Malaysia’s Passport Free Border Trial Starts Sept 22 2025

Malaysia’s Passport Free Border Trial Starts Sept 22 2025

 

Malaysia Starts Passport-Free QR Code Border Trial at Johor–Singapore

Faster Travel Without Handing Over a Passport

Imagine driving from Johor to Singapore—one of the world’s busiest land borders—without ever handing over your passport. No stamping, no flipping through pages. Starting 22 September 2025, Malaysia is testing exactly that.

Every day, more than 300,000 travellers cross these checkpoints. With Malaysia’s new National Integrated Immigration System (NIISe), those long queues could shrink dramatically.

How the Passport-Free System Works

Under the NIISe programme, travellers simply scan a QR code using the MyNIISe mobile app instead of presenting a physical passport to an officer.

• One QR code can cover everyone in the same car or motorcycle convoy.

• Travellers must still carry their passports as a backup but do not need to hand them over.

This upgrade combines AI and facial recognition to maintain security while speeding up clearance. 

Booth Setup on the Ground

The government has equipped checkpoints with NIISe-enabled lanes:

Johor Bahru Checkpoint

• 8 car booths each way

• 7 motorcycle exit booths

• 2 arrival booths

• 2 departure booths

Second Link Checkpoint

• 6 car booths

• 4 motorcycle booths

• 2 pedestrian lanes per direction 

Pilot Locations and Timeline

The first phase runs 22 September 2025 to 28 February 2026 and covers the Johor–Singapore land crossings:

• Johor Causeway

• Second Link

If the trial succeeds, Phase 2 will extend to five major airports:

• Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminals 1 & 2

• Penang International Airport

• Kuching International Airport

• Kota Kinabalu International Airport

Why This Matters

The Johor–Singapore border is the busiest land crossing in the world.
Faster group processing means less idling for buses, cars, and bikes, while enhanced technology strengthens border security.

What Travellers Should Do

Current MyBorderPass users can continue using the old app for now, but Malaysian authorities recommend downloading the new MyNIISe app—available on both iOS and Android—to experience the passport-free system.

Once the pilot ends, NIISe is expected to replace older QR systems across the country. 

Watch the full video here:  

 

References: 

Malaysia Immigration 

Malaysia Tourism Board 

Strait Times