Trial begins this month to streamline border crossings between Singapore and Malaysia.
Singapore’s Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) announced on November 21 that bus travellers heading to Johor will soon be able to clear immigration using QR codes. This trial, set to commence at Tuas Checkpoint on November 23 and Woodlands Checkpoint on November 28, is part of efforts to enhance efficiency at Singapore’s land borders.
Eligible Participants and Process
The trial is open to:
Singapore residents (citizens, permanent residents, and long-term pass holders).
Foreign visitors with prior travel history to Singapore.
Travellers can generate unique individual or group QR codes through the MyICA app, available on Android and Apple devices. Up to four travellers can share a single group QR code, scanning it together at special assistance lanes (SALs) before proceeding to biometric verification, such as facial or fingerprint scans.
Benefits of QR Code Clearance
QR code immigration has been shown to cut clearance times significantly. When ICA introduced the system for cars and motorcycles earlier in 2024, cars with four passengers saved about 20 seconds per vehicle, while motorcycles and pillion riders reduced clearance time by 30%.
Impact on Cross-Border Travel
Malaysia is also running similar QR code trials for bus and motorcycle travellers at its Johor checkpoints. Since the trials began in June, peak-hour waiting times for bus passengers at Johor Bahru have decreased from two hours to just 15 minutes.
Land crossings between Singapore and Johor rank among the busiest in the world. Malaysian Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail reported to Parliament that daily traffic through Johor checkpoints averages 400,000 people. From January to October 2024, nearly 118 million travellers passed through these crossings, a 17% increase compared to the previous year.
Looking Ahead
Both Singapore and Malaysia aim to expand the use of QR code technology, with Malaysia planning to extend the system to car drivers and more foreigners in the near future. In Singapore, ICA is encouraging bus travellers to participate in the trial to fine-tune the system for broader implementation.
By leveraging digital innovations like QR codes, authorities hope to reduce congestion and waiting times at these critical border checkpoints.
