The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority issued an advisory on Monday (13 Oct 2025) warning travellers to expect longer waiting times at Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints from 17 Oct to 20 Oct 2025.
Long Waits Expected
Travellers heading to Malaysia via land checkpoints will face longer immigration clearance times during the Deepavali long weekend. The delays will worsen due to ICA’s stepped-up checks for e-vaporisers, which are banned in Singapore.
September School Holidays Saw Record Numbers
Over 5.8 million travellers passed through Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints during the September school holidays from 5 Sep to 15 Sep 2025. The busiest day was 5 Sep 2025, when more than 575,000 people cleared immigration at the land checkpoints.
Car travellers departing during peak periods waited up to three hours for immigration clearance. Traffic jams from Malaysia caused the bottleneck.
Tougher E-Vaporiser Penalties Since September
Individuals caught with e-vaporisers face higher penalties since 1 Sep 2025. Vaping and possession of e-vaporisers are illegal in Singapore. ICA has ramped up enforcement checks at both checkpoints.
Take the Bus Instead
ICA suggested travellers consider cross-border bus services to skip the congestion during peak periods. Travellers can use QR codes from the MyICA mobile app for faster, passport-less immigration clearance. Physical passports are still mandatory for overseas travel.
Check Traffic Before You Go
Motorists can view live traffic conditions at land checkpoints on the Land Transport Authority’s OneMotoring website. Real-time updates are available on ICA’s Facebook and X accounts, plus SPH and Mediacorp radio stations. The Expressway Monitoring and Advisory System on the Bukit Timah Expressway and Ayer Rajah Expressway shows traffic information for drivers.
Follow Instructions or Face Action
ICA asked travellers to cooperate with officers, follow traffic rules and maintain lane discipline at checkpoints. The authority will take firm action against travellers who ignore officers’ instructions or break the law at checkpoints.
