For about a month now, Singaporeans have been using QR codes to cross the border into Malaysia without their passports.
Just one day after the QR code system started, the Immigrations and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) reported that about 86,000 cars travellers had used QR codes to enter Malaysia.
“As of 20 March 2024, about 86,000 car travellers have used QR code for immigration clearance when passing through our land checkpoints. This is about 46% of the total car travellers using the checkpoints during the same period,” the statement said.
In other words, it was a big success.
Since Malaysia’s side doesn’t have a QR code system in place yet, travellers still need to bring their passports when visiting Malaysia so that they can return back home.
However, this may change soon as Malaysia is following Singapore’s lead in QR code checkpoint clearance.
Malaysia to Pilot QR Code Checkpoint Clearance
The success of Singapore’s QR code clearance has led to increased calls from Johorean travellers and businesses for the Malaysia government to follow suit.
From June 2024, Malaysia’s pilot initiative will allow Malaysians travelling to Singapore on factory buses to clear immigration via QR codes at both of Johor’s land checkpoints.
Factory buses are Malaysian-registered buses which transport workers between Johor Bahru and industrial areas in Singapore. An approximate 500 of such buses pass through the land checkpoints every day.
Immigration officers will board the factory buses with handheld scanners at the checkpoints and scan the QR codes, which are generated by an application on travellers’ mobile phones, for each individual traveller.
The travellers who will be able to use QR codes in the pilot programme will still be required to bring their passports along, as for now, the QR code systems for both Malaysia and Singapore function differently and are not yet integrated.
Malaysia’s Ministry of Home Affairs and the Immigration Department plan to eventually extend the QR code system to more travellers.
The Effects of the QR Code System
Because of the QR code system, travellers on Malaysia’s factory buses can expect substantial savings on time.
Those on factory buses will no longer need to alight and reboard the buses, go up and down escalators, and face long queues to clear immigration. This not only saves them time, but energy as well.
The QR code system stands to benefit those who use it if it operates smoothly.
However, if there are glitches or hiccups, there is a possibility that the system will worsen congestion and cause bottlenecks.
Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone
The passport-free clearance comes months after Singapore and Malaysia signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to develop a Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
The MOU was signed in January 2024 by Singapore’s Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong and Malaysia’s Minister of Economic Affairs Mohd Rafizi Ramli.
The seven initiatives that will explore the SEZ are:
- Possible adoption or implementation of a passport-free QR code clearance system for both countries
- A one-stop business/investment service centre in Johor to facilitate the application processes for various approvals and licenses necessary for Singapore businesses to set-up in Johor
- The adoption of digitised processes for cargo clearance at land checkpoints
- Co-organising an investors forums to gather feedback about the SEZ from businesses
- Facilitating cross border renewable energy cooperation in SEZ
- Curating training and work-based learning initiatives to address talent and skills gaps for relevant industries in SEZ
- Developing joint promotion events, in order to promote trade and investment into the SEZ
You can watch this video for more information:
While there is no set date for when we Singaporeans will be able to use Malaysia’s QR code system to clear customs back into Singapore, we can assume it will happen in the next year or so if the pilot goes well.
It’s possible that next year, we might be able to go in and out of Malaysia without ever having to use a passport.
That means we should go more often, right?