Crossing from Singapore in Johor Bahru and Desaru

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Most visitors reach Johor Bahru from Singapore over land. There are two crossings. The Causeway in the north links Woodlands to central JB and is one of the busiest land borders in the world. The Second Link in the west joins Tuas to the Iskandar Puteri side of Johor. You pass Singapore checks on one side and Malaysian checks on the other. The trip itself is short, but the queues can be long, so timing is the key to an easy crossing.

Buses over the Causeway

Buses are the most common way to cross. Causeway Link buses CW1 and CW2 and the public SBS Transit buses 170 and 170X run from stations such as Kranji and Woodlands, and some start in central Singapore. You get off the bus at the Woodlands checkpoint for Singapore exit checks, then board another bus of the same route to cross the bridge. On the JB side you get off again at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar checkpoint for Malaysian checks. Keep your ticket or card for the next bus. The main checkpoint in JB is linked by walkways to JB Sentral station and to City Square mall, so you can walk into the city centre.

The Shuttle Tebrau train

The Shuttle Tebrau is a short KTM train between Woodlands Train Checkpoint in Singapore and JB Sentral in Johor Bahru. The ride over the Causeway takes only a few minutes, and it skips road traffic completely. Trains run many times a day, but seats are limited and popular times sell out early, so book tickets online in advance. When you travel from Singapore to JB, you clear both countries' checks at Woodlands before you board. In the other direction you clear Malaysian exit checks at JB Sentral and Singapore entry checks after you arrive. This train is expected to stop or change once the RTS Link opens, so check the latest timetable.

The RTS Link, opening soon

The Johor Bahru to Singapore RTS Link is a new driverless rail line. It runs about 4 kilometres from Bukit Chagar station in central JB to Woodlands North station in Singapore, where it connects to the Thomson-East Coast MRT line. The ride should take about five minutes. You will clear both Singapore and Malaysian checks at the station where you start, not where you arrive. As of late 2026 the line is not yet open. Construction is almost finished and the opening is planned for early 2027. Dates can move, so check the official news before you plan to use it. When it opens, it should make the crossing much faster and more predictable.

Peak hours and queues

The crossing can take 20 minutes or more than three hours. Traffic is heaviest from Singapore to JB on Friday evenings, Saturday mornings and the eve of public holidays. Traffic back to Singapore is heaviest on Sunday afternoons and evenings and on weekday mornings, when many workers cross. School holidays in either country make things worse. Try to cross on a weekday in the middle of the day. Check live traffic cameras or map apps before you leave. Use the toilet before you queue, and carry water. If the Causeway is very slow, the Second Link can be faster for the western side of Johor and for Legoland.

Papers and money

Bring a passport with at least six months of validity. Many nationalities do not need a visa for a short visit to Malaysia, but check the rules for your passport before you travel. Foreign visitors to Malaysia now need to fill in the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card online before arrival, unless they are exempt, so check the latest rule. Singapore has its own SG Arrival Card for the trip back. The local money is the Malaysian ringgit. Money changers are common in City Square and around JB Sentral, and cards work in malls and chain shops. Small food stalls often want cash or a local QR payment app.

Crossing from Singapore at a glance

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