ElaineCrossing the Causeway has always been a test of patience. With endless queues, jam-packed car lanes and the inevitable fumbling for passports, a “quick trip” to Johor Bahru can often feel like a full-blown expedition. But things are finally changing. From 22 September 2025, both Singapore and Malaysia will make it possible for travellers to clear immigration with a QR code on their phone instead of a passport. This QR code immigration Malaysia system promises to make border crossings smoother than ever. Here’s a guide to how it all works.
Also read: JB Beat the Traffic Itinerary: Breakfast, Shopping and Fun
Step-by-step on how to use the MyNIISe to enter JB
Do note that you must still bring your passport or valid travel documents with you, as a backup in case of technical hiccups.
- Download the MyNIISe app and create a profile in the app
- Generate either an individual QR code for yourself or a group QR code
- When you arrive at the checkpoint, self-scan the generated QR code instead of presenting passports
(Travellers using passports that have not been used for entry before will have to present their passports for immigration clearance. They will be able to use the QR code for immigration clearance on their subsequent trips.)
Where can Singaporeans use the QR code for immigration
Image credit: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority Official Facebook
The trial rollout will begin on 22 September 2025 at the Johor Bahru checkpoint and the Second Link. If you’re travelling by car, motorcycle, lorry or bus, you can take advantage of the Singapore-Malaysia border QR code clearance. Pedestrians and train passengers will still need to go through traditional passport checks for now.
The MyNIISe system will also be rolled out at major Malaysian airports, including Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Penang, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu. It will also eventually be integrated with the upcoming Johor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link, streamlining Malaysia immigration app clearance even further.
What to expect at the checkpoints
If you’re used to the usual Causeway chaos, the new process will feel refreshingly simple. Instead of handing over a stack of passports, the driver rolls up to the immigration booth. They can then scan the QR code immigration Malaysia from their phone and continue on their way. Group travellers will notice the biggest difference, since the system now allows everyone in the vehicle to be cleared with a single scan.
Although the system is designed to speed things up, travellers should still expect some short-term problems during the trial period. That’s why both governments emphasise the importance of carrying your passport along, even if you plan to clear immigration with a QR code on your phone.
Also read: 10 Must-Know Johor Bahru (JB) Travel Tips for First-Timers
Final thoughts
For travellers, the takeaway is simple. If you’re crossing by car, motorcycle, lorry or bus, download the MyICA app on the Singapore side or the MyNIISe app on the Malaysian side. Generate your QR code with the MyNIISe app for immigration before you travel, keep your passport with you just in case, and look forward to a smoother, quicker border crossing.
So, the next time you’re craving lok lok in Johor Bahru, planning a quick shopping spree, or heading out for a weekend adventure, you may find yourself breezing through immigration in a fraction of the time. With technology finally catching up to demand, that dreaded causeway jam might just become a little more bearable.
