Class 2 Bus Service Licence

Apply for Class 2 Bus Service Licence

Land Transport Authority (LTA)

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Application Details

For the operation of a fare-charging scheduled bus service

FAQ

BSL APPLICATION - NEW

Description: For the operation of a fare-charging scheduled bus service

1. Do I need to apply for this licence?
   All bus services that charge fares and operate on pre-determined timetables and routes have to be licensed by LTA. A bus operator operating a single bus service is required to apply for a Class 2 BSL for the service.
   For further information, please refer to https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltagov/en/industry_innovations/industry_matters/regulations_licensing/buses/bus_service_licence.html
2. What conditions do I need to fulfill?
   The criteria for approval are as follows:
   (i) Eligibility of Applicant
   Only the following can apply for a licence:
   (a) Singaporean or Permanent Resident for an individual (for Scheme B licences)
   (b) Company registered with the Accounting & Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA)
   (c) Association/ Society registered with Registrar of Societies
   Note: For business registration under sole-proprietorship, partnership and limited partnership under ACRA, the sole proprietor or active partner must apply for a licence in his name
   (ii) Compliance with the bus service guidelines. For more details, please refer to Question 3
   (iii) Submission of relevant supporting documents
3. What are the service guidelines for the bus service types?
   - Premium Bus Service:
   Premium bus services provide an alternative passenger transport to a Basic bus service, or train service on a rapid transit system. The fares are at least 1.5 times higher than the equivalent Basic bus service and/or train service on a rapid transit system.
   
   - Shuttle Bus Service:
   Shuttle bus services are niche services distinct from Basic bus services. They cater to the transport needs of local communities by providing connections to nearby transport nodes, amenities and developments.
   Shuttle bus services are required to meet the following requirements:
   - The bus service is allowed up to 3 intermediate stopping places between the start and end points. Each stopping place could include a group of developments in close proximity.
   - Within the catchment of its stopping places, the bus service is allowed to duplicate up to 40% of the connections provided by Basic bus service or train service on a rapid transit system. The catchment area of a point is defined as one within 200m of that point.
   
   - Cross-Border Bus Service:
   Cross-border bus services are services that operate between Singapore and Johor Bahru in Malaysia and have two or more stopping places in Singapore.
   
   - Temporary Bus Service:
   Temporary bus services are services that operate for a period of no more than six months.
   
   - Tourist Bus Service:
   Tourist bus services are services that provide sightseers or tourists connections between points of cultural, historic, scenic, scientific or sporting interest in Singapore and hotels or other tourist accommodation or a tourism travel connection.
   
   - Special Bus Service:
   Special bus services are services that provide ad-hoc services for special events and during festive periods.
   
   - Scheme B Bus Service:
   Scheme B bus services complement public bus services by providing additional capacity primarily during peak hours. Please note that LTA has stopped issuing bus service licence for new Scheme B bus services.
4. What supporting documents do I need to submit?
   (i) A map clearly showing both the proposed routes and all stopping points
   (ii) Pictures of proposed stopping point(s) which is/are part of the premises of the developments (e.g. Pick Up/Drop Off Points) or along the road(s)
   (iii) Proof of approval from the management/ owner for a proposed stopping point within a private development (e.g. Pick Up/Drop Off Points)/ along a private road
   (iv) If you are applying to operate a bus service to serve any of the Integrated Resorts ("IRs") in Singapore, you are required to declare whether you are related to the IRs or are contracted/ subsidised by the IRs to operate the proposed bus service. Please also submit the approval from the Gambling Regulatory Authority as a supporting document.
5. How soon can my application be processed?
   The processing time for the application is at least one month upon receipt of complete information, depending on the time taken to assess the proposed operating details.
6. Am I allowed to amend the operating details or terminate the bus service after approval of the application?
   After the application for a new bus service is approved by LTA, the licensee can make further amendments to the bus service or terminate the bus service by submitting an application for amendment/ cancellation. The licensee can apply to LTA to amend the following operating details:
   - Bus fleet/ type
   - Route/ Stopping points
   - Operating hours/ headway
   Please note that LTA reserves the right to amend or reject the application.
   For proposed fare amendments, please apply to PTC for approval: https://www.ptc.gov.sg/fare-regulation/bus-rail/non-public-bus
   Upon LTA's approval to terminate the bus service or to amend any aspect relating to the operation of the Bus Service, the licensee must ensure adequate publicity on the termination of the bus service or the details of the amendments for a period of at least two weeks before the termination of the service (or as specified by the Authority) or the implementation of the amended operating details to inform the commuters on the changes.
7. Who can I contact for further details?
   For general licensing enquiries, please contact LTA via email at LTA_Bus_Licence@lta.gov.sg
   
   

