Singaporeans’ Guide for Using Malaysia JB Autogate (MACS 2.0 Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC))

Effective 20 January 2023, as announced by the Immigration Department of Malaysia, Singapore passport holders are eligible to use the electronic gate (e-gate) facilities at the 2 land entry points in Johor Bahru at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (from Woodlands) and Kompleks Sultan Abu Bakar (from Tuas). Registration is FREE, easy and straightforward, and best done during an off-peak period for your first registration entry.

This guide is for Singaporeans visiting as tourists only (Short Term Social Visit Pass). Malaysians can already use the autogate by default.

All other nationalities are not allowed to use the Malaysia immigration autogates at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (from Woodlands) and Kompleks Sultan Abu Bakar (from Tuas) yet, and must clear immigration at the manual counters.

Singaporeans Still Require Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) from 1 January 2024 to use Autogate

Step 1: Submit Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC)

The Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) is similar to an immigration form but much more straightforward and is completed online. Completing the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) allows Singaporeans access to the immigration Autogate which is otherwise reserved only for Malaysians.

Fill up the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) from 3 calendar days (GMT+8) before arrival into Malaysia via Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (from Woodlands) or Kompleks Sultan Abu Bakar (from Tuas). Submission via the official Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) is free of charge.

The 3 calendar days (GMT+8) period means the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) can be completed any time within 3 calendar days (ie. date of entry itself, 1 day before entry, and 2 days before entry), and not necessarily must be done last by 3 calendar days only.

You can also fill up the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) on the spot on your phone at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (from Woodlands) and Kompleks Sultan Abu Bakar (from Tuas) if you have Malaysia data on your phone. Public WiFi is not available at the immigration areas at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (from Woodlands) and Kompleks Sultan Abu Bakar (from Tuas).

Fill in and submit the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) here.

Singaporeans Still Require Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) from 1 January 2024 to use Autogate

You must fill up the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) for EVERY TRIP you wish to use the Autogate for (ie. if you visit JB every week, you must fill up the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) every week.)

Do also note that you must hold a Singapore e-passport (ie. your photo page is made of hard plastic and has a chip inside) and must have at least 3 months validity for your Singapore passport.

Singaporeans who are Malaysian permanent residents may encounter issues, but Singaporeans who are Malaysian permanent residents already have access to MACS 1.0 for a fee which is in place for many years already, and can continue to use MACS 1.0 gates if enrolled.

Step 2 (1st time only): Enter Malaysia via manual counter

To complete registration for MACS 2.0, when you fill up your first Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC), you must clear Malaysia immigration by the manual counter to complete registration. If you have visited Malaysia many times before without filling up the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC), those visits do not count as first time.

It is best to do this registration during off-peak periods so as to avoid long queues. No further information is required from you at the manual counter at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (from Woodlands) and Kompleks Sultan Abu Bakar (from Tuas). Information is linked from your filled-up Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) and is automatic.

You will receive a passport stamp after entering by the manual counter.

You only need to visit the manual counter ONCE after filling up your first Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC). Proceed directly to the Autogate for subsequent visits by repeating Step 1.

You do not need to go back to the Autogate after you have cleared immigration at the manual counter. You have entered Malaysia already.

When exiting JB, you should clear immigration by a manual counter as well in order to get an exit stamp to close your visit. While some say that you can immediately use the Autogate when exiting from Malaysia, I wouldn’t advise that as you will not get an exit stamp if you do that. You will then not complete a stamp set in your passport, which may pose a problem for future visits (ie. entry stamp with no exit).

Woodlands Train Checkpoint (Woodlands CIQ) is not an entry point for MACS 2.0 registration. Autogate facilities are also not available at Woodlands Train Checkpoint (Woodlands CIQ) for Singaporeans.

Step 3: Enter Malaysia via Autogate

For subsequent visits (ie. next trip onwards), head straight for the immigration Autogate. The use of the Malaysia immigration Autogates for Singaporeans are at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (from Woodlands) and Kompleks Sultan Abu Bakar (from Tuas) only.

Woodlands Train Checkpoint (Woodlands CIQ) is not included.

Insert your passport following the direction shown on the Autogate and wait for your data to be read. Following which, head into the Autogate and look at the camera. The next gate will then open and you are officially in Malaysia.

Do note that you will not get an immigration stamp if you enter and exit Malaysia through the Autogate. If you require a stamp for proof of visit, or if you are exiting Malaysia through any other port*, you should head to the manual counter to clear immigration in order to receive an entry stamp in your passport.

*Exception may apply for KLIA. See below for more information.

If your second visit (because your first visit was via manual counter) is successful, congratulations! You are now registered in MACS 2.0 and can use the Autogate in and out of JB by bus. Remember to fill up the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) before every trip.

Singaporeans Still Require Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) from 1 January 2024 to use Autogate

Which land checkpoints can Singaporeans use the Malaysia Autogate?

		Car	Bus	Train
Sultan Iskandar Building (from Woodlands)	Enter Malaysia	❌	✅	N.A.
	Exit Malaysia	❌	✅	✅ (JB Sentral)
Sultan Abu Bakar Complex (from Tuas)	Enter Malaysia	❌	✅	N.A.
	Exit Malaysia	❌	✅	N.A.
Woodlands Train Checkpoint	Enter Malaysia	N.A.	N.A.	❌
All other land checkpoints (To Thailand, Brunei & Indonesia)	Enter/Exit Malaysia	❌	❌	❌

Singaporeans only: Mix and match Malaysia immigration entry and exit points

Singaporeans are allowed to use the electronic gate (e-gate) facilities at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminals 1 and 2, and the 2 land entry points in Johor Bahru at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (from Woodlands) and Kompleks Sultan Abu Bakar (from Tuas).

While no confirmation has been made by the Immigration Department of Malaysia if mixing and matching is allowed, I have tried entering Malaysia using the autogate via Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (from Woodlands), and exiting from Malaysia by flight from KLIA T2 using the autogate in May 2023, and was successful.

Conclusion

This MACS 2.0 Autogate procedure is very convenient for JB trips or other trips in Malaysia that involve bus travel in and out via land checkpoints to and from Singapore as it saves a lot of time queuing for the manual counters, and also saves passport pages if you are frequent visitor to Malaysia like me. The Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) is also very simple and straightforward, with only basic information needed to be filled in less than 1 minute.