Tried And Tested: A Singaporean's Guide To Using The E-Gate In JB, Malaysia

Tired of waiting in long immigration queues when you head across the Causeway to Johor Bahru (JB)? There's a faster, smoother way to clear customs — the electronic gate (E-Gate) system in Malaysia. You can access Malaysia through the e-gate system at two locations: Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminals 1 and 2, and the Johor Bahru Checkpoint.

Those heading to Johor Bahru, here's everything you need to know as a Singaporean citizen to breeze through immigration on your next JB adventure.

Note: As of Jan 1, 2024, Singaporeans are exempt from the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) requirement for entry via the manual counter. However, MDAC is required to be submitted for foreigners entering via the e-gate for the first time. Visit the Malaysian Immigration Department's website for more information.

Are you eligible?

First things first, let's see if you qualify for E-Gate. You're good to go if you meet all these criteria:

• You're a Singapore Citizen, Malaysian PR or a Malaysia Automated Clearance System (MACS) pass holder
• You possess a valid biometric passport with at least 3 months remaining validity
• You're taller than 120cm 
• You have no outstanding immigration issues in Singapore or Malaysia

A note for parents: Children below 120cm in height cannot use E-Gate and must be accompanied by an adult through the manual immigration lanes.

The simplest way to apply and sign up for E-Gate

Step 1: Fill up and submit the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) form.

Make sure you submit this form within three calendar days of your departure. This means you can sign up on the day you decide to go to JB itself, or two days prior. 

Step 2: E-mail acknowledgement 

After signing up, you should receive an acknowledgment e-mail with the personal details you submitted such as your name, passport number, date of arrival and more, along with a pin number that you can use to check for updates on your Malaysian registration and visit pass information on the MDAC website. 

This is the e-mail that I got: 

Step 3: Proceed to Malaysia’s manual immigration customs 

While the e-Gate offers a breeze through customs, there's one small caveat. On your very first trip to JB after submitting your MDAC, you'll need to proceed to the manual immigration counter. 

In my personal experience, there is a lane dedicated to MDAC registration located on the left side of the JB land customs. I queued for over an hour to get the manual verification done. 

This is a one-time process where immigration officers will verify your passport and register it for future eGate use. After that initial visit, you can enjoy the speedy convenience of eGate on all your subsequent JB adventures!

Step 4: Head to the e-gate lanes

For me, the eGates were located right next to where I had my passport manually verified. 

Getting through was as simple as holding my passport flat against the reader and waiting for the gates to open — the process was similar to Singapore’s biometric immigration clearance. 

You might be prompted to look into a camera for facial recognition, or hold your thumbs against a scanner. 

And that’s it! You can now enjoy the speedy convenience of eGate on all your subsequent JB adventures!