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This guide is for Singaporean, Singapore PR and Malaysian families where a parent works in Singapore and the family is thinking about living in Johor Bahru. The short answer: JB has a range of international schools within reach of the Causeway and the Second Link; the paperwork and fees differ by citizenship, so plan the school run before you pick the home. I have kept to what schools and the authorities publish themselves.
International schools in JB and Iskandar Puteri
These are schools around JB whose official websites I could check; the list is not complete and is not a ranking.
| School | Area | Curriculum | Ages | Annual fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marlborough College Malaysia | Iskandar Puteri | British-style; IGCSE and IB Diploma; day and boarding | 3–18 | Day: RM21,000–RM55,600 per term, three terms (2026/2027); 6% SST extra |
| RAFFLES American School | Jalan Raffles, Iskandar Puteri | American; day and boarding | Pre-K3 to Grade 12 | Tuition RM40,500–RM106,500 a year (2026–2027); the page also shows RM66,500 for Pre-K3 |
| Tenby Schools Setia Eco Gardens | Setia Eco Gardens (postal area Pekan Nanas) | English National Curriculum and IPC, then Cambridge IGCSE; also a Malaysian stream | 3–18 | International stream: RM6,750–RM18,270 per term, three terms (2027) |
| Invictus International School | Horizon Hills, Iskandar Puteri; Bandar Seri Alam, Masai | Cambridge, to A Level | Nursery to Year 13 | Horizon Hills: RM22,500–RM48,500 a year (page shows both AY 2026–2027 and 2025–2026) |
| Sunway International School | Medini, Iskandar Puteri | Canadian (Ontario); IB Diploma in Grades 11–12 | Kindergarten to Grade 12 | Not published |
| Austin Heights Private & International School | Taman Mount Austin, Johor Bahru | English National Curriculum to Cambridge IGCSE | 3–18 | Not published |
| Crescendo-HELP International School | Ulu Tiram | IPC, English National Curriculum, IGCSE, A Level | Year 1 to Year 13 | Not published |
| SERI OMEGA Private & International School | Senai | Malaysian private and Cambridge IGCSE | Not stated | Not published |
There are one-off charges too: for example, Marlborough lists a RM2,000 registration fee, RAFFLES a RM10,000 placement fee and Invictus a RM4,000 enrolment fee. Ask each school for the full first-year cost in writing.
Foon Yew, which many Malaysian families ask about, is a Chinese independent secondary school taught in Chinese, not an international school.
For homes nearby, see my pages on homes near RAFFLES American School and homes near Crescendo-HELP International School.
Student Pass and enrolment rules in Malaysia
Malaysia’s Immigration Department says non-citizen children aged 3 and above need a Student Pass to study here, from pre-school onwards. That covers international, private and government schools and Chinese independent secondary schools.
For school children, the school’s representative, a parent or a legal guardian applies to the Student Pass Unit of the Immigration office covering the school. EMGS handles higher-education students only. Documents include form IMM.14, a passport valid for at least 18 months, at least 12 months of health insurance, a personal bond and the school’s approval letters. The fee is RM60. A parent or grandparent staying as guardian can get a Social Visit Pass (RM90) but may not work or run a business.
Two cases are unclear. Immigration’s Employment Pass page lets EP holders bring children under 18 on a Dependant Pass, but does not say whether they also need a Student Pass. The MM2H terms say dependent children can study on their MM2H pass, with a Student Pass granted automatically, but only spell this out for tertiary study. I found no clear official answer for primary and secondary school, so ask the school and Immigration before you enrol.
For government schools, non-citizen children can apply for a secondary place using form PU(A)275, submitted to the State Education Department (JPN); the District Education Office has the form. I found no official eligibility conditions or fees for non-citizen pupils. A child at a private or international school can apply to transfer with JPN approval, but age-cohort rules apply.
If your child stays in a Singapore school
- Singapore Citizens. Children living overseas can join P1 registration using a parent’s NRIC address, an uncompleted property address or a resale property address. MOE checks suspect addresses, and false information is an offence. I found no official MOE guidance written for Singaporean children who live in JB and cross daily.
- International students, including Malaysians. A Student’s Pass is needed unless the child holds a Long-Term Visit Pass, Dependant’s Pass or Immigration Exemption Order. ICA requires a sponsor who is a Singapore Citizen or PR aged 21 or over; a Singaporean or PR parent must be that sponsor. The processing fee is S$45. New students enter through MOE’s AEIS or S-AEIS tests, held in Singapore.
