Malaysia to Singapore Travel Guide
Singapore is a fantastic tourist destination - and it’s right on our doorstep. If you’re planning a trip you may be wondering - do Malaysians need a visa to Singapore? What does Malaysia to Singapore passport free travel cover? And what’s the easiest way to get to Singapore from Malaysia?
Join us as we explore how to go to Singapore from Malaysia, what’s needed, and how to make sure you can spend with low fees and no unexpected costs while you’re there.
Requirements to travel from Malaysia to Singapore
What’s needed to travel from Malaysia to Singapore might depend a little on why you’re heading there and how long you intend to stay for. We’ll explore your options here.
Do Malaysians need a visa to Singapore?
If you’re making a short term tourist visit of up to 30 days, and you have a Malaysian passport, a visa is not required to enter Singapore.
If you’re planning to come to Singapore to work or study you’ll need an appropriate visa. Different options are available depending on your requirements, including Employment passes, Dependent passes and Student passes. All of these visa options offer long term entry to Singapore with their own conditions and fees - get the full details from the ICA website if you’re not sure which visa type might suit your specific needs.
What is passport free travel from Malaysia to Singapore?
Malaysia to Singapore passport free travel is available to certain travellers entering Singapore via the Woodland and Tuas checkpoints, by car.
This new option came into effect in March 2024, and lets car travellers generate a QR code prior to arriving at the border, which can then be scanned by immigration officers. This process cuts down the time taken to check and pass through the border, as the immigration officer needs only to scan one QR for all passengers in the card.
You can use this process if you’re a Singapore resident or citizen, or a foreign visitor who has previously visited Singapore. First time visitors can not use the QR code option.
To get passport free travel from Malaysia to Singapore:
Download the MyICA app
Follow the prompts to create an individual or group QR for passengers - this requires you to use Singpass or your phone’s camera to read your passport’s biodata page
Scan the QR at the border
Once your QR has been verified you can head on into Singapore
Learn more about passport free travel from Malaysia to Singapore on the ICA website.
What are the requirements for travelling from Malaysia to Singapore?
You won’t usually need a visa to travel from Malaysia to Singapore, but you will still need to comply with certain rules, including:
You must have at least 6 months validity on your passport (not required for Singapore passport holders)
You must complete the ICA Singapore arrival card (unless you’re a Singapore resident arriving overland)
You must have a Yellow Fever certificate if you’ve come from a country with Yellow Fever risk in the last 6 days
You must make sure you don’t carry any prohibited items with you
Prohibited items are mainly obvious - but not always. That makes it sensible to read up on the ICA website to make sure you don’t run into any unexpected issues at the border. Here’s a summary of some common prohibited items to know about:
| Items prohibited to import to Singapore |
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Transportation options to Singapore from Malaysia
On to the practical considerations. How do you get from Singapore to Malaysia most conveniently? Perhaps you’re wondering how to drive to Singapore from Malaysia, or where to get the Malaysia to Singapore bus. Let’s take a look:
Travel to Singapore from Malaysia by car
It’s possible to enter Singapore from Malaysia at the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints. You can bring a Malaysian registered car over to Singapore, but you must comply with certain rules and requirements.
What documents do I need to cross the border from Malaysia to Singapore by car?
To enter Singapore you’ll need either your passport or your QR for passport free travel. In either case you must meet all the standard eligibility requirements, and if you’re not a Singapore resident you’ll also need to fill out the SG Arrival Card which can be done online easily.
To enter Singapore, your car must meet the following requirements:
Have a valid Autopass card
Have a valid road tax
Have a valid certificate of insurance
Have a valid LT VEP approval email
Have no outstanding fines
Step-by-step on how to enter Singapore from Malaysia by car
Before you can hop in your card and drive to Singapore you’ll need to complete the following steps:
Apply for an Autopass card at least 2 weeks before you travel - fees apply
Receive an approval from the Singapore Land Transport Authority (LTA)
Collect your Autopass card with your ID and your email approval
Ensure your vehicle’s tax and insurance is up to date with LTA before you travel
If you don’t have everything needed to enter the country you’ll simply be turned away - so do double check the most up to date requirements online with the Singapore government’s LTA website, and get advice if you’re unsure what’s needed.
Travel from Malaysia to Singapore by bus
If you’d prefer not to drive, you may choose to take the bus from Malaysia to Singapore - and jump on the Singapore to Malaysia bus on the way home. Most buses drop and collect passengers by the border, and you’ll then need to pass through the check point on foot before picking up whichever bus you need for your onward journey.
Use a site like Bus Online Ticket to view your options, which include some VIP services, and buses which can get you right into the heart of Singapore once you’ve completed all the border checks. Travel from Kuala Lumpur overnight from under 60 MYR, or pay a little more for a day time travel option. Trips take a little over 5 hours from KL, or you can also hop on the bus at many different locations in Malaysia.
All information correct at time of research - 10th September 2024
Travel to Singapore from Malaysia by train
You can also hop on a train for the short 5 minute journey over the border from Malaysia to Singapore. You’ll pick up the train at JB Sentral station and be dropped off at woodlands. Tickets are just 5 MYR and trains go every half an hour throughout the day.
Travel to Singapore from Malaysia by air
Travel to Singapore from Malaysia by air, from many parts of the country including Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, Kuching, Langkawi and Penang. Travel times vary depending on where you need to depart from, and all planes land in Singapore’s Changi airport. Travel from KL takes only about an hour, and there are more than 40 flights daily.
Travelling to Singapore? Get your Wise card and save your travel money
Singapore is not a cheap destination - don’t get stuck with your bank’s foreign transaction fees and pay even more than you need to for your trip.
Instead, pack a specific travel card like the Wise card to get convenient spending and withdrawals with lower currency exchange fees.
Order your Wise card for a one time fee of 13.7 MYR, top-up your card in MYR from your bank, and let the card convert automatically for you when you spend, with the mid-market exchange rate and low fees from 0.33%. There's no foreign transaction fee which can make this a cheaper option compared to using your bank card.
And Wise is a great pick for travel elsewhere too. You can manage and exchange 40+ currencies in your Wise account, and use your Wise card in 150+ countries - all with no minimum balance and no ongoing fees to worry about.