BSL APPLICATION - AMEND

1. Do I need to apply to amend the operating details of the bus service already approved by LTA?
   For bus services that already approved by LTA, the licensee can make further amendments to the bus service by submitting an application for amendment.
   The licensee can apply to LTA to amend the following operating details:
   - Bus fleet/ type
   - Route/ Stopping points
   - Operating hours/ headway
   Please note that LTA reserves the right to amend or reject the application.
   For proposed fare amendments, please apply to PTC for approval: https://www.ptc.gov.sg/fare-regulation/bus-rail/non-public-bus
   Please note that it is a breach of licensing conditions to amend the operating details of the bus service without prior approval from LTA.
   Upon LTA's approval to amend any aspect relating to the operation of the Bus Service, licensee must ensure that notices on the details of the amendments are put up at all stopping places of the Bus Service at least two weeks before the implementation of the amended operating details to inform the commuters on the amendments.
2. What supporting documents do I need to submit?
   When applying for an amendment, the following supporting documents may be required, depending on the type of amendment:
   (i) A map clearly showing both the proposed routes and all stopping points
   (ii) Pictures of proposed stopping point(s) which is/are part of the premises of the developments (e.g. Pick Up/Drop Off Points) or along the road(s)
   (iii) Proof of approval from the management/ owner for a proposed stopping point within a private development (e.g. Pick Up/Drop Off Points)/ along a private road
   (iv) If you are applying to operate a bus service to serve any of the Integrated Resorts ("IRs") in Singapore, you are required to declare whether you are related to the IRs or are contracted/ subsidised by the IRs to operate the proposed bus service. Please also submit the approval from the Gambling Regulatory Authority as a supporting document.
3. How soon can my application be processed?
   The processing time for the application is at least one month upon receipt of complete information, depending on the time taken to assess the proposed operating details. For amendment of bus registration numbers only, the processing time is up to two weeks.
4. Who can I contact for further details?
   For general licensing enquiries, please contact LTA via email at LTA_Bus_Licence@lta.gov.sg

BSL APPLICATION - RENEW

1. When do I have to apply to renew the Class 2 Bus Service Licence? How long will the licence be renewed for?
   An application to renew a Class 2 Bus Service Licence must be made no later than 2 months before the licence expiry date.
   Upon approval of the renewal application, the Class 2 BSL can be renewed up to 2 years, subject to LTA's conditions.

BSL APPLICATION - CANCEL

1. Will the licence fee and security deposit be refunded?
   Please note that no refund of licence fees will be allowed once payment has been made. You may however apply for a refund of the security deposit after the termination of the bus service, provided that the deposit was not forfeited due to any non-compliance with the licensing conditions.
2. How soon can my application be processed?
   The processing time for the application is at least one month upon receipt of complete information, depending on the time taken to assess the application.

Additional Information

Fee

Application Fee: An application fee of $40 is applicable for every successful application for New BSL, Renewal of BSL, Amendment of Bus Service Operating Details/Bus Registration Numbers and Cancellation (or termination) of BSL.

Class 2 Bus Service Licence Fee (for new and renewal):
2024 - $90 for each month (or part of a month) or $1,000, whichever is the lower.

Amendment Fee:
Fare Amendments: No Charges
Amendment of Bus Registration Numbers: No Charges
Amendment of Bus Service Operating Details: $9.17

Security Deposit: $500 for new Bus Service Licence

Documents Needed

• Route Map
  A map clearly showing the proposed route and all stopping places.
  File format: pdf, jpeg, jpg, png, docx, doc, csv, xls, xlsx
  Maximum upload per application: 2MB

• Stopping places (non-bus stop)
  Pictures of the stopping place(s) which is/are part of the premises of the developments or along the road(s) i.e. not at a public bus stop.
  File format: pdf, jpeg, jpg, png, docx, doc, csv, xls, xlsx
  Maximum upload per application: 2MB

• Approval for use of private development/road
  Proof of approval from the management/owner if you intend to set a stopping place within a private development/ along a private road.
  File format: pdf, jpeg, jpg, png, docx, doc, csv xls, xlsx
  Maximum upload per application: 2MB

• Approval from Gambling Regulatory Authority
  If you are applying to operate a bus service to serve any of the Integrated Resorts (IRs) in Singapore, you are required to declare whether you are related to the IRs or are contracted or subsidised by the IRs to operate the proposed bus service. Please also submit the approval from the Gambling Regulatory Authority as a supporting document.
  File format: pdf, jpeg, jpg, png, docx, doc, csv, xls, xlsx
  Maximum upload per application: 2MB

• Transfer of Bus Ownership for Scheme B Bus Type
  If you are applying Scheme B Bus Type, document on transfer of Bus Ownership is needed as a supporting document.
  File format: pdf, jpeg, jpg, png, docx, doc, csv, xls, xlsx
  Maximum upload per application: 2MB