CIQ stands for Customs, Immigration and Quarantine, the three checks every traveller and vehicle goes through at a border. In Johor, “CIQ” usually means the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) checkpoint at the Causeway in Johor Bahru; the state’s second land CIQ is the Kompleks Sultan Abu Bakar (KSAB) at the Second Link. From February 2027 (target), the RTS Link will add co-located CIQ clearance at Bukit Chagar.
If you live in or visit Johor Bahru, you will hear “CIQ” every day: “meet at CIQ”, “CIQ jam”, “condo near CIQ”. This short guide explains what CIQ stands for, which buildings people mean by “CIQ Johor”, and how CIQ clearance works for cars, buses and walkers, plus the new co-located clearance on the RTS Link.
What does CIQ stand for?
CIQ means Customs, Immigration and Quarantine. Each letter is a separate check, run by a different government agency, at the same border building.
- Customs: the Royal Malaysian Customs Department checks goods you carry and collects duty where it applies.
- Immigration: the Immigration Department checks passports and permission to enter or leave Malaysia.
- Quarantine: health, veterinary and agricultural inspectors check animals, plants, food and public-health risks.
In everyday Malaysian English, “CIQ” has also become the name of the place itself. When someone in JB says “go to CIQ”, they mean the checkpoint building, not the process. Singapore uses the word “checkpoint” instead, for example Woodlands Checkpoint and Tuas Checkpoint.
The two CIQs in Johor: BSI and KSAB
Johor has two land CIQs facing Singapore: the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar at the Causeway and the Kompleks Sultan Abu Bakar at the Second Link. Most people mean the first one when they say “CIQ Johor”.
| Item | Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) | Kompleks Sultan Abu Bakar (KSAB) |
|---|---|---|
| Crossing | Johor–Singapore Causeway | Malaysia–Singapore Second Link |
| Location | Bukit Chagar, Johor Bahru City Centre | Tanjung Kupang, Iskandar Puteri |
| Singapore side | Woodlands Checkpoint | Tuas Checkpoint |
| Who uses it | Buses, cars, motorcycles, lorries; foot passengers via the bus hall | Vehicles only; no pedestrian access |
| Links nearby | Footbridge to JB Sentral; next to the RTS Bukit Chagar station | Second Link Expressway |
| Opened | 2008 | Not stated in the sources we checked |
The BSI has separate halls for bus passengers, cars, motorcycles and lorries, with dozens of immigration counters for cars and motorcycles in each direction. Because it sits right in the city centre, it is the CIQ most residents, shoppers and commuters use. For how it differs from the railway station next door, see is JB Sentral the same as CIQ.
How CIQ clearance works
CIQ clearance in Johor follows the same idea for everyone: show your passport at immigration, pass customs and any health checks, then continue your journey. The details depend on how you travel.
By car
Drivers stay in their cars and clear immigration at drive-through counters for the driver and passengers. Foreign-registered cars from Singapore need an activated Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) RFID tag to enter Malaysia; JPJ began enforcing it with penalties from 1 July 2025. Road charges and tolls are paid by Touch ’n Go.
By bus
Cross-border bus passengers get off at the CIQ bus hall, clear immigration and customs on foot, and then board the next bus of the same company, or walk on to JB Sentral and City Square.
On foot
There is no separate walking checkpoint. Foot travellers clear in the BSI bus hall and follow signs to JB Sentral along a covered footbridge. At the Second Link CIQ, walking is not allowed.
By motorcycle
Motorcyclists use their own lanes and counters, which are among the busiest at peak hours.
Malaysians and many eligible foreign passport holders can use automated gates, and most foreign visitors should complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) online before arrival; check the Immigration Department website for current rules.
RTS co-located CIQ clearance
The RTS Link uses co-located CIQ: both Singapore and Malaysia clearance happen at the station where you board, so you walk straight out when you arrive. This is the biggest change to cross-border travel in Johor in years.
- Enter Bukit Chagar station in JB, or Woodlands North in Singapore.
- Clear the departure country and the arrival country in the same building.
- Ride about five minutes across the strait.
- Exit at the other end with no further queue.
Passenger service is targeted for February 2027, according to the joint LTA–MOT update of October 2026, and the fare has not been announced. Read what the RTS Link is or our Bukit Chagar station walking guide for the station area.
Other CIQs in Johor and tips to clear faster
Besides the two land checkpoints, Johor also has CIQ facilities at its international entry points by sea and air, such as the Stulang Laut ferry terminal in Johor Bahru and Senai International Airport. The same three checks apply there.
Whichever CIQ you use, a few habits make clearance smoother:
- Check your passport validity well before travel, and keep it in hand before you reach the counter.
- Cross off-peak where you can: early afternoons on weekdays are usually calmer than mornings, Friday evenings and the eve of public holidays.
- Know your customs limits on cash, tobacco and alcohol, and declare anything you are unsure about.
- Keep your VEP and Touch ’n Go ready if you drive a Singapore-registered car.
- Follow live traffic updates from the authorities and news outlets before you leave home.
Why “near CIQ” matters for JB property
Homes near the CIQ let Singapore commuters walk to the checkpoint and pick quieter crossing times, which is why “condo near CIQ” is one of the most searched property phrases in JB. With the RTS station next door, the Bukit Chagar area now combines road, bus and rail crossings in one place.
EXSIM’s Causewayz Square, often called “Exsim CIQ”, is about 600 m from the BSI and about 800 m from the RTS station, and the developer has proposed a pedestrian link bridge towards the CIQ and RTS. Target completion is around 2030. Learn more in our Exsim CIQ guide, or WhatsApp us for floor plans and the latest SPA price list.
Sources
- Sultan Iskandar Building (Wikipedia)
- Sultan Abu Bakar Complex (Wikipedia)
- Driving into Malaysia from Singapore: what you need to know about VEP (Malay Mail)
- Malaysia to enforce VEP for Singapore vehicles from July 1 (FMT)
- Singapore to JB Checkpoint, JB Sentral and City Square (iPackTravel)
- Land Transport Authority Singapore (RTS Link)
This guide is general information, not financial advice.