KUALA LUMPUR – Large multi-purpose vehicles, such as Hyundai Starex, Hyundai Staria, Toyota Vellfire, Toyota Alphard and Maxus, are now able to use the bus zones for arrival and departure immigration clearance at Tuas checkpoint in Singapore.
Effective January 2, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said the move is to enhance clearance efficiency at the car lanes and the immigration clearance experience for car travellers.
The ICA said smaller MPVs will continue to clear immigration through the car lanes.
“With more travellers in these vehicles (large MPVs), the time taken to clear them is much longer compared to the other cars. There has also been feedback from car travellers about the delay caused by large MPVs with more passengers and that ICA should consider segregating them into different lanes.
“Diverting such large MPVs into the bus lanes will speed up immigration clearance for both large MPVs and other cars. Smaller MPVs can continue to clear immigration through the car lanes,” it said in a statement today.
Passengers would still have to get out of their vehicles with their luggage and proceed to the bus hall for immigration clearance while the driver clears immigration through the bus lane.
For travellers with mobility issues, the elderly, pregnant women or young children, ICA officers will facilitate immigration clearance onboard via the bus lanes, similar to bus passengers.
ICA added that a similar initiative has been considered at Woodlands checkpoint but found to be not feasible due to the “differences in operating terrain”.
The land checkpoints between Singapore and Malaysia are among the busiest in the world.
Previously, ICA reported close to 435,000 crossings daily between December 15 and 17.
The Second Link checkpoint on the Malaysian side is known as the Sultan Abu Bakar CIQ Complex. – January 4, 2024