Singapore-Johor Bus: Singapore to Johor Bahru Checkpoint / JB Sentral / JB City Square

Johor Bahru (JB) City Square Shopping Centre, in Johor Bahru, is the nearest shopping mall to Singapore and located right next to JB Sentral, the transportation hub of Johor Bahru. And, JB Sentral is connected to the entrance / exit of Johor Bahru checkpoint, named Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine Complex or simply just “JB CIQ”.

Be it going to JB CIQ, JB Sentral or JB City Square, all one have to do is to get to Woodlands Checkpoint, cross the Causeway, clear Malaysia immigration in JB CIQ, exit the complex, walk through JB Sentral and you are at JB City Square or KOMTAR JBCC (another shopping mall). It is that easy!

Let’s take a look at how to get to and return from JB CIQ / JB Sentral / JB City Square.

PART 1: FROM SINGAPORE TO JOHOR BAHRU

Before you go, find the best times to cross the Singapore-Johor Causeway without getting caught in both human and traffic congestions at the checkpoints, especially on weekends. Using 2-6 hours to cross the border during a weekend holiday trip is not sound planning.

#1. Take Bus to Woodlands Checkpoint

There are several cross-border bus services from Singapore to Johor Bahru via Woodlands Checkpoint. Most buses will terminate at JB CIQ and few will continue to Larkin Sentral thereafter. Choose the bus service that is best suited to get you to your destination.

Read: SG-JB Crossing: Cross-Border Bus Services from Singapore to Johor

#2. Clear Singapore Immigration

All cross-border services will stop at Woodlands Checkpoint, alight and proceed to clear Singapore Immigration. Those taking SBS Transit 160 / 170 / 170X / SMRT 950 must tap your EZ-Link card when alighting to “suspend” the journey or you will be charged a new fare when reboarding.

During peak hours or on weekends, allow at least 30 minutes to 1 hour to clear immigration. It takes less than 5 minutes on weekdays or during non-peak hours.

#3. Cross the Causeway

After clearing Singapore Immigration, proceed to the ground level of Woodlands Checkpoint to re-board the buses. Those taking SJE should board SJE only, same goes for AC7. Those taking CW1 / CW2 / CW5 can board any CW buses, including CWL, that come along.

Those taking SBS Transit 160 / 170 / 170X / SMRT 950 can queue in any of the 3 lanes and board any SBS Transit / SMRT buses that come along. Tap your EZ-Link card again to “resume” the journey.

No extra bus fares will be incurred at this point — except if you decide to change to other types of bus service (need to buy new ticket in Singapore dollars).

After re-boarding the bus, it will cross the Singapore-Johor Causeway. Buses and other heavy vehicles use a dedicated right-most lane to JB CIQ. On Sundays or public holidays, there will be very few heavy vehicles, making buses the fastest mode of transportation on the Causeway.

#4. Clear Malaysia Immigration

On reaching JB CIQ, alight from the bus once again and proceed to clear Malaysia Immigration. Those taking SBS Transit / SMRT buses should tap the EZ-Link cards again to end the journey (even though “suspended” will be shown).

Note: Johor Bahru immigration is a border-crossing with NO visa-on-arrival, so make sure you have free or valid visa before going there. Passports must have at least 6 months of validity period. Work permit holders must bring along your work permits as required by Malaysia Immigration. Singapore Immigration officers will also ask to see it to ensure work permit holders meet the requirements by Malaysia Immigration to avoid unnecessary hassles after crossing the road-bridge.

During peak hours or on weekends, expect at least 30 minutes to 1 hour to clear immigration. It takes less than 5 minutes on weekdays or during non-peak hours. For Singapore passport holders, use the auto-gates for auto-clearance — there is no longer a need to submit MDAC form at land crossings to Johor nor to enrol to use auto-gates too.

Read: Use Auto-Clearance Gates at Malaysia Immigrations

#5. Exit JB CIQ

After clearing Malaysia Immigration, turn left at the first exit, a sign will say “JB Sentral”. Walk along the corridor or follow the crowds to exit JB CIQ.

To take a bus to Larkin Sentral, for long-distance buses to cities beyond Johor Bahru, head to the “Bus Platform” below JB CIQ.

Read: SG-Johor Bus: Singapore to Larkin Sentral (Bus Terminal) in Johor Bahru

After exiting from JB CIQ, you will come to JB Sentral after passing a lift lobby that leads to a bus terminal on the ground floor of JB Sentral.

To go further into Johor Bahru or neighbouring districts, take public buses from the bus terminal.

Read: JB Bus Guides: Get Around Johor Bahru using Public Buses

JB Sentral is also a train terminal for Intercity trains to Kulai, Kluang, Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, Taiping, Penang (via Butterworth), etc. There is also a shuttle train service, called Shuttle Tebrau, to Woodlands Train Checkpoint in Singapore.

Read: Cross the Border to Johor Bahru with Shuttle Tebrau

Walk through JB Sentral (only one public-accessible level) and exit from its main entrance, take the escalators down two levels and you will come to a pedestrian bridge.

At the end of the pedestrian bridge, turn left to Johor Bahru City Square. Note that JB City Square is opened for breakfast between 8am and 10am, but to shoppers at 10am only.

Read: JB Eats: Breakfast Served from 8AM @ JB City Square

KOMTAR Johor Bahru City Centre (JBCC), another shopping centre and integrated with Hotel Holiday Inn, is situated right next to JB City Square. It is accessible via the same pedestrian bridge from JB Sentral.

In addition to the two shopping centres near JB checkpoint, there are more local eats and buys in nearby Tan Hiok Nee Heritage Walk and around Bandar Johor Bahru.

Enjoy your trip in Johor Bahru until it is time to return to Singapore.

PART 2: FROM JOHOR BAHRU TO SINGAPORE

The return journey is merely the reverse of getting to JB CIQ / JB Sentral / JB City Square from Singapore but with slight differences.

#1. Clear Malaysia Immigration

FromJB City Square / JB Sentral, walk to JB CIQ and keep to the right-most lane after passing the lift lobby to the bus terminal below JB Sentral. Then follow the crowds, or keep to the right, and proceed to the departure hall of the complex.

#2. Cross the Causeway

All buses will cross the Causeway and you will need to alight again at Woodlands Checkpoint. If you use EZ-Link card, tap it before alighting to “suspend” the journey without incurring additional charges.

#3. Clear Singapore Immigration

After clearing Singapore Immigration, re-board the respective bus to your destination (and tap EZ-Link card to “resume” journey).

For those taking SBS Transit 160 / 170 / 170X, you will be able to drop at any bus stops along their service routes in Singapore. Most people will drop at Kranji MRT Station and switch to faster MRT trains.

Reduce time spend at the checkpoints:
SG-JB Crossing: 14 Tips to Go Through Singapore-Johor Customs Faster

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Malaysia Tip: 8 Ways to Make Payments in Malaysia