- Living in JB. MOE’s P1 form for international students asks for a Singapore address where the child lives or will live. I found no official statement on whether a Student’s Pass is granted to a child commuting from JB, so check with the school and ICA first.
| Level | Singapore PR | ASEAN international (incl. Malaysians) | Non-ASEAN international | Misc. fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary | S$330 | S$595 | S$1,035 | S$13 |
| Secondary | S$680 | S$1,090 | S$2,190 | S$20 |
| Pre-university | S$760 | S$1,290 | S$2,540 | S$27 |
In my experience, the daily crossing is the real cost: before you commit to a home, time the trip on a weekday at school-run hours.
The school run and the RTS Link
The RTS Link runs about 4 km between Bukit Chagar in JB and Woodlands North in Singapore. The ride takes about 5 minutes, with capacity for up to 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction, and you clear both countries’ checks once, at the departure station.
On 2 October 2026, Malaysia’s Ministry of Transport and Singapore’s LTA said passenger service is targeted for February 2027, subject to independent safety certification and final approval from both countries. Fares have not been announced.
I cover what the RTS Link means for JB property and list JB homes near the RTS Link station. Until it opens, LTA’s cross-border bus list (1 October 2026) includes 160 and 170X to JB Sentral, SMRT 950 from Woodlands, and Causeway Link routes to Larkin and Gelang Patah.
Healthcare and childcare
Private hospitals in the JB area include:
- Gleneagles Hospital Johor – Medini, Iskandar Puteri
- Columbia Asia Hospital – Iskandar Puteri – Taman Kesihatan Afiat
- Columbia Asia Hospital – Tebrau – Kota Southkey, Johor Bahru
- KPJ Johor Specialist Hospital – JB city centre
- KPJ Bandar Dato’ Onn Specialist Hospital – Bandar Dato Onn
Childcare centres (TASKA) for children under 4 must be registered with the Department of Social Welfare (JKM); you can check JKM’s and KEMAS’s lists. Private kindergartens must register with the Ministry of Education; check KPM’s National Preschool Information System or look for the certificate at the premises.
Choosing where to live
- By train: if a parent will use the RTS Link, start around JB Sentral and Bukit Chagar.
- Second Link side: Marlborough, RAFFLES and Sunway International School are in Iskandar Puteri; see homes near the Second Link and Puteri Harbour.
- Mount Austin: Austin Heights is in Taman Mount Austin; see Mount Austin property.
- Moving soon: look at completed homes near the Causeway.
- Costs: use my cost calculator in SGD, and read my guides for Singaporean buyers and on the foreigner minimum price.
Questions about your move?
Tell me where you work and which schools you are considering, and I will suggest areas that suit the school run.
If you’d like to see homes near these schools in person, I can meet you at JB Sentral on a weekend: see my weekend viewing trip page, or book an appointment.
Sources: Marlborough College Malaysia, “Fees”, Oct 2026; RAFFLES American School, “Fee Structure”, Sep 2026; Tenby Schools, “Tuition Fees”, Oct 2026; Invictus, “School Fees”, Oct 2026; Immigration Malaysia, “Student Pass”, 12 Oct 2026; Immigration Malaysia, “Employment Pass”, Oct 2026; MOTAC, “MM2H Terms and Regulations”, Jul 2024; KPM, “SMK (Harian)”, 5 Oct 2026; KPM, “Institusi Pendidikan Swasta”, 13 Oct 2026; MOE Singapore, “Studying in Singapore”, Oct 2026; ICA, “Apply for a Student’s Pass”, 13 Mar 2026; MOE Singapore, “International students”, 15 Jan 2026; MOE Singapore, “Revised school fees for non-citizens”, 18 Oct 2023; MOE Singapore, “P1: international students”, 3 Jun 2024; MOE Singapore, “P1 for Singaporeans overseas”, Oct 2026; MOE Singapore, “Address used for P1 registration”, 29 Apr 2026; MOT Malaysia and LTA, “RTS Link service targeted for February 2027”, 2 Oct 2026; LTA, “Johor Bahru–Singapore RTS Link”, 5 May 2025; LTA, “Updates on the RTS Link”, 11 Jan 2024; The Star, “RTS Link fare, opening date to be announced jointly by Malaysia and Singapore, says Loke”, 18 Aug 2026; LTA, “Cross-border Bus Services”, 1 Oct 2026; MyGOV, “TASKA”, 15 Sep 2026
Jason Lim, REN 84424, IQI Realty Sdn. Bhd. E (1) 1584/6. General information checked on 13 October 2026, not legal, immigration or financial advice. School fees and rules change; confirm with the school and the authorities.