas

• Singapore citizens, PRs, Long-Term Pass holders with a FIN, and foreign visitors can use a MyICA QR code when arriving or departing by car, motorcycle, lorry or bus. [2]
• You can't use it if you are entering Singapore as a first-time foreign visitor, or re-entering with a different passport from your last visit. [2]
• The QR code can be generated and shown offline. Generate it before you reach the checkpoint. [2]
• On the Shuttle Tebrau, KTMB says your passport is your boarding pass and is scanned at the gate. [5]

Passport validity

• Shuttle Tebrau: for JB Sentral → Woodlands, KTMB requires at least 30 days' passport validity from the day of travel. [5]
• Klook's Singapore–Johor Bahru bus listing says passports must have at least 6 months' validity after crossing into Malaysia. [12] This is the listing's own rule. Check the requirements of the operator you book.

Option 1: KTM Shuttle Tebrau (train)

• Route: Woodlands Train Checkpoint ↔ JB Sentral, about 5 minutes. 31 trains a day: 13 from Woodlands and 18 from JB Sentral. [4]
• Fares: Woodlands → JB Sentral costs S$5 for non-Malaysians (charged in ringgit). JB Sentral → Woodlands costs RM5. [5]
• Book at https://online.ktmb.com.my or at the station counters. Counters stop selling 20 minutes before departure. Tickets can't be changed. [5]
• Boarding gates: at Woodlands the gate closes 20 minutes before departure; at JB Sentral it closes 10 minutes before. [5]

Day-trip departures (KTMB timetable, "Effective 19 Jun 2022", still the one KTMB links to) [4]

The first train out of Woodlands is 08:30. The last train from JB Sentral back to Woodlands is 22:45. [4]

For the full timetable, refunds and booking tips, see our KTM Shuttle Tebrau guide.

Option 2: cross-border buses

LTA publishes the list of public cross-border bus services (updated 1 October 2026). Each route makes several stops along the way. [6]

Source: LTA [6]. Causeway Link services are run by Handal Indah. [6]

• Example, service 170: SBS Transit lists the first bus from Queen Street Terminal at 5.20am and the last at 12.10am, every day. It stops at Woodlands Checkpoint and Johor Bahru Checkpoint before ending at Larkin Terminal. [7]
• We don't list bus fares. Check the operator's own site before you travel.

Prefer a booked coach seat? Check Klook for Singapore–Johor Bahru bus tickets. (affiliate link)

Option 3: driving your own car

Leaving and re-entering Singapore (LTA) [10]

• Pay tolls by inserting your stored-value card (NETS CashCard/Motoring Card or CEPAS card) at the immigration booth, even if the barrier is already up. There are no top-up machines at the checkpoints.
• Cars: Woodlands S$0.80 to leave and no toll to come back. Tuas S$2.10 each way.
• Before you leave you need at least a ¾ tank of fuel, printed copies of your insurance certificate and road-tax validity, and a valid driving licence.

Entering Malaysia (JPJ) [8][9]

• VEP registration at https://vep.jpj.gov.my is mandatory for all foreign vehicles entering Malaysia. Entering without a valid VEP is an offence, with a fine of up to RM2,000 or up to 6 months' jail on conviction. [8]
• Private cars pay a RM20 Road Charge per entry. Pay by Touch 'n Go card or the TnG eWallet. No cash. Touch 'n Go top-up counters accept only ringgit. [9]
• Only vehicles with valid road tax and insurance may enter Malaysia. [8]
• Malaysian toll amounts at BSI (Causeway) and Tanjung Kupang (Second Link) are not listed here, because we couldn't trace them to an operator page.

For the VEP RFID tag steps see our Malaysia VEP RFID guide. For tolls by vehicle class and the 2027 Singapore VEP changes, see our Causeway & Second Link tolls guide.

Rather rent a car on the Malaysian side? See Localrent car rental in Malaysia or GetRentacar car rental in Malaysia. (affiliate links)

In Johor Bahru: what to book ahead

• LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort has a theme park, a water park, a SEA LIFE aquarium and the LEGOLAND Hotel. Check opening days and times on its official site before you go: https://www.legoland.com.my/ [11]
• Sanrio Hello Kitty Town & Thomas Town: Klook's listing gives its address as Puteri Harbour, Nusajaya, Johor. [13]

Planning the day out? Check Klook for things to do in Johor Bahru, LEGOLAND Malaysia tickets or Sanrio Hello Kitty Town & Thomas Town tickets. (affiliate links)

More JB tours and tickets: see KKday Johor Bahru tours and tickets or Tiqets LEGOLAND Malaysia tickets. (affiliate links)

Getting around JB by car? See Kiwitaxi transfers in Malaysia or GetTransfer private transfers in Johor Bahru. Flying in or out? See Welcome Pickups airport transfers (Johor Bahru and Singapore). (affiliate links)

Carrying bags? See Radical Storage luggage storage at JB Sentral. (affiliate link)

Mobile data

• The MyICA QR code works offline, so you don't need data to clear Singapore immigration with it. [2]
• You may want data in Malaysia for maps, ride bookings or the Touch 'n Go eWallet. Check your Singapore plan's roaming terms, or use a Malaysia eSIM.

Malaysia eSIM options: Check Klook for Malaysia eSIM data plans, Airalo Malaysia eSIM, Saily Malaysia eSIM or Yesim Malaysia eSIM. (affiliate links)

Day-trip checklist

• Passport with enough validity for your transport (30 days for the Shuttle Tebrau [5]; check your bus operator's rules).
• MDAC submitted within 3 days before arrival, unless you are exempt (all Singapore citizens are). [3]
• SG Arrival Card submitted within 3 days before you return, if you are a foreign visitor. [1]
• MyICA QR code generated, if you are going by car, motorcycle or bus. [2]
• Train: Shuttle Tebrau tickets booked both ways (the return leg from JB Sentral is RM5). [5]
• Car: VEP RFID tag activated, a Touch 'n Go card or eWallet with ringgit for the RM20 Road Charge, a topped-up Singapore stored-value card, a ¾ tank of fuel, and printed insurance and road-tax copies. [8][9][10]

FAQ

Do Singaporeans need to fill in the MDAC? No. All citizens of Singapore are exempt. [3] I'm a Singapore PR. Do I need the SG Arrival Card when I come back through Woodlands? No. Residents travelling through Woodlands and Tuas Checkpoints are exempt. [1] Can I use the MyICA QR code on the Shuttle Tebrau? ICA lists QR clearance for car, motorcycle, lorry and bus travellers. On the Shuttle Tebrau, KTMB uses your passport as your boarding pass. [2][5] Where do I buy Shuttle Tebrau tickets? From KTMB, at https://online.ktmb.com.my or the JB Sentral and Woodlands counters. [5]

Sources (opened 31 Oct 2026)

1. ICA — SG Arrival Card with Electronic Health Declaration (last updated 28 Oct 2026): https://www.ica.gov.sg/enter-transit-depart/entering-singapore/sg-arrival-card
2. ICA — QR Code for Immigration Clearance at Land Checkpoints (last updated 27 Oct 2026): https://www.ica.gov.sg/enter-transit-depart/at-our-checkpoints/use-of-qr-code-for-immigration-clearance-at-woodlands-and-tuas-checkpoints
3. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia, High Commission of Malaysia in Singapore — Requirements for foreigners, MDAC (updated 30 Apr 2026): https://www.kln.gov.my/web/sgp_singapore/requirement_foreigner ; official MDAC portal (Immigration Department of Malaysia): https://imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main
4. KTMB — Shuttle Tebrau timetable PDF (linked from https://www.ktmb.com.my/traintime.html, "Effective 19 Jun 2022"): https://www.ktmb.com.my/assets/pdf/2026/Jadual%20Tren%20Int%201%20Jan%202027%20(Tebrau).pdf
5. KTMB — Shuttle Tebrau FAQ: https://online.ktmb.com.my/Home/ShuttleFAQ
6. LTA — Cross-border Bus Services (updated 1 Oct 2026): https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/dam/ltagov/getting_around/pdf/Cross-border_Bus_Services.pdf
7. SBS Transit — Bus service 170: https://www.sbstransit.com.sg/Service/BusService?ServiceNo=170&ServiceType=Basic
8. JPJ — RC & VEP FAQ: https://www.jpj.gov.my/en/rc-vep-faq/
9. JPJ — FAQ RC (Road Charge): https://www.jpj.gov.my/accordions/soalan-lazim-lesen-memandu-2-2-2-2-2/
10. LTA OneMotoring — Vehicles Registered in Singapore: https://onemotoring.lta.gov.sg/content/onemotoring/home/driving/entering_and_exiting_singapore/vehicles-registered-in-singapore.html
11. LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort (official site): https://www.legoland.com.my/
12. Klook — Singapore - Johor Bahru Bus (listing; Klook is an affiliate partner): https://www.klook.com/en-SG/activity/110362-singapore-johor-bahru-malaysia-bus/
13. Klook — Sanrio Hello Kitty Town & Thomas Town (listing; Klook is an affiliate partner): https://www.klook.com/en-SG/activity/128-hello-kitty-town-little-big-club-singapore/

General information only, not legal advice. We are not affiliated with ICA, KTMB, LTA, JPJ, the Immigration Department of Malaysia or any bus operator